The Healthy Heart Program is a culturally and linguistically adapted assessment, planning, and intervention tool used in developing a lifestyle modification plan to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. The program is evidence-based, and adapted specifically for use in clinical settings that serve culturally diverse, low income, and low literacy populations. It is implemented at various settings and in various ways – group, telephonic, or one-on-one – by a Risk Reduction Educator. Elements of the Healthy Heart Program include assessments of nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco status; and then moves to lifestyle intervention plans, tip cards for clients, and then follow up with referrals when necessary.

The program provides the tools to tailor counseling recommendations to address the lifestyle behaviors clients are most ready to change. Participants will leave with a sample healthy heart kit, and will be able to describe the Healthy Heart Program intervention, implementation of the intervention, and evaluation of the intervention. Also given, will be specific outcomes and documentation of the success of this program. The format of the session will be highly interactive with the audience participating in the assessment process.

This lifestyle intervention is an excellent approach to the overwhelming impact of cardiovascular disease in our communities. The success of the program and specific examples of lifestyle intervention in culturally diverse communities will be highlighted, as well as practical implementation steps.