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The Role of Small and Medium-Sized African-American Churches in Promoting Healthy Life Styles

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Abstract

The issues of poor health care, poverty, crime, and HIV infection make it more difficult for minority communities to combat substance abuse and other diseases that are prevalent in the African-American community. Faith communities in general, and African-American churches in particular, are a largely untapped, but potent, resource to reduce the toll of substance abuse and other health issues. Information about ministers' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding leading health indicators, the frequency with which they discuss these issues from the pulpit, and organizational readiness to develop and implement interventions can be the foundation of clergy training and health intervention efforts.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Friends Research Institute, Inc., Los Angeles, USA

    Donnie W. Watson

  2. UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, USA

    Lorrie Bisesi & Susan Tanamly

  3. University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA

    Tiffanie Sim

  4. Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches. Groups/Faith in Communities, Los Angeles County Commission on Alcoholism, USA

    Cheryl A. Branch

  5. Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches, USA

    Eugene Williams III

Authors
  1. Donnie W. Watson
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  2. Lorrie Bisesi
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  3. Susan Tanamly
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  4. Tiffanie Sim
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  5. Cheryl A. Branch
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  6. Eugene Williams III
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Watson, D.W., Bisesi, L., Tanamly, S. et al. The Role of Small and Medium-Sized African-American Churches in Promoting Healthy Life Styles. Journal of Religion and Health 42, 191–200 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024835500987

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024835500987

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