Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    DOMESTIC PROGRAMMING COVID RESPONSE WELLSHARE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE PROVIDES A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN MINNESOTA. NAMED AN OFFICIAL COVID-19 COMMUNITY COORDINATOR BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WELLSHARE HELPED CONNECT OUR STATE'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO COVID TESTING, VACCINATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES. PARTNERING WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN 2020 THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE AND HEALTH EDUCATION, OUR WORK ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF NEARLY 79,000 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, WELLSHARE REACHED 15 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH 102 EDUCATIONAL POSTS/FLYERS IN 7 LANGUAGES AND 10 HEALTH DRAMA VIDEOS IN 4 LANGUAGES. OUR TEAM STAFFED 24 TESTING SITES ATTENDED BY NEARLY 23,500 PEOPLE. AND WE CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE VACCINATION CLINICS. HEALTHPLAN NAVIGATION AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WELLSHARE PARTNERS WITH A NUMBER OF HEALTH PLANS HELPING THEIR MEMBERS NAVIGATE HEALTH SYSTEMS, PROVIDING HEALTH EDUCATION AND ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. WE ENGAGE MEMBERS BY TELEPHONE, IN THEIR HOMES, IN COMMUNITY-BASED GROUP SETTINGS AND VIA CULTURAL MEDIA CHANNELS. IN 2020 WELLSHARE CHWS PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND REFERRALS FOR: COVID TESTING AND VACCINES; FLU SHOTS; CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS AND ANNUAL CHECKUPS. WE ALSO ENABLED MEMBER SUCCESS IN NAVIGATING HEALTH PLANS' CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NURSE LINES, CHOOSING PRIMARY CARE CLINICS/PROVIDERS, MAKING MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION FOR CLINIC VISITS, USE OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES RESOURCES. EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY HOME VISITING WELLSHARE CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT AN EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY HOME VISITING PROGRAM IN 2020. USING THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL, WELLSHARE PARENT EDUCATORS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES TO: -HELP PARENTS UNDERSTAND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE PARENTING SKILLS, -IDENTIFY DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS EARLY, -PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES, AND, ULTIMATELY, -IMPROVE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS. IN THE CURRENT PROGRAM, WELLSHARE WILL REACH 72 SOMALI FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN PRENATAL TO 5.9 YEARS WITH TWO YEARS OF PROGRAMMING. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS - BRIDGING THE CULTURAL DIVIDE IN 2020, WELLSHARE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER ("CHW") PEER NETWORK PROGRAM. THE CHW PEER NETWORK WAS CREATED BY WELLSHARE IN 2005 AND REACHES A STATEWIDE GROUP OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS SERVING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. WELLSHARE HOSTS A MODERATED NETWORK MAILING LIST AND PROVIDES IN-SERVICE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO CHWS. THE NETWORK SENDS OUT ELECTRONIC (EMAIL) UPDATES INCLUDING CHW JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS, TRAINING INFORMATION, AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY CHWS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. EACH YEAR, WELLSHARE SURVEYS CHW MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE TRAININGS THAT ARE MOST RELEVANT TO THEIR WORK. BASED ON SURVEY RESULTS, WELLSHARE HOSTS QUARTERLY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS FOR CHWS IN THE PEER NETWORK. CURRENTLY THE NETWORK REACHES OVER 600 CHWS, EMPLOYERS, AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS. IN 2020, WELLSHARE HOSTED SIX VIRTUAL EVENTS. EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL'S TOBACCO-FREE COMMUNITIES EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ("MDH"), AIMS TO REDUCE THE HARM CAUSED BY TOBACCO AND SECONDHAND SMOKE AMONG SOMALI AND EAST AFRICAN CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS. ESTABLISHED IN 2013, THE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO COMPLETE A COMMUNITY-BASED ASSESSMENT TO STRENGTHEN MINNESOTA AFRICAN-AMERICANS' (SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN) COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND INVOLVEMENT AROUND TOBACCO CONTROL THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 2.TO INCREASE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS' AWARENESS OF THE HOOKAH PROBLEM IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 3.TO DEVELOP KEY LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE SOMALI TOBACCO/HOOKAH PROGRAMMING. 4.TO WORK WITH SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN YOUTH TO INCREASE THEIR FOCUS ON HEALTHY BEHAVIORS TO PROMOTE BOTH PREVENTION AND CESSATION EFFORTS (CIGARETTES AND HOOKAH). 5.TO DEVELOP A PEER-TO-PEER OUTREACH MODEL WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO INTEGRATE A QUIT PARTNER REFERRAL PROCESS. 6.TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL PROTECTED BY SMOKE- AND COMMERCIAL TOBACCO-FREE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR POLICIES. