Partnership with VIA Heart Project and local health providers to deliver free blood pressure, diabetes, BMI, and mental health screenings at league nights.
1 Hour
All Participants
VIA Heart Project Partner
4 Screening Types
Module 06 · AMB Training
Health & Wellness Screenings
Free health screenings delivered at league nights. Partnering with VIA Heart Project and local providers to bring preventive care directly to AMB participants.
Heart Health
Blood pressure & cardiovascular screenings
Diabetes & BMI
Blood glucose & body mass index checks
Mental Health
Screening & resource connection
Why Health Screenings Matter
Health Disparities in Our Community
AMB participants are statistically at higher risk for undiagnosed cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health conditions. Screening saves lives.
Hypertension — Black men ages 20–44 have hypertension rates nearly 3× higher than the national average. Most cases are undiagnosed without screening.
Diabetes — Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects underserved communities. Early detection prevents kidney failure, blindness, and amputation.
Mental Health — 1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition yearly. Stigma and access barriers prevent treatment in our communities.
Our Role — AMB league nights reach youth and young adults where they already are. Meeting people where they are removes barriers to care.
What We Screen For
4 Free Screening Types
All screenings are voluntary, confidential, and take less than 5 minutes each. No insurance required.
PHQ-2 and GAD-2 validated questionnaires. Confidential. Warm referral if positive screen.
AMB Partner · VIA Heart Project
Your #1 Health Partner
VIA Heart Project is AMB's primary health screening partner. They provide trained health volunteers, equipment, and referral follow-up for every screening event.
What VIA Provides
Trained Health VolunteersCertified nurses, nursing students, and CHWs (community health workers) who conduct all screenings
Screening EquipmentBlood pressure cuffs, glucose meters, lancets, test strips, scales, height measures — VIA brings everything
Referral NetworkConnects participants with abnormal readings to local clinics, federally qualified health centers, and mental health providers
Chapter Director Role
Book the EventContact VIA Heart Project minimum 3 weeks before your league night to schedule. Provide expected participant count and venue details.
Promote to ParticipantsAnnounce at 2 sessions before the event: "Free health check — no insurance, no needles for most tests, takes 5 minutes"
Set Up the SpaceDesignate a private table area away from the courts. Privacy matters — people won't screen if others can see their results.
Deep Dive · Heart Health
Understanding Blood Pressure
Blood pressure screening is the single highest-impact intervention AMB can deliver. Hypertension is called the silent killer — it has no symptoms.
Normal Range
Below 120/80 mm Hg. This is the target. Participants in this range should maintain their habits and rescreen annually.
Elevated
120–129 / less than 80. No medication needed yet, but lifestyle changes are recommended: less salt, more exercise, reduce stress.
Stage 1 Hypertension
130–139 / 80–89. Physician consultation recommended. Lifestyle changes plus possible medication. Provide clinic referral immediately.
Stage 2 Hypertension
140+ / 90+. Urgent medical attention. Do not alarm the participant — connect them warmly and directly to a clinic same week.
Hypertensive Crisis
180+ / 120+. Call 911 if symptomatic (chest pain, headache, vision changes). This is a medical emergency.
Facilitator Role
You do not provide medical advice. You provide results, education, and warm referral. Always frame positively: "Now you know, and knowing gives you power."
Mental Health Screening
Breaking the Stigma
Mental health screening at AMB is an act of courage. Frame it as strength, not weakness. Use validated tools: PHQ-2 for depression, GAD-2 for anxiety.
The PHQ-2 & GAD-2
PHQ-2 (Depression)2 questions: "Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?" Score 0–6. Score ≥ 3 = positive screen.
GAD-2 (Anxiety)2 questions about feeling nervous, worried, or unable to stop worrying. Score 0–6. Score ≥ 3 = positive screen.
What Positive Screen MeansNot a diagnosis — it means more evaluation is recommended. Connect to a counselor or community mental health center.
Facilitator Language
Before Screening"These 4 questions are just a check-in on how you've been feeling. There's no right or wrong answer. It's completely private."
After Positive Screen"Your results suggest it might be helpful to talk to someone. I have a number for a free counselor — want me to text it to you?"
Normalizing Mental Health"LeBron has a performance psychologist. Every professional athlete does. Taking care of your mind is part of peak performance."
Prevention Education
Nutrition & Substance Abuse Prevention
Pair screenings with brief prevention education. 5 minutes of targeted health information has measurable impact when delivered alongside screening results.
Nutrition Basics — Hypertension and diabetes are both diet-responsive. Teach: reduce sodium, limit sugary drinks, increase vegetables and water. Use relatable food comparisons.
Physical Activity — 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days per week reduces blood pressure by 5–8 mm Hg. Basketball counts! Celebrate what participants are already doing.
