Projects & Programs
Heart of a Giant Foundation
HGF
Projects & Programs
HGF improves early detection, diagnosis, and support for cardiac risk factors in high-risk populations. We promote healthy living, prevent chronic diseases, and improve health outcomes using innovative approaches. All programs are HIPAA compliant and aim to support the whole patient journey.
Project Health Joe: Awareness Raising and Advocacy
Program Nicole & Neal: Screening and Education
Living with Heart Disease Podcast
Program Jolie: Hypertension Prevention and Management for Expectant Black Mothers in Boston, MA
Join us in making a difference for a healthier future.
Project Health Joe: Awareness Raising and Advocacy
Project Joe by HGF raises awareness and advocates for patients and caregivers. Our goal is to promote a culture of care that leads to better health outcomes through education and information about heart diseases.
We amplify the voices of patients, caregivers, health practitioners, and advocacy leaders to educate our audience on living with a heart condition and enjoying a longer, healthier life.
We use various communication methods, such as blogging, podcasting, public speaking, organizing meetings, and using the web and social media platforms. We convey our messages through our website and blogs, Instagram pages, Facebook page, private community group, YouTube channel, Eventbrite, and Living with Heart Disease podcast, available on iTunes, Google, Spotify, and other platforms.
Expected Outcomes:
Raise awareness about heart diseases and related conditions.
Build a supportive community for patients, caregivers, providers, and policymakers.
Motivate people to make positive lifestyle changes.
Destigmatize high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.
Educate people about warning signs and risk factors.
Join us in raising awareness for heart diseases and promoting a culture of care.
Program Nicole & Neal: Screening and Education
Program Nicole & Neal promotes healthy living to prevent heart disease, especially among Black populations. HGF offers free hypertension screening and education in Boston neighborhoods. Our health coaches provide one-on-one support and conduct screenings at community events.
In 2023, we accomplished the following:
Engaged in 425 interactions with participants over 11 months;
Hosted 38 screening and education events, two webinars, and six workshops
Six Boston neighborhoods: Brockton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, and Roxbury;
Conducted 355 screenings and one-on-one educational sessions.
Blood Pressure Screening and Education
At HGF, we conduct blood pressure screenings, education classes, and workshops to raise community awareness. Our local nurses and health workers offer assistance, education, and guidance. We conduct screenings and educational activities at community events to improve high blood pressure management, train participants on monitoring blood pressure at home, and offer practical tips for healthy living.
Cholesterol Awareness and Education Campaign
92 million US adults have high LDL cholesterol levels, which can lead to fatal heart diseases. HGF is partnering with the National Cholesterol Education Initiative in 2024 to increase awareness through our Cholesterol Education Campaign. We will focus on high-risk factors like diets high in saturated and trans fats, physical inactivity, excess weight, and certain health conditions.
Lipoprotein (a) Awareness and Screening Campaign
Lp(a) is a genetic risk factor for heart disease that is often overlooked. Early detection and proactive management of Lp(a) levels can significantly enhance heart health outcomes. Our program promotes heart health through coaching, screenings, and training.
Expected Outcomes
Early identification and treatment of high blood pressure.
Increased understanding of signs and symptoms and when to contact a healthcare provider.
More people can self-monitor their blood pressure.
Empowered participants are taking control of their heart health.
Peer-to-peer communication and community engagement.
Movement building and active community engagement.
Program Delivery Planning
We host program events with partners monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly. Our website and social media pages have weekly updates, and we focus on a monthly health topic to raise awareness. We collaborate with various organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), faith-based organizations, and community development centers.
In 2024, our goals are to achieve the following:
We host program events with partners monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly. Our website and social media pages have weekly updates, and we focus on a monthly health topic to raise awareness. We collaborate with various organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), faith-based organizations, and community development centers.
Our main priority remains to tackle high blood pressure and its related issues. To achieve this:
We aim to deliver over 60 screening and education events across 10+ locations, engaging with more than 600 adults.
We also plan to provide monthly blog posts on heart health and 12 'Living with Heart Disease' podcasts.
Additionally, host workshops focusing on various aspects of heart disease, such as hypertension, cholesterol and Lp(a), diabetes, healthy living, aging, and more.
Living with Heart Disease Podcast
"Hardships don't steal your voice, and setbacks don't stunt your growth; hence, a diagnosis will undoubtedly not silence you."
Our Living with Heart Disease platform shares inspiring stories from patients, families, caregivers, health professionals, and policy advocates. We break down stigmas associated with cardiovascular conditions and provide expert guidance on navigating healthcare systems. We're dedicated to inspiring and empowering our listeners to live longer, healthier lives after a heart disease diagnosis.
Join us on the Living with Heart Disease podcast hosted by Bouba Heart of a Giant and his team.
Program Jolie: Hypertension Prevention and Management for Expectant Black Mothers in Boston, MA
In 2023, HGF conducted the Healthy Hearts Communities Pilot Program to prevent and manage high blood pressure, and 78% moved into a lower blood pressure category. We launched Program Jolie in Boston in 2024 to fill gaps in care for Black maternal health. Program Jolie offers perinatal care to help expectant Black mothers achieve better pregnancy experiences and health outcomes, all at no cost.
Program Description:
Program Jolie supports the care of women from their 20th week of pregnancy up to 3 months postpartum. It collaborates with organizations to improve Black maternal health, heart health, and health equity.