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR EAST AFRICAN YOUTH - 'THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS' THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS, A WELLSHARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN YOUTH, OFFERS A CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR SOMALI YOUTH TO LEARN, BE CREATIVE, INTERACT WITH POSITIVE ADULTS, LEARN SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND PREPARE THEM FOR HIGHER EDUCATION BY WORKING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FRANKLIN LIBRARY. THE GROUP IS YOUTH-LED AND OUR SOMALI STAFF MENTORS THE YOUTH TO DEVELOP CREATIVE PROJECTS IN ORDER TO SEND POSITIVE MESSAGES TO THEIR EAST AFRICAN PEERS. EAST AFRICAN AND KAREN REFUGEE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM WELLSHARE'S SPACING PREGNANCIES PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN AND KAREN COMMUNITIES ("SPEAK") INITIATIVE INCLUDES TWO PROJECTS: THE SOMALI CHILD SPACING PROGRAM AND THE KAREN FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM. USING A COMMUNITY- BASED, CLIENT-CENTERED APPROACH, SOMALI AND KAREN COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WORK WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, INVESTED STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS, AND LOCAL PROVIDERS AND PROFESSIONALS IN HOPES THAT SOMALI AND KAREN COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA WILL: 1.HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO AND UPTAKE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESOURCES, INCLUDING CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS; 2.RECEIVE MORE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES; 3.EXPERIENCE INCREASED SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GOALS; AND 4.PARTAKE IN BETTER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, INCLUDING REDUCED UNINTENDED PREGNANCY. IN 2020, THE PROGRAM HAD SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY IMPACT. MORE THAN 300 SOMALI MEN AND WOMEN RECEIVED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION AND SERVICES THROUGH INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS AND SMALL GROUP EDUCATION SESSIONS. MORE THAN 40 KAREN YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN KAREN-LANGUAGE COMMUNITY CLASSES AND GATHERINGS EMPHASIZING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SKILL-BUILDING UTILIZING INTERACTIVE LESSONS RANGING FROM REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY TO HOW TO ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND FAMILY PLANNING OPTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCIES IN FAMILY PLANNING, REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY, AND HEALTH CARE NAVIGATION/ACCESS UPON COMPLETION OF THE CLASSES. WELLSHARE ALSO CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH THE ROSELAWN CLINIC IN ST. PAUL TO COORDINATE POST-PARTUM HOME VISITS TO SPEAK WITH NEW MOTHERS ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING OPTIONS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR POSTPARTUM APPOINTMENTS AT THE CLINIC. WE HELD 31 HOME VISITS IN 2020. (ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOCAL KAREN COMMUNITY IS COORDINATED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KAREN ORGANIZATION OF MINNESOTA.) SKIN LIGHTENING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM IN 2020, MDH PROVIDED ONE-TIME GRANTS TO FOUR ORGANIZATIONS WITH CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE USE OF SKIN- LIGHTENING PRODUCTS, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-LED EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH RISKS OF MERCURY EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF THESE UNREGULATED PRODUCTS. WELLSHARE BEGAN WORK ON THIS TOPIC IN APRIL 2020 BY CONDUCTING KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DEVELOP PRINT AND MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE - SCIENCE CAF PARTNERSHIP IN 2020, A TEAM OF CHWS PARTNERED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE ("CTSI") TO CONDUCT FOCUS GROUPS IN THE SOMALI AND KAREN COMMUNITY AROUND HEALTH EQUITY TOPICS. THESE FOCUS GROUPS ARE REFERRED TO AS SCIENCE CAFS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCHERS TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AROUND IMPORTANT HEALTH TOPICS AND INSPIRE MUTUAL CURIOSITY BETWEEN PARTIES ABOUT SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL RESEARCH.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.3M

  • Program 2 [2020]

    INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING TANZANIA 'SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUPS' PROJECT WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL HAS IMPLEMENTED THE SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUP PROJECT FOR YOUNG SINGLE MOTHERS WAS IN BARIADI DISTRICT, TANZANIA, SINCE 2012. THIS PROJECT IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF YOUNG MOTHERS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES USING TWO KEY APPROACHES: -FORMATION OF A VILLAGE-BASED GROUP WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF COHESIVENESS AND TRUST, AND -IMPLEMENTATION OF VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING ("VICOBA"). THE SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUPS ARE LED BY TRAINED TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS OR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WHO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY HEALTH EDUCATION. OVER 15 SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUPS REACH YOUNG SINGLE MOTHERS WITH PEER SUPPORT, HEALTH EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND MICRO-LOANS SUPPORTING SUCH INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SALE OF LIVESTOCK, VEGETABLES AND FRUITS; PEANUT OIL PROCESSING; SHOPKEEPING, AND SERVICES. CONTINUOUS TRAINING IN HEALTH AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IS PROVIDED TO GROUP LEADERS AND PARTICIPANTS. TANZANIA 'TOGETHER FOR HEALTH' PROJECT IN THE RURAL BARIADI DISTRICT OF TANZANIA, HEALTH INFORMATION AND CARE ARE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL HELPS FAMILIES ACCESS LIFESAVING INFORMATION AND RECOGNIZE WARNING SIGNS OF SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY. IPADS ARE LOADED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH CONTENT, INCLUDING VIDEOS AND BOOKS, ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES AND CONDITIONS. WITH SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FROM COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL HEALTH WORKERS, TANZANIANS ARE NOW BETTER EQUIPPED TO MANAGE THEIR OWN HEALTH. KEY ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: -COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND OUTREACH: THROUGH LOCAL EVENTS, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS CAN BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN WHO ARE IN NEED OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND CARE. -TRAINING OF HEALTH WORKERS: TEN TRAINED CLINICAL HEALTH WORKERS WILL EDUCATE 30 WELLSHARE CHWS WHO WILL WORK WITH WOMEN LIVING IN LOCAL VILLAGES. -INCREASED ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION AND CARE IN VILLAGES: CLINICAL HEALTH WORKERS WILL USE THE TABLETS TO HELP WOMEN UNDERSTAND PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE AND TRIAGE CONDITIONS THAT NEED CLINICAL EXPERTISE. -REDUCED RISK OF HEALTH CONDITIONS AND DISEASES: WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION, MOTHERS CAN LEARN HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF - OR PREVENT - HEALTH CRISES. WHEN A SITUATION DOES OCCUR, THEY WILL KNOW HOW TO ACCESS CLINICAL CARE. -MENTORSHIP: THE CHWS WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM THE CLINICAL HEALTH WORKERS AND UNDERSTAND THE CARE PROVIDED AT CLINICS AND HOSPITALS TO IMPROVE OR MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $33.3K

  • Family Support and Health Initiatives

    DOMESTIC PROGRAMMING EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY HOME VISITING: WELLSHARE WILL REACH 36 SOMALI, OROMO AND HISPANIC FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN PRENATAL TO 5 YEARS WITH TWO YEARS USING THE FAMILY SPIRIT MODEL: -HELPING PARENTS UNDERSTAND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVING PARENTING SKILLS. -IDENTIFYING DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS EARLY. -PROVIDING COMMUNITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES. -IMPROVING CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS. THE GOAL OF THE FHV PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND AND SCALE-UP SERVICES TO SOMALI, OROMO AND HISPANIC FAMILIES TRANSITIONING FROM AN EVIDENCE-BASED FAMILY HOME VISITING PROGRAM SO THAT MORE SOMALI AND OROMO CHILDREN IN THE TWIN CITIES GROW UP IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, ARE HEALTHY, AND ARE PREPARED TO LEARN WHEN THEY ENROLL IN SCHOOL. EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM: ESTABLISHED IN 2013, WELLSHARE'S TOBACCO-FREE COMMUNITIES EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS), AIMS TO REDUCE THE HARM CAUSED BY TOBACCO AND SECONDHAND SMOKE AMONG SOMALI AND EAST AFRICAN CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2024 PROJECT YEAR INCLUDES OUR SMOKE-FREE BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL TOBACCO-FREE EVENT POLICIES: COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO 3,255 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS, AND COMPLETION OF AN EVALUATION OF CESSATION PRACTICES IN CLINICS SERVING SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR EAST AFRICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH - 'THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS': THIS WELLSHARE PROGRAM IS FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH, OFFERS A CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH TO LEARN, BE CREATIVE, INTERACT WITH POSITIVE ADULTS, LEARN SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT & HIGHER EDUCATION BY WORKING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. IN 2024, APPROXIMATELY 178 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE 9-MONTH LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM. SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES: WELLSHARE'S SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS BY ADDRESSING OFTEN STIGMATIZED TOPICS IN CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND ACCESSIBLE WAYS. RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS MANY COMMUNITIES FACE IN ACCESSING ACCURATE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, THE PROGRAM COVERS ESSENTIAL TOPICS SUCH AS CONTRACEPTION, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PREGNANCY HEALTH, MENTAL WELLNESS, AND THE BENEFITS OF CHILD SPACING. OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, WHO REFLECT THE POPULATIONS THEY SERVE, DELIVER EDUCATION THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, SMALL GROUP SESSIONS, AND ONE-ON-ONE ENGAGEMENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WELLSHARE ALSO OFFERS STAFF TRAINING, HELPS ASSESS PARTICIPANT NEEDS, AND COLLABORATES ON CO-CREATED INITIATIVES, ENSURING SUPPORT IS BOTH RESPONSIVE AND ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE CONTEXT. HEALTHPLAN PLAN PARTNERSHIