Since May 2011, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York (KCS), in collaboration with the New York University (NYU) School of Medicine have been offering NYC Koreans the opportunity to learn how to lead healthier lives through Project RICE. Christina Choi, a trained Community Health Worker (CHW) at KCS, led a total of 30 group education workshops on health promotion and chronic disease prevention, and followed-up with participants to reinforce key messages and set goals aligned with the curriculum.

The workshops covered a range of topics, including nutrition, physical activity, stress management, diabetes and chronic disease prevention, and health care access. All workshop materials are culturally-tailored and were developed in partnership with KCS and other partners in the Korean community. According to Ms. Choi, “It was amazing to see a change in the lives of the participants, who have reported losing weight, eating healthier and also finding a supportive environment to talk about the challenges of staying active and managing stress.”

The first group of 48 Project RICE participants completed the program in November 2011. Their achievements were celebrated at a graduation ceremony on November 19th in Flushing, where they were congratulated by NYS Assemblymember Grace Meng, KCS President Kwang S. Kim, and NYU Senior Associate Dean for Community Health and Research, Mariano Rey MD.

Project RICE graduates shared their experiences with the program, and their comments highlighted the importance of this work in raising awareness and improving access to health for the NYC Korean community:

• “Three months ago, I developed some health problems but I couldn’t go to any of the hospitals because I had no insurance. I was able to get free screening services from KCS as well as learn more about diabetes and other helpful tips about my health, and I would like to thank them for this.” – Female participant

• “I didn’t pay much attention in the past, but through this program, I am now more conscious of nutrition labeling and my level of activity. It doesn’t take much effort for you to get decent exercise. I learned that even trying to walk at a brisk pace for 10 to 15 minutes or doing indoor exercises doesn’t cost money and can be effective.” – Male participant

Project RICE will be offering another round of workshops, scheduled to begin this summer. To learn more about receiving a free diabetes screening or participating in this health program, contact Christina Choi at 212-463-9685. n

Project RICE Celebrates the Achievements of the First Graduating Class

Program Participants, KCS and NYU Staff, and NYS Assemblymember Grace Meng (back row, fourth from the right) at the Project RICE Graduation on Nov 19th, 2011

Reaching Immigrants through Community Empowerment (RICE)

http://prevention-research.med.

nyu.edu/health-research-rice-project

Vol 1. 2012

Project RICENadia Islam, PhDResearch Director, NYU PRCPrincipal Investigator, Project RICE

Kay Chun, MDDirector, Public Health and Research Center, KCS Co-Investigator, Project RICE

Jennifer Zanowiak, MA Research Coordinator Project RICE, NYU PRC Christina ChoiCommunity Health WorkerProject RICE, KCS

NYU Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center (NYU PRC)Mariano Rey, MDSenior Associate Dean for Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine Principal Investigator, NYU PRC

Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPHDirector, Center for the Study of Asian American Health

Nadia Islam, PhDResearch Director, NYU PRCPrincipal Investigator, Project RICE

Simona Kwon, DrPH, MPH Director, B Free CEED

Smiti Kapadia, MPHProject Coordinator

Jennifer Zanowiak, MA Research Coordinator

Rebecca Park Project Assistant Newsletter Content Coordinator

Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (KCS)Kwang S. KimPresident

Linda Lee, MSWAssociate Executive Director

Kay Chun, MDDirector, Public Health and Research Center

Christina Choi Community Health Worker Project RICE

PAGE 1

We interviewed Christina Choi, Project RICE CHW based at Korean Community Services (KCS), about her experiences providing health outreach and education in the Korean community in Flushing, Queens.

Is diabetes prevention an important issue in the Korean community? Yes, definitely. Diabetes rates are increasing among Korean Americans, one of the fastest growing Asian groups in the United

States. In 2010, in partnership with the New York University (NYU) School of Medicine, we conducted health surveys with 288 Koreans in Flushing, and the results demonstrated that rates of chronic disease and diabetes risk factors are high in our community. Approximately 46% of those surveyed were overweight and an additional 14% were obese. At the same time, 60% of those surveyed did not have any form of health insurance and only 48% had seen a doctor in the past year for a regular check-up or physical. Approximately 27% had been diagnosed by their doctor as having diabetes. These results highlight how important diabetes prevention is for the Korean community!

