As the Treating Obesity in Underserved Communities in Houston (TOUCH) program came to an end in April, we wanted to take the time to say thank you for all your support. The implementation of this project was not without its challenges, but the eagerness of the community and our partnering organizations to participate was a large factor in making the TOUCH program successful. From start to finish, the TOUCH program team was pleased with the support and participation of our valued community members and organizations.
Project Outreach & Impact:
The purpose of the TOUCH program was to develop a collaboration of community-based organizations in underserved communities in Houston to reduce rates of obesity through the integration of existing services with new evidence-based primary prevention and family-oriented treatment programs.
The HEALTH Research Institute offered the TOUCH program, funded by the United Health Foundation and in collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Houston, to help identify residents of Houston’s Third Ward and East End at risk for chronic diseases and connect them with programs and services to fully maximize their health potential. Through this three-year program we were able to impact the lives of 3,948 community members and provide 3,096 screenings to detect potential health problems such as high blood pressure and elevated blood glucose levels that could lead to diabetes. With the joint efforts of TOUCH and the YMCA, we were able to help 290 individuals to lead more active lives by signing up to exercise at the YMCA to reduce levels of obesity and risk of developing diabetes and/or high blood pressure.
