Bladensburg, MD: The Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. (GHEP), has presented a three-pronged, science-based approach for addressing the myriads of inequalities in economic, health, and educational challenges facing communities in East Riverdale and Bladensburg areas of Prince George’s (PG) County, Maryland.
Dr. Romuladus E. Azuine, GHEP Executive Director, presented the organization’s views to officials and members of the PG County’s Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative (TNI) team responsible for East Riverdale and Bladensburg areas led by Mr. David David Iannucci, a senior PG County official.
The three-pronged approach includes a package of evidence-based interventions implemented in collaboration with families and communities that addresses the underlying causes of inequalities faced by individuals, families and the communities. If well implemented, GHEP says that its rigorous three-pronged solution will address school drop-out rates, chronic diseases, pedestrian deaths, and absenteeism with measurable outcomes over time.
In a presentation entitled “Global Health and Education Projects, Inc.: Addressing Health and Education Inequalities,” GHEP said that attempts to address inequalities in the Riverdale and Bladensburg areas must address the “inevitable triad of social change” which underlies the inextricable interrelationship between health, education, and economic empowerment.
GHEP said that its approach has an inbuilt recognition for what it referred to as “collective burden” and “collective outcomes” arguing that the approach provides a public policy solution for addressing social and economic inequalities in local communities that leaves no sector behind.
The organization said that “health problems cannot be isolated from education and economic problems,” adding that investment in one area is an investment in the others.
The non-profit organization presented a cross-walk between its health and education program focus areas and three of the key indicators addressed by the TNI team and the public health priority goal of PG County with regards to high school drop-out rates, school absentee rates, pedestrian safety, life skills for youths, and chronic disease management.
GHEP expressed its readiness to partner with the TNI team in the implementation of its programs not only in the Riverdale/Bladensburg areas, but across all County’s TNI communities, drawing upon over 30 years collective experience of its team in implementing and monitoring rigorous evidence-based health and education programs worldwide.
In his response, Mr. Iannucci thanked GHEP for reaching out to the team and presenting its technical expertise on addressing the indicators identified by the TNI team and the County. He said that part of the critical role of the TNI program was to develop collaborations with local organizations, such as GHEP, that understand the local communities and work with them to build foundations for sustainable change.
The audience at the November 4, 2014 presentation held at the Bladensburg Town Center, MD, included over 20 County and city officials drawn from various local, County and State agencies including public works, economic development, corrections, local and county police departments, sheriff’s office, Parks and recreations, community college, and the non-profit sector.
Founded three years ago, and based in Riverdale, PG County, GHEP is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established to address health and education inequalities in local communities in United States and across the world. GHEP builds coalition with local people and organizations to address their felt needs using rigorous evidence-based programs that provide measurable outcomes both in a short-term and long-term basis.
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Click here to learn more about the PG County TNI program.