WED-005 - Pilot Grants Build Capacity to Advance Health Education in Communities Disproportionately Impacted by Kidney Disease
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PST
Location: Plaza Foyer, Plaza Level
Area of Responsibility: Area IV: Evaluation and Research Keywords: Chronic Disease@@@Health Disparities@@@Health Equity, Subcompetencies: 4.4 Interpret data., 4.5 Use findings. Research or Practice: Practice
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Assess the impact of a pilot health equity grant in expanding kidney disease prevention and management education in communities disproportionately impacted by kidney disease.
Identify at least 3 strategies and challenges faced by coaches and organizations in implementing culturally relevant kidney disease prevention and management education.
Describe effective community-based settings for delivering CKD education to diverse populations.
Brief Abstract Summary: Learn how the American Kidney Fund’s Kidney Health Coach® pilot grant initiative supported community leaders and grassroots organizations across the country in delivering culturally relevant kidney disease education to reach Black, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian American Pacific Islander communities disproportionately impacted by kidney disease. These grants addressed financial barriers to implementation and empowered at-risk populations to keep their kidneys healthy. Gain insight into outreach strategies, community partnerships, engagement approaches and key outcomes from the one-year grant cycle.
Detailed abstract description:
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) disproportionately affects Black Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian American Pacific Islanders, yet access to culturally relevant education remains limited. Prevention efforts are critical to addressing these disparities. The American Kidney Fund’s (AKF) Kidney Health Coach® (KHC) program trains and supports individuals to engage their communities on CKD awareness and prevention through tailored education activities. To address CKD in at-risk populations, AKF piloted its KHC health equity grants, providing one-year of funds to help trained coaches and community organizations overcome financial barriers to delivering culturally relevant CKD education.
Methods: From November 2023-November 2024, AKF awarded 29 coaches and 4 community-based organizations across the country to deliver CKD education to at-risk communities in diverse settings. Data were collected at 3, 6 and 12 months to assess progress, implementation challenges, reach, effectiveness, and impact.
Results: Grantees conducted 543 educational activities, reaching an estimated 18,332 individuals from Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and Asian American Pacific Islander communities. Activities were primarily conducted via social media (14%), virtual platforms (13%), and churches (13%). Overall, 85% of grantees achieved their intended goals by engaging diverse audiences with culturally relevant messaging. Reported challenges included scheduling conflicts, limited staff capacity and turnover. Despite these challenges, 96% of grantees plan to continue CKD education beyond the grant period.
Conclusion: The pilot KHC health equity grants effectively supported coaches and organizations in empowering at-risk communities to prevent and manage CKD. By providing culturally relevant education and addressing financial barriers, the grant successfully reached diverse communities, increased awareness, and promoted proactive health behaviors. The pilot grant established a foundation for long-term sustainability through lasting community partnerships and supporting integration into existing health promotion efforts. Continued commitment through the grants will help sustain and grow CKD awareness and prevention efforts, especially for those most at-risk.
