Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services is our newest program facet.

The Links, Incorporated established the Health and Human Services (HHS) facet in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in black communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. The goal of HHS is to promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health and the elimination of chronic health disparities in communities of color through education, health advocacy, and optimal utilization of health resources.

The HeartLinks to Heart Health:  Selected by The Links Foundation to receive a grant as a HeartLinks to Heart Health Tier 2 site, the Brooklyn Chapter has provided an array of services and programming to promote heart health.  Our activities include: 1)  the American Heart Association’s Brooklyn Heart Walk, for which our team was the top Community Team in fundraising in both 2015 and 2016;  2)  presentation of Every Heartbeat is Life seminars to women’s groups and 3) participation in Go Red Brooklyn and Go Red Sunday events.

The National Childhood Obesity Initiative: Since 2012, the Brooklyn Chapter has presented the Can You Imagine Me? – Healthy Eating and Physical Activity curriculum to elementary school, junior high school and high school students.  The Chapter’s Childhood Obesity Program received the First Place Award for Health Programming at the 2013 Eastern Area Conference and the Legacy Award at the 2015 Eastern Area Conference. 

Linkages to Life: Organ, Tissue and Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Program Each November, the Brooklyn Links partner with local congregations to provide education on the need for African –American organ, tissue and bone marrow donation as well as an opportunity to register as a donor.

The National Breast Health Initiative: The Brooklyn Chapter has provided education on breast health and participates in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Brooklyn Walk.

The National Oral Health Initiative addresses oral health in adults and children. Using Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, we teach our youth about proper oral care.