What are some of your roles as a Community Health Worker? My work as a community health worker involves raising awareness and providing education about preventing diabetes in my community, since diabetes is a disease that cannot be cured. I provide free screenings to see if you are at risk for diabetes. This includes measuring blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, as well as checking body mass index (BMI) to see if you are at a healthy weight for your height. I also lead educational workshops as part of Project RICE, a 6-month health program in collaboration with NYU School of Medicine, for people in the community who are interested in learning more about diabetes and other chronic diseases, and how to prevent them. I share recommendations on what you should eat, what types of exercises you can do to meet your physical activity needs, how to reduce stress, and how to prevent other chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke. I also help people in the community to adjust to their life in America in general, which includes help with accessing other health services, such

as mammograms, and finding language services.

Interview with Christina Choi,Project RICE Community Health Worker

What do you like most about being a CHW and what have you learned since working with Project RICE?The best part about being a CHW is engaging with members of my community and being able to learn from them, while empowering them to take control of their health. I’ve learned how to make the information I teach more simple and meaningful, so that the take-away

messages are more powerful and so it is easier for people to eat better and exercise more. I am always trying to find new ways to share information about this program so that it can appeal to more people and motivate them to improve their health now before it is too late.

What kind of improvements have you seen in your participants throughout their participation in Project RICE?Over the course of the 6-month program last year, my participants lost weight and do more physical activities now throughout the week compared to when they began the program. Some of them really liked the physical activities I introduced to themand continue to do them on their own at home. Some have told me that being more active gives them more energy and makesthem feel happier, and they can see their lives from a different perspective. I’ve also noticed that they try to eat healthierand more balanced meals. It’s incredible to see the changes the participants made in their lives in order to improve theirhealth, and I’m really proud of them. They’re not just better off themselves, but they’re also sharing what they learned withtheir friends and families and improving their lives as well. This means a lot to me. Little by little, we are creating a happier andhealthier community.

How can we find out more about participating in this program? I’m providing free diabetes risk screenings in April and May, and will offer educational sessions beginning this summer. If you or anyone you know is interested in this program, you can always call me at 212-463-9685 to find out when you can be screened.n

PAGE 2

Project RICE interns Su Hyun Park and Clara Park helped the program run smoothly.

From left: Kay Chun (KCS), Sue Kim (NYU PRC), Jinjoo Shim (NYU PRC), Rebecca Park (NYU PRC),Sandra Oh (KCS), Christina Choi (KCS) help recruit participants for Project RICE.

Community members learn to prepare a healthy mango salad at theKCS Senior Center in Flushing with Project RICE CHW, Christina Choi (far right).

PROJECT RICE

NEWS

PAGE 3

About UsKorean Community Services (KCS) was founded in 1973 as the first community-based community service agency in the Korean community, and provides various professional services in the areas of Community, Aging, and Public Health. KCS helps low-income immigrant individuals and families to address critical needs, solve complex problems, and adapt to a new cultural, economic, and social environment. Learn more at: http://www.kcsny.org n

The New York University Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center (NYU PRC) was established in 2009 by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The mission of the NYU PRC is to build and enhance community capacity and leadership for health promotion and disease prevention across diverse populations. Learn more at:http://prevention-research.med.nyu.edu n

Project RICE is a community-driven research initiative to promote diabetes prevention among Korean and South Asian immigrants in New York City through the work of community health workers (CHWs). Project RICE is the core research project of the NYU PRC, and is funded by the CDC.nChristina Choi (right) leads Project RICE participants in a group exercise.

Heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are some of the leadingcauses of death among Korean Americans. Taking steps tohave a healthier heart can lower your chances of developingthese conditions.

