Kansas State University

Healthy Heart Ambassador February Trainings Set to Join the KSRE HAPp Program

Submitted by Elaine Johannes

February is Heart Health Month! 

• Are you concerned about hypertension risk in your community, your collaborators, among local employers, your Extension colleagues, your household?
• Are you considering implementing HAPp (Hypertension Awareness and Prevention program) in your program portfolio? 

If so, you're invited to become a Healthy Heart Ambassador (HHA) by completing a 3.5 hour in-person training to become a self monitored blood pressure facilitator/coach.  HHA certification is required to implement the KSRE HAPp (hypertension awareness and prevention program) signature program - both the traditional 4 month and the new HAPp Works 8 week worksite pilot. 

Here are some details:

The KSRE HAPp Program requires Healthy Heart Ambassador (HHA) training in self monitored blood pressure coaching: 

Completion of the HHA training is necessary for agents to implement the HAPp (Hypertension Awareness and Prevention Program) traditional and the worksite pilot program. At the end of this in-person training agents will receive a certificate of completion and an Omron arm cuff blood pressure monitor to keep. Once certified, agents will not need to recertify their HHA course content. 

HHA training which is specifically for Extension agents and their community partners will be held:

• February 13 (Thursday) 1:00 pm-4:30 pm in Salina; K-State Salina Aerospace & Technology Campus; College Center - Room 201 - Conference Room, 2310 Centennial Road, Salina, KS (phone: 785-826-2911); limited to 10 participants

• February 20 (Thursday) 1:00 pm-4:30 pm in Iola; Southwind Extension District meeting room, located at 1006 N. State Street, Iola, KS (phone: 620-365-2242); limited to 10 participants 

HHA training participants will complete about 45 minutes of pre-work before either training and will receive an Omron blood pressure monitor for the training and to keep.  

Let Elaine Johannes (ejohanne@ksu.edu) know by February 6 (Thursday) if you plan to attend either HHA trainings.

Contact members of the KSRE HAPp leadership (Stephanie Gutierrez, Sara Sawer, Priscilla Brens, Elaine Johannes) about implementing HAPp in your community.