HAPPY (Hypertension Awareness & Prevention Project at Yale)

Our Mission:

HAPPY, Hypertension Awareness & Prevention Program at Yale, is a collaboration of Yale University students, health professionals, and New Haven community resource and health care agencies dedicated to providing regular hypertension screenings, linking hypertensive individuals with affordable and immediate medical care, and eliminating barriers to follow-up care for underserved communities in New Haven. The ultimate goal of HAPPY is to establish cost-effective, long term community-based approaches that foster self-management behaviors for chronic hypertension among the homeless population. This is done through action that aims to prevent in-action; we provide free blood pressure screenings at various community sites in New Haven, and strive to connect individuals to resources for follow-up care or appropriate education and information.

Our Activities:

Hypertension Awareness & Prevention Program at Yale (HAPPY) is a collaboration of Yale University students, health professionals, and New Haven health care organizations dedicated to providing free, regular hypertension screenings, linking hypertensive individuals with affordable and immediate medical care, and eliminating barriers to follow-up care for under-served communities in New Haven.

We provide free blood pressure screening at several locations for the New Haven community. We also help hypertensive individuals with directing them towards affordable and immediate medical care if needed to help the under-served communities.

Student Leaders:

• Timothy Ward – Co-Coordinator/Co-President
• Krupa Subramaniam – Co-Coordinator/Co-President

Mission

HAPPY, Hypertension Awareness & Prevention Program at Yale, is a collaboration of Yale University students, health professionals, and New Haven community resource and health care agencies dedicated to providing regular hypertension screenings, linking hypertensive individuals with affordable and immediate medical care, and eliminating barriers to follow-up care for underserved communities in New Haven. The ultimate goal of HAPPY is to establish cost-effective, long term community-based approaches that foster self-management behaviors for chronic hypertension among the homeless population. This is done through action that aims to prevent in-action; we provide free blood pressure screenings at various community sites in New Haven, and strive to connect individuals to resources for follow-up care or appropriate education and information.

Student Leaders

Rishi Shah – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Sarah Li – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Megan Kernis – Co-Coordinator/Co-President

Activities

New Haven Road Race Table Direct Service We hosted a table at the New Haven Road Race by paying a $300 exhibitor fee. At the table, our volunteers offered free blood pressure screenings to runners, volunteers, and spectators who were interested. We also provided information and education about hypertension, including how to prevent and manage high blood pressure. Volunteers answered questions and shared resources so community members could better understand their health. This event gave us the chance to reach people outside our usual service locations and share our program with a wider group in New Haven. Blood Pressure Screenings + Community Education Direct Service HAPPY hosts free pop-up blood pressure screenings at various partner community locations where community members can have their blood pressure checked as well as receive educational materials regarding hypertension management as well as pathways to seek higher medical care in accessible and free local clinics. Weekly volunteering Direct Service – Conduct weekly, no-cost blood pressure screenings at designated community centers in New Haven. – Deploy two to three trained HAPPY volunteers per shift, with at least one volunteer responsible for greeting participants and inviting them to complete a screening. – Set up and maintain an informational poster in a visible location to ensure community members are aware of the service. – Ensure all HAPPY volunteers uphold a professional and welcoming presence, offering assistance to community center staff as needed (e.g., serving food, cleaning, or other supportive tasks) to strengthen community partnerships. Pressure Check Collaboration Direct Service This semester, we partnered with Pressure Check, a clinical research study sponsored by Yale Medicine to address disparities in hypertension. The study uses a community-based participatory research model to engage participants and test different models of care delivery for blood pressure control. As part of our partnership, we perform blood screenings of participants in the study. These participants make up our community members in New Haven. Mid-semester Check-In Direct Service In order to ensure that our volunteers are providing the New Haven community with the greatest quality of care we will host a second training session in the middle of semester. This will also serve as a check in for our shift leaders and general volunteers and provide them an oppurtunity to voice concerns and feedback. Free blood pressure screening in the New Haven community Direct Service Usually two to three volunteers are accommodated per shift. At least one of the volunteers should greet and ask community members to take a blood pressure reading. HAPPY volunteers should set up the information poster at a salient location to let the community center clients know of the free, weekly hypertension screening. All HAPPY volunteers should be courteous to community center staff and be willing to help, such as serving food, cleaning up, and other duties you may be asked to do. Blood Pressure Screenings at Public Locations and Soup Kitchens Direct Service HAPPY will conduct free, on-site blood pressure screenings at public locations and soup kitchens throughout New Haven, bringing preventive care directly to underserved community members in accessible spaces. In a press release by Yale-New Haven Health in 2022, about 26% of individuals living in New Haven county suffer from hypertension, with those who are underserved hovering around the 30% range. Additionally, hypertension is known as a “silent killer,” as people are unaware they have high blood pressure until a severe, often irreversible health event occurs. At each event, trained Yale College student volunteers will provide blood pressure measurements, explain results in clear language, and offer individualized recommendations on hypertension prevention and self-management. Individuals with elevated readings will receive referrals to affordable local clinics and community health partners, such as HAVEN, Cornell Scott Hill Center, or Fair Haven, along with guidance on how to access follow-up care. By providing for people where they are and reducing informational barriers, this service promotes early detection, ongoing medical care, and advances long-term management of chronic hypertension. Volunteer Training Social/Cultural/Team-Building All volunteers are required to attend a mandatory in-person training session prior to participating in community service. During this training, volunteers learn to accurately measure blood pressure using both manual and automatic devices, practice appropriate communication and response to community members, and receive guidance on professional etiquette when volunteering in settings such as soup kitchens and public libraries.

How Others Get Involved

Reach out to yale.happy.project@gmail.com to more information on volunteering with HAPPY!