Talk to your doctor or a health worker about:

YoUR Blood PRESSURETarget: Less than 130/80mm Hg

YoUR CHolESTERolTarget:LDL below 100 mg/dLHDL above 40 mg/dL for men &above 50 mg/dL for womenTriglycerides below 150 mg/dL

YoUR Blood SUGAR(check for diabetes )Target: HbA1c less than 7% orFasting Plasma Glucose Test less than 100mg/dL

YoUR WEIGHTTarget: a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 - 22.9

These are considered to be normal readings. Find out how you compare. Come to one of our upcoming free health screening events and learn your numbers!n

Take The

DiabeTes Risk TesT on The

back page To leaRn if you aRe aT incReaseD

Risk foR Type 2 DiabeTes!

SAVE THE DATE

KCS Parents’ Day Festival When: Saturday, May 19th 2012 | 9am - 4pmWhere: Flushing International High School 35-01 Union Street, Flushing, NY 11354What: Come celebrate the 23rd Parents’ DayFestival & 17th Annual Health Fair featuring

•Cultural Performances•Lunch will be served•Health Fair Including:

Diabetes Screening (Please fast 2 hours prior to screening!), Hepatitis B Screening, Women’s Health, Tobacco Control, Vision Screening & more!

Hosted by KCSCall Christina Choi at 212-463-9685 for more information.

How healthy is your heart?

NYU Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center NYU School of Medicine 550 First Avenue, VZN 8th Floor New York, NY 10016 Contact: Smiti Kapadia Project Coordinator Tel: (212) 263-8949 Email: smiti.kapadia@nyumc.org

New York University Prevention Research Center

PROJECT RICE NEWS

The NYU PRC was established in 2009 by grant 1U48DP001904-01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Hispanics/ Latinos, American Indians, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

For more information, visit us at www.diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES

ArE you AT rISk For

Type 2 Diabetes?

If you scored 5 or higher:You are at increased risk for having type 2 diabetes. However, only your doctor can tell for sure if you do have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (a condi-tion that precedes type 2 diabetes in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal). Talk to your doctor to see if additional testing is needed.

Add up your score.

Height Weight (lbs.)4’ 10” 119-142 143-190 191+

4’ 11” 124-147 148-197 198+

5’ 0” 128-152 153-203 204+

5’ 1” 132-157 158-210 211+

5’ 2” 136-163 164-217 218+

5’ 3” 141-168 169-224 225+

5’ 4” 145-173 174-231 232+

5’ 5” 150-179 180-239 240+

5’ 6” 155-185 186-246 247+

5’ 7” 159-190 191-254 255+

5’ 8” 164-196 197-261 262+

5’ 9” 169-202 203-269 270+

5’ 10” 174-208 209-277 278+

5’ 11” 179-214 215-285 286+

6’ 0” 184-220 221-293 294+

6’ 1” 189-226 227-301 302+

6’ 2” 194-232 233-310 311+

6’ 3” 200-239 240-318 319+

6’ 4” 205-245 246-327 328+

(1 Point) (2 Points) (3 Points)

You weigh less than the amount in the left column

(0 points)

Diabetes Risk Test1

2

3

Write your score in the box.

4

5

6

7

How old are you?

Less than 40 years (0 points)40—49 years (1 point)50—59 years (2 points)60 years or older (3 points)

Are you a man or a woman?

Man (1 point) Woman (0 points)

If you are a woman, have you ever been diagnosed with gestational diabetes?

Yes (1 point) No (0 points)

Do you have a mother, father, sister, or brother with diabetes?

Yes (1 point) No (0 points)

Have you ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure?

Yes (1 point) No (0 points)

Are you physically active?

Yes (0 points) No (1 point)

What is your weight status? (see chart at right)

Adapted from Bang et al., Ann Intern Med 151:775-783, 2009.Original algorithm was validated without gestational diabetes as part of the model.

Lower your riskThe good news is that you can manage your risk for type 2 diabetes. Small steps make a big difference and can help you live a longer, healthier life.If you are at high risk, your first step is to see your doctor to see if additional testing is needed.Visit diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES for information, tips on getting started, and ideas for simple, small steps you can take to help lower your risk.

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