Tobacco & Vaping — Nicotine raises blood pressure by 10–20 mm Hg immediately after use. Connect tobacco users to free state quit lines (1-800-QUIT-NOW in most states).
Alcohol & Substance Use — Alcohol elevates blood pressure and worsens diabetes. Substance use often co-occurs with untreated mental health conditions. Know your local SAMHSA resources.
Running the Event
Health Night Setup Guide
A well-organized health screening night maximizes participation and ensures every person with a concerning result gets connected to care.
Stations Setup
Set 4 stations in a U-shape: BP → Glucose → BMI → Mental Health. Flow keeps wait time under 10 min.
2–4 Health Volunteers
One per station minimum. VIA Heart Project coordinates certified volunteers for your event.
Privacy & Consent
All results are private. Use folded paper results cards. Obtain verbal consent before any test.
Referral Map Ready
Print local clinic addresses and phone numbers. Have at least 3 nearby federally qualified health centers on hand.
Follow-Up & Reporting
After the Screening Night
The screening only matters if people with abnormal results actually access care. Follow-up at the next session is essential.
Follow-Up Calls
Check in with participants who had concerning results within 7 days — did they contact a clinic?
Aggregate Reporting
Report total screened and referrals made (no names) to AMB national for annual health impact data
Schedule Next Event
Target quarterly health nights — every 3 months creates a rhythm participants look forward to
Case Management
Log all referrals made and outcomes in AMB case management. Required for health grant compliance.
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Heart HealthMental HealthDiabetesPreventionRequired for facilitators
What You'll Cover
Health disparities & why screening matters
4 free screening types explained
VIA Heart Project partnership setup
Understanding blood pressure readings
Mental health screening & language
Health night logistics & follow-up
Session Timer
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Current Segment
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Facilitated By
AMB Chapter Director + VIA Heart Project Association of Midnight Basketball Health & Wellness Component · MBL Program™
Contact VIA Heart Project at least 3 weeks before league night to book volunteers
Confirm volunteer count and equipment list with VIA coordinator
Designate a private screening area — table with privacy partition or separate room
Print local referral resource list (3+ clinics, mental health centers, urgent care)
Announce health night at 2 prior sessions: "Free health check — 5 minutes, no insurance"
Prepare verbal consent script for health volunteers to use before each screening
Set up 4 stations in U-shape: BP → Glucose → BMI → Mental Health questionnaire
Have AMB case management log sheet ready to record referrals made (no names, just counts)
Post-event: follow up with participants who had abnormal results within 7 days
Submit aggregate health screening data to AMB national for impact reporting
Event Flow — Step-by-Step
1
Pre-Event Announcement & Promotion
2 Sessions Before
Promotion drives participation. Announce at two sessions before the event and use the right language.
What to say: "Next week we're doing free health checks on the sideline. Takes 5 minutes. No needles for most tests. No insurance. Just come through."
Emphasize it's completely voluntary and results are private
Frame it as something athletes do: "Pros get health checks all the time. We're doing the same."
Use social media / group chat to pre-announce the night before
2
Event Night Screening Flow
During League Night
Screening stations open at league night check-in. Direct participants toward the health table.
VIA volunteers obtain verbal consent: "We'd like to do a free BP check — do we have your OK?"
Participants flow through 4 stations in order: BP → Glucose → BMI → Mental Health
Results given on a folded paper card — private, take-home
Any participant with a concerning reading gets a warm, private referral conversation
Chapter director remains available to connect referred participants to next step before they leave
Emergency Protocol: If a participant presents with hypertensive crisis (BP 180+/120+ with symptoms), call 911 immediately. Have VIA volunteers assess and stabilize while you call.
3
Post-Event Follow-Up
Within 7 Days
Log total participants screened and referrals made in AMB case management (aggregate, no names)
Call or text participants with abnormal readings: "Hey, just checking in — did you get a chance to call that clinic?"
At the next session: publicly acknowledge the event was a success (without sharing individual results)
Book next quarterly health night with VIA — keep the rhythm going
Submit aggregate data to AMB national: screenings conducted, referrals made, abnormal findings by category
Impact Tracking: AMB's health screening data feeds into grant applications and annual impact reports. Accurate data directly supports your chapter's funding pipeline.
Health Partners & Resources
Know your local health resources before the event. Build relationships with these partners — they want to reach underserved communities and will often come to you.
VIA Heart Project
AMB's primary health screening partner. Provides trained health volunteers, all equipment, and referral follow-up. Book 3+ weeks in advance.
Federally Qualified Health Centers
FQHCs provide primary care regardless of ability to pay. Find your nearest FQHC at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. Free and low-cost services.
Community Mental Health
SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service. Know this number.
AMB Case Management
Log all health screening events, referrals, and aggregate outcomes in AMB case management. Required for grant compliance and annual impact reporting.
Module 06 Complete
Ready to run a health night?
Contact VIA Heart Project today to schedule your next health screening event.