At Arab American Family Services, we raise awareness about preventable diseases that hinder the community. Often times, certain illness carries a stigma, and many people are afraid to seek help, get screened or face the fact that they may have an illness. Often times, getting tested early makes all the difference. Through leadership, education, support, and resources, AAFS empowers the community by promoting and educating the community on living a healthy lifestyle. This partnership will help put cancer screenings at reach for Arab-Americans throughout the community.
Cancer affects thousands of Arab American men and women every year. For many Arab Americans, there is a fear that lies within us that prevents us from being tested. Throughout the community, there may be a sense of shame that comes from being screened for breast, cervical and colon cancer. Screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colon cancer will be easily provided for those who may have been afraid or uneasy to be tested for this horrific disease. Women and men in the community can call or come to AAFS to be directed to the proper facility to be screened for breast, cervical and colon cancer.
The staff of AAFS has been given the necessary training to educate the public on issues that are often not properly discussed. Through our numerous connections and knowledge, we consider ourselves a leading factor in the community that will educate each other on the importance of health and wellness, as well as disease prevention and awareness.
For more information, or to receive information on a number of free clinics throughout the community, feel free to give AAFS a call at (708) 599-2237.
A1C Diabetes Prevention and Education
AAFS in collaboration with Asian Health Coalition offers support to diabetic clients, and individuals who are at risk of developing diabetes. Group classes are offered on how to recognize the signs of diabetes, and how to live a healthier life once diagnosed with diabetes. Classes include information on maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and maintaining healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Clients are offered A1C blood work tests every 3 months, which determine blood sugar levels.
In 2021, AAFS started cooking and healthy lifestyle videos and in-person demos. Staff teach clients how to cook healthy and delicious foods, and how to grocery shop. Additional demos included exercise videos, and how to help elderly people stay healthy. During the in-person cooking demos, each of the cohorts of clients were taught how to prepare 2–3 recipes and encouraged to engage with others while cooking. AAFS also provided gift cards for groceries.
V-Protect Program
During the COVID-19 pandemic, AAFS took part in educating the Arab and Muslim community about vaccines every month. AAFS also surveyed people to learn about community mindsets toward vaccines. AAFS found that around 35-40% of the population’s mindset toward vaccines did change after informational sessions promoting the COVID-19 and other vaccines.
Health Research Center
AAFS has been at the forefront of partaking in research to benefit the health of our community. We participated recently in DePaul University’s study on gender-based violence in the Arab American Community and Cook County Department of Public Health’s Needs Assessment of Behavioral Health of the Arab American Community.
