• NC Cooperative Extension 

• Onslow County Faith-Based Communities

• Onslow County Health Department (OCHD)

What We Do

OCHD teaches the Faithful Families program, an evidence-based intervention that partners with faith-based communities to promote healthy living among individuals, families, and local communities. Through nine interactive sessions on nutrition, meal preparation, food safety, and physical activity, participants gain the knowledge and skills needed to make informed health choices and improve their overall well-being. Faith communities and organizations serve as important health advocates, and through Faithful Families, they can actively support community health improvement. 

Who We Serve

Faith-based communities and families in Onslow County of any faith or religious tradition. 

How We Impact

Faithful Families provides education and aids in skill development for participants related to improved dietary intake, food safety practices, improved food resource management practices, and increased daily physical activity. This program provides additional support to families and seeks to develop skills and knowledge to enable them to improve health behaviors. 

Two new cohorts of Faithful Families were implemented at Marshall Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and H20 Ministries. H20 Ministries serves individuals facing challenges like homelessness and job insecurity. The program's impact on the participants was significant and resulted in great connections in the community. In the quarters where data was not reported, OCHD continued to make contacts with faith-based organizations, spread awareness of the program, and go to churches to market the program and discuss how it could be implemented.