Page 6 - The Fayetteville Press Newspaper May 2024 Edition

Page 6a The Fayetteville Press May 17, 2024 Edition

Healthy

Conversations

Trains

Barber, Stylist

Health Advocates

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The
Cumberland County Department of Public
Health’s Healthy Conversations program pro-
motes health education by training barbers
and stylists to be advocates who can influ- Committed to
ence positive health behaviors in communi-
ties disproportionately affected by unhealthy
outcomes.

Healthy Conversations was approved by
the Cumberland County Board of Commis- saving you more
sioners as part of the 2023-24 Fiscal Budget.
Commissioners approved $134,601 for the
initiative. Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Learn more at foodlion.com/save
Green gave commissioners a presentation in
August 2023 during an Agenda Session.

“There is often a trusting relationship be-
tween an individual and the person who cuts
and styles hair. We’re grateful for the barbers
and stylists who were willing to partner with
us for this program,” said Public Health Di-
rector Dr. Jennifer Green. “We know they
have trusting relationships with their clients
that are important to encouraging healthy be-
haviors and improving health outcomes.”
“Healthy Conversations was proposed to
address preventable deaths that dispropor-
tionately impact Cumberland County resi-
dents. Healthy Conversations will address
prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, heart dis-
ease and contributing factors such as hyper-
tension, tobacco use, healthy eating and physi-
cal activity,” said Glenn Adams, Chairman of
the Cumberland County Board of Commis-
sioners. “I would also like to give a shout out
to the PBS program NC Impact, hosted by
Anita Brown-Graham, for their presentation
on this program from Halifax County, which
spurred us to bring this to Cumberland
County. I believe this will be a game changer
for health outcomes in our community.”
Barbers and stylists have received train-
ing to have brief impactful conversations with
their clients about their health including get-
ting age-appropriate screenings for cancer.
Barbers and stylists have received blood
pressure monitors to allow their clients to
monitor their blood pressure and encourage
healthy behaviors. The following barbers and
stylists receive funding:
McNeill’s Barbershop and Beauty Salon
Cumberland Awesome Barbershop
Red Carpet Barbershop and Salon
Tru Blendz Barbershop
MM Grooming
Kut-N-Kalypso, Inc.
M&Q Hair Restoration Clinic
Hairlooms Hair and Braiding Academy
DJ Clipz at Balla World
HassaniJ Cutz

Members of the media who wish to cre-
ate stories featuring Healthy Conversations
may contact Cumberland County Public
Health Educator II Carlotta Winston at
cwinston@cumberlandcountync.gov or 910-
321-6440. For more information about the
Cumberland County Department of Public
Health, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/
publichealth.