Family Health Centers of San Diego announced that its preventive health program for Latinas, Proyecto Salud y Esperanza (Project Health and Hope) has won Modern Healthcare Magazine’s 2009 Spirit of Excellence Community Spirit Award.  The award is given annually to a creative and innovative program involving community education, support and outreach. It comes with a $5,000 cash prize.

   Proyecto Salud y Esperanza is a free program which uses Latin beat dance aerobics, walking groups, yoga and health education to reduce chronic health problems among low income Latinas in the Barrio Logan neighborhood of San Diego. More than 80% of participants recorded improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and general well-being after six months of participating in the program.

   “This is one of the many innovative health and wellness programs offered by Family Health Centers in addition to our high quality and affordable medical, dental, and mental health care services,” says Logan Heights Family Health Center clinic director Janet Adamian. “It is an honor to be selected from many programs nationwide for this special recognition.”