The Baltimore Alliance for the Prevention and Control of Hypertension and Diabetes: a model for developing a colorectal cancer community outreach program.

Many diseases that account for the majority of morbidity and mortality in African Americans are also associated with racial disparity. Such diseases include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and violent injuries. Epidemiologic associations find the excess burden for these diseases to be rooted in biological, psychosocial, and socioeconomic factors. Community-based efforts often function in isolation, attempting to have impact on diseases that affect local residents; unfortunately, such programs cannot be comprehensive in their approach. Foreseeable gaps allow morbidity and mortality to continue to exist. The Baltimore Alliance for the Prevention and Control of Hypertension and Diabetes (the Alliance), based at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, provides an infrastructure where successful community-based programs that target hypertension and diabetes join together in collaborative effort. The Alliance creates an association that supports community-based efforts, helping improve the efficiency and efficacy of such programs. Such associations can help close gaps, enabling programs to have a more comprehensive impact on communities.