Our Health Coaches deliver the program, supporting patients between doctor visits. The coaches are registered nurses, dietitians, social workers, and others with significant expertise. The program facilitates infant feeding support and mental health screenings with social workers and therapists.
The health coaches work one-on-one with participants to improve medication adherence, set realistic goals, and facilitate therapy and counseling. Expectant Black mothers can use advanced RPM technology with personal health coaching and receive a free personalized plan. The program targets pregnant adult (18+) women with no income eligibility requirement.
Goals and Expected Outcomes:
We build trust with hard-to-reach individuals and partner with care management programs to address healthcare gaps for better patient engagement and adherence.
Metrics and Expected Outcomes:
Enrollment > 30%
1.5M live interactions
25% increase in medication adherence
A1c reduction of 1.5 points
80% of participants move to the lower BP category
20% reduction in unhealthy days
90% participant satisfaction
For Participants:
HGF supports pregnant individuals with tools, knowledge, and coaching to improve their health and wellbeing.
Personalized education and support for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or diabetes.
Understand health risks, manage medication, and establish a routine.
Track vital signs and symptoms through Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) to detect changes early.
Safe physical activity and nutrition guidelines.
Develop self-advocacy and caregiver advocacy capacity.
Improve patient-physician relationships during prenatal, birth, and postpartum visits.
For Providers:
Program Jolie enhances the birthing experience with personalized support, improving care and fostering compliance.
Improve clinical outcomes, improve quality scores, and gain unique population insights.
Improve compliance and enhance treatment adherence. Strengthen doctor-patient relationships.
Track Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), data, and analytics.
Weight management through healthy eating and nutrition.
Enhance health literacy, encourage an active lifestyle, stress management, and healthy sleep habits to drive lifestyle and behavior change.
Methods of Delivery (Key Activities)
Our health coaches provide support from the 20th week of pregnancy to 3 months after childbirth. They collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care for the mother and baby while promoting a positive birthing experience. Although they don't provide medical care, they offer personalized support to enhance the overall experience.
The program offers free-of-charge health coaching services that include personalized heart health risk-factor evaluation and education and coaching for preventing and managing health conditions.
The coaches provide remote patient monitoring, tailored feedback, nutrition, exercise, and medication adherence guidance.
Additionally, the program offers support for prenatal care, childbirth education, medication management, healthy lifestyle habits, and community resources.
Benefits and Data Analytics:
We aim to identify best practices for screening and referring participants and address social and material needs.
Our Program Team collects and monitors data with providers and partners based on hypotheses.
The research manager leads data and analytics, working with health coaches and community-based providers—the program partners with an external evaluator. The IRB ensures ethical conduct.
Results will help HGF further develop the program and improve health outcomes for expectant Black mothers.
News and Insights
Disclaimer:
The information shared on this page is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for any medical issues.
The link between mental health and physical health
The link between mental health and physical health
By Lewis C. Howe
Over the past several months, I have been sharing my journey toward achieving lower blood pressure and weight loss with the hope of helping others improve their heart health.
In this piece, I want to discuss the connection between mental health challenges and the decline in physical health.
For most of my life, I was thin due to smoking and drinking instead of having balanced meals. However, quitting these habits led to weight gain and hypertension. Complicating things further is my lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression. Whenever my physical health declines, my mental health worsens, and it exacerbates my existing medical issues. To tackle these problems, I recently consulted my mental health provider and nutritionist. At times like these, treating the entire body, including the mind, is crucial to prevent minor problems from becoming catastrophic. My therapist, who has been with me for almost 15 years, reminded me that I've overcome worse times. I used to motivate myself to stay on a healthy track by aiming to be present in my children's lives when I struggled with depression and anxiety. Now that my children are older, I'm reassessing my life and contemplating what I want to do.
Photo by TienDat Nguyen on Unsplash
My therapist, nutritionist, and primary care doctor all want me to live a healthy life into old age. Still, I need to be willing to make the effort. I told them I don't see myself taking up extreme activities in my 60s, so I need to consider what I enjoy doing and what new pursuits I'd like to explore in my free time. I don't have all the answers yet, but one thing I've been able to do is rekindle old interests in the arts and antique shopping. I've moved to a small town with a vibrant theater community and several second-hand shops. Instead of attending my youngest child's soccer matches on Sundays, I walk downtown from my house, explore the shops, and read local literary magazines at a coffee shop. It takes me back to my youth in the city and helps me feel connected to my new community. Apart from the high-fat muffins at the coffee shop, this has proven to be a good strategy for my well-being and overall health. Despite the challenges, my average blood pressure has only slightly increased, and I've gained back only 4 pounds of the 22 I lost last year.
Returning to a heart-healthy lifestyle requires more than avoiding unhealthy foods and drinks. I need to manage my blood pressure through a sound mind and body. This path takes work. In times of great personal stress, I often sought comfort in unhealthy foods, which led to obesity and hypertension. I must remind myself that a healthy heart begins with a healthy brain. I must resist temptations and remind myself that I will feel better and likely live longer by taking better care of myself. The next few weeks are going to be challenging, and I will document my progress as before. I welcome suggestions from you, my readers, and encouragement as I get back on track. To anyone else struggling, I urge you not to give up, even when faced with setbacks in life.
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The Heart of a Giant Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 84-2900386. Donations are tax-deductible.
