What We Do
Community Service
Research
Advocacy
“Why not go where people already have trust — the barbershop and the salon?”
- Stephen B. Thomas, PhD
Cut4Health
Communities United Together 4 Health (CUT4Health) is a community-based initiative to improve health and reduce health disparities in diabetes prevention among Black Americans. This program is a collaboration between the Maryland Center for Health Equity and Prochange Behavior Solutions, made possible with grant funding from the Center for Disease and Prevent (CDC).
The CDC recognizes 38% of adults in the U.S. have prediabetes, with Black Americans being 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than White Americans.
To address this disparity, 24 barbers and stylists from Health Advocates In-Reach and Research (HAIR) – a hyperlocal network of barbershops and beauty salons serving as trusted information centers for health education – have completed nearly 20 hours of training to become certified lifestyle coaches specializing in behavior change for prevention of Type 2 Diabetes.
CUT4Health pairs a tailored, interactive text messaging program with the power of the trusted relationship between Black barbers and stylists and their community. Community members who are at risk for prediabetes or who have been told that they have prediabetes will be invited to join Cut4Health to receive tailored messaging to increase their readiness to participate in the CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The certified barber and stylist Lifestyle Coaches will engage with members in empathic conversations about how they can make healthy lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of diabetes. The interactive text messaging will provide tailored behavior change guidance to increase engagement, retention, and the impact of the DPP.
The Barbershop Storybook Project
Coming Soon! The Maryland Center for Health Equity presents a comic book series that takes place in Prince George’s County, MD and is based on real people's stories during the height of the pandemic. It follows several families as they navigate the complexities of living in the era of COVID-19. The series will be distributed in barbershops and salons across the country. Sign up for our mailing list to be notified when the books are available!
The First Series
Book 1-6
Book 1-6
The first series will include six books. The first five books each tell a different story about several characters who all come together at their local barbershop in Book 6.
The Jacksons
Book 1
Book 1
The first book in the series tells the story of Antione Jackson, a young man living with his sister and her son. There is conflict in the Jackson household, but why?
Counselor Castillo
Book 2
Book 2
The second book tells the story of little Daniella, an elementary schooler who is having trouble at school. Guidance counselor, Ms. Castillo, meets with Mom to find out why.
The Cutting
Edge
All Things Health and Wellness: COVID-19 and Beyond
HOSTS
Mayor Omar Neal
Dr. Stephen B. Thomas
The Cutting Edge
Are you looking for a lively conversation space about race, health, and history?
Then join us LIVE every other Thursday at 7pm ET on our talk show, The Cutting Edge, All Things Health and Wellness: COVID-19 and Beyond, and get real about what we need to do to progress in health equity.
When you're with us, you're family! We hope to see you there!
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The Cutting Edge Newsletter
Keep up to date with The Cutting Edge by subscribing to our newsletter. The newsletter goes out each week and contains updates and highlights from past shows, simplified health information, the latest in health equity news, and more.
The Cutting Edge Podcast
Also check out our Cutting Edge podcast where Dr. Stephen B. Thomas discusses COVID-19, health disparities and saving lives in the African American community and beyond.
The H.A.I.R. Network & Associated Projects
Because many communities do not have access to quality medical care in the traditional settings, more and more programs are being designed to bring the care to the people. Black barbershops and salons are community fixtures where people can feel safe and at home, and have historically been medical hubs where barbers could perform surgeries and dental work. Our H.A.I.R. programs revitalize the link between barbershops and health care by providing resources to barbers and stylists to share health information with their clients and to host events like blood pressure screenings and pop-up vaccine clinics.
CommuniVax & CommuniHealth
We are proud to be members of the CommuniVax National Coalition
CommuniVax is a national coalition of social scientists, public health experts, and community advocates who seek lasting solutions to a serious public health problems.
We are still fighting COVID-19 and other life threatening diseases. We have been working with Barbers and Stylists across the country to hear what's going on in their shops, what people need, and how we can meet those needs. We are not giving up on fighting the pandemic.
We are working on a podcast and also a series of webinars. Sign up for the newsletter to stay in the know.
Contact Us
SPH Building, 4200 Valley Drive, Suite 3302
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-2611