Educational Testing | Health Betterment Initiative

Founded in 2006 as the Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, D.C., the organization began with a focused mission to address hepatitis B disparities in underserved communities across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. Over time, it became clear that testing alone was not enough to improve long-term health outcomes. Individuals needed education, navigation, and sustained support to move from diagnosis to care, and ultimately toward independence in managing their health. In response to these gaps, CEO & Architect Sandra Marrero Ashford, MPH, MPA, MA created the Health Betterment Initiative (HBI), a broader public health model designed to move beyond disease-specific testing toward sustainable access to care. Formally launched in January 2024, HBI represents the intentional redesign of the organization’s approach, integrating: -Community Health Workers in the field -Education around complex health conditions -Linkage-to-care and resource navigation -Apricot, HBI’s data-informed system and data collection with support of AI which insures follow-up and continuity. This shift reflects a move from isolated screening efforts to a structured model that connects community trust with measurable outcomes. Through the combination of field-based outreach and data-informed infrastructure, HBI works to ensure individuals are not only screened, but supported in understanding their health and navigating systems of care. The long-term goal is sustainability: equipping communities with the knowledge and confidence to engage providers and access care independently.