Frequently Asked Questions | Live Health Foundation

What types of health screenings do you offer, and what do they include?

Our free Community Wellness Screenings include five core assessments: blood pressure measurement using dual-arm automated sphygmomanometers following American Heart Association protocols, fasting and non-fasting capillary blood glucose testing with FDA-approved point-of-care glucometers, a fingerstick total cholesterol panel providing total cholesterol and HDL ratio, Body Mass Index calculation from digital scale and stadiometer measurements, and a private one-on-one health risk consultation with a certified community health worker. Participants receive a confidential Health Summary Card with their results and referral information for affordable primary care providers. No insurance is required, and there is never a fee.

Who is eligible to participate in your programs?

All Live Health Foundation programs are open to residents of Mecklenburg County and surrounding counties in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area, regardless of age, income, insurance status, immigration status, or prior medical history. Specific programs have age-based eligibility: Youth Nutrition Education serves children ages 8 – 17, the Senior Fitness and Falls Prevention program is designed for adults aged 60 and older, and the Diabetes Prevention Workshop Series is open to adults 18 and older with at least one diabetes risk factor (BMI of 25 or greater, family history of type 2 diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, or prediabetes diagnosis). There are no citizenship, residency documentation, or identification requirements for any program.

Are your programs really free? What is the catch?

Every Live Health Foundation program is entirely free to participants. There are no copays, registration fees, material costs, or hidden charges of any kind. Our operations are funded through a diversified portfolio of foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and government contracts. We do not bill insurance, require financial information, or charge for any screening, workshop, exercise session, or educational material. Our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt mission explicitly mandates that cost never be a barrier to preventive health services.

Do I need to make an appointment for a health screening?

No appointment is necessary for our quarterly Community Wellness Screenings. All screening events operate on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis during posted event hours (typically 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM). However, we recommend arriving within the first two hours of the event to avoid longer wait times. If you plan to have fasting blood glucose testing, we recommend fasting for 8 – 12 hours prior to arrival (water is fine). The Diabetes Prevention Workshop Series, Heart Health Initiative, and Senior Fitness programs do require registration because they are cohort-based, multi-week programs with limited enrollment capacity. Contact our office at (704) 555-0237 to register for these programs.

What qualifications do your community health workers and screening staff hold?

Our community health workers (CHWs) complete a comprehensive 80-hour training program aligned with the NC Community Health Worker Core Competencies established by the NC DHHS Office of Rural Health. Training covers health coaching techniques, motivational interviewing, chronic disease literacy, cultural humility, HIPAA privacy compliance, and basic clinical measurement protocols. Additionally, our screening events are supervised by licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who oversee clinical measurement quality assurance. Guest clinicians, including volunteer cardiologists, endocrinologists, and pharmacists from Atrium Health, Novant Health, and CaroMont Health, participate in specialized program sessions.

How do I sign up to volunteer, and what training is provided?

You can submit a Volunteer Interest Form on our Get Involved page, email volunteer@livehealthfoundation.org, or call (704) 555-0237 ext. 2. All new volunteers attend a two-hour orientation session covering our mission, organizational structure, volunteer policies, safety protocols, and HIPAA privacy requirements. Role-specific training follows: screening measurement technicians receive an additional four hours of hands-on blood pressure and BMI measurement training, youth program facilitators attend a three-hour curriculum orientation, and data entry volunteers receive database system training. No prior medical experience is required for most volunteer roles, and we welcome volunteers of all ages (volunteers under 18 must have a parent or guardian co-sign the volunteer agreement).

Is my donation tax-deductible? How are funds used?

Yes. Live Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN: 27-4831056) recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. All donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. You will receive an official donation acknowledgment receipt for your tax records. In FY 2025, 82% of our total expenditures were directed to program services (screening supplies, curriculum materials, instructor compensation, venue rentals, participant snacks, transportation vouchers, and program evaluation), 11% to administrative and operational expenses, and 7% to fundraising and development. Our audited financial statements are available upon request, and we maintain a Gold transparency rating from GuideStar.

What languages are your programs offered in?

All printed materials, screening forms, and Health Summary Cards are available in English and Spanish. Community health workers fluent in Spanish staff every quarterly screening event. French and Haitian Creole interpretation is available upon request with 72 hours advance notice by contacting our office. We are actively recruiting bilingual volunteers and CHWs to expand language access for Charlotte's growing Somali, Vietnamese, and Mandarin-speaking communities. If you have language-specific needs, please contact us in advance so we can arrange appropriate interpretation services.

Can my organization or church host a screening event?

Absolutely. We actively seek community partners to host quarterly screening events. Host sites provide an indoor space with adequate lighting, electrical outlets, table and chair access for at least eight screening stations, and restroom facilities. Live Health Foundation provides all clinical equipment, screening supplies, staff, and volunteer coordination. There is no cost to the host organization. Ideal host sites include houses of worship, community centers, public libraries, senior centers, employer wellness programs, and neighborhood association meeting halls. To apply as a host site, email screenings@livehealthfoundation.org or call (704) 555-0237 ext. 1. We review host applications on a rolling basis and prioritize locations in zip codes with documented health disparities.

How do you protect my personal health information?

Live Health Foundation is committed to the confidentiality and security of all participant health information. While we are not a HIPAA-covered entity in the traditional sense (we are a nonprofit, not a healthcare provider or health plan), we voluntarily adhere to HIPAA Privacy Rule standards as a best practice. All screening data is collected on paper forms stored in locked containers during events and transported in secured cases to our office, where they are stored in a locked filing cabinet within a locked office. Electronic data is entered into a password-protected, encrypted database accessible only to authorized program staff. We collect the minimum information necessary for health assessment and program evaluation purposes. Individual-level data is never shared with employers, insurers, government agencies, or any third party. Aggregated, de-identified data is reported to the Mecklenburg County Community Health Assessment for public health planning purposes only. For complete details, please review our Privacy Policy.

Still Have Questions?

Our team is here to help. Reach out by phone, email, or visit our Charlotte office during business hours.