Research by Jon Mills, Ph.D., and Jeffrey Harman, Ph.D., in collaboration with Penny Ralston’s, Ph.D. team from the FSU Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations, presents one of the first detailed cost analyses of a church-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention program in African American communities.

The study examined Health for Hearts United, a community-led intervention designed to reduce CVD risk through local churches. Findings revealed that labor accounted for 85% of total implementation costs, with the training phase alone making up 74% of labor expenses.

To improve cost-efficiency, the researchers recommend exploring ways to streamline the program while maintaining its effectiveness and community impact.