E2.01 - IGNITE: Advancing Equity Through Emergency Readiness and Nutrition Access: Community Collaboration with the American Heart Association

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn how the American Heart Association advances health equity by addressing social determinants of heart health in Jacksonville, Florida. Explore how partnerships with churches and food pantries are expanding access to CPR training, fresh food, and cardiac emergency preparedness in Health Zone 1, the area with the city’s greatest health disparities. Discover how collaboration with Duval County Public Schools supported implementation of a new state law requiring AEDs and CPR training in schools, while also promoting staff wellness. Gain strategies for sustainability to support long-term impact through policy, systems, and environmental change to reduce disparities in heart health.

Detailed abstract description: The American Heart Association, the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization fighting heart disease and stroke, has long championed equitable health outcomes through research, education, and advocacy. With over $6 billion invested in research and more than 22 million people trained annually in CPR, the Association continues to drive systemic change. This abstract highlights a few examples of our community work in Jacksonville, Florida to address health equity through policy, systems, and environmental change.

In Jacksonville’s Health Zone 1—an area with the highest health disparities—the Association partnered with churches and food pantries to reach populations at high risk for heart disease. We provided funding and technical assistance to support cardiac emergency response planning and community-based blood pressure measurement. By increasing the number of community members who can access CPR training, we are helping to reduce disparities in bystander CPR and cardiac arrest survival. Additionally, funding for refrigeration allowed local food pantries to incorporate fresh foods like fruits and vegetables to improve heart health in our communities.

The Association also maintains strong relationships with schools. A new Florida law improves cardiac emergency readiness by mandating AEDs in every school and CPR training for staff and students. In collaboration with Duval County Public Schools, the 20th largest district in the U.S., we supported implementation of the new law by funding staff CPR certification and helping to develop cardiac emergency response plans. We also created blood pressure stations to promote staff wellness across the district.

Lessons learned from our community impact work highlight several key strategies for advancing health equity. First, identifying the right champions within organizations is essential, even though it requires time and persistence. Second, it’s possible to address broader community needs by engaging partners that serve multiple roles, such as churches that also operate food pantries. Third, tailoring materials to fit the needs of each organization is critical; for example, we provided simplified versions of cardiac emergency response plans for greater accessibility and usability.

To ensure sustainability, we plan to train an internal staff member as a CPR instructor to work with smaller community organizations, and provide CPR kits directly to local leaders to allow them to facilitate Hands-Only CPR demonstrations with their community members. On a policy level, the Association’s advocacy efforts were instrumental in passing the new cardiac emergency response law.

Through strategic partnerships and policy advocacy, the American Heart Association demonstrates how community-based approaches can overcome systemic barriers to heart health. These efforts offer a replicable model for advancing health equity in diverse populations.