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The Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked HBI to replicate our successful faith-based model on a national level, in partnership with the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and the Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum. On January 24, 2006, HBI is raising awareness about hepatitis B and providing free screenings to Korean American pastors from around the United States who are gathering for a conference.

Background:
In 2002, HBI expanded its services to the DC metro area at the request of the National Taskforce on Hepatitis B: Focus on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and CDC. Maryland and Virginia are two of the twelve states identified by the Taskforce as being at greatest need for hepatitis B awareness activities.

HBI-DC conducted a needs assessment and formed partnerships to formulate a campaign which would enhance existing infrastructures with hepatitis B awareness. A Korean campaign was launched in 2003 as a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of providing cultural and linguistic appropriate education, screening, and vaccination directly at locations where communities gather. The Hepatitis B Initiative Ministry was formed from members from the Christ Central Presbyterian Church (CCPC), formally known as Korean Central Presbyterian Church-English Ministry. The tremendous success of the pilot program created a demand from organizations both local and around the Nation to expand HBI's outreach to other Korean churches, and explore piloting programs for the Chinese and Vietnamese communities.

We are grateful to Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu, Deputy Surgeon General, and Master Jhoon Rhee, world-renowned martial arts instructor and member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, for helping us to launch this initiative.

For more information or to partner with us, please contact Theresa Castillo, Executive Director of HBI-DC.