Louisville was facing a crisis in November 2017. Hepatitis A, a virus of the liver that is highly contagious, was ravaging some neighborhoods of the city. Most communities were able to reduce the spread of the virus with vaccines and sanitation. Yet, some areas of Louisville saw numbers of new cases on a steep rise, with many of the instances in families who lacked proper healthcare.
How could the Health Department curb the increase in cases? A grassroots campaign by the department seemed to be the answer, but carrying out this broad initiative at the ground level in a community that’s wary of outsiders seemed fruitless.
So, the Health Department sought the help of Seed to Oaks to bring awareness through actual members of the community.
Most people aren’t interested in hearing from a stranger who comes knocking on their door, but when it’s their peer from church, a person they’ve sat next to during sermons or seen at the grocery store, they are more inclined to open up and listen.
With Seed to Oaks at the helm, the campaign was off to races. Working through the Whole Health program, Seed to Oaks mobilized four Louisville community churches: Arcade Baptist, Bible Community Fellowship, Hazelwood Baptist, New Salem Baptist, and a small group of Seed to Oaks interns.
Together, these advocates hit the ground running. They went door-to-door, promoting proper hand washing techniques and raising awareness about Hepatitis A. Together, they visited and flyered more than 3,000 homes in Louisville. Hepatitis A cases were soon on the decline.
With the Whole Health program, Seed to Oaks was able to bring the community together and utilize members of prominent churches in the area to end the Hepatitis A outbreak. With engaged stakeholders leading the charge, the city paid attention.
Whole Health can help large organizations spread awareness using these tried and tested techniques by bringing valuable information to citizens and parishioners from those they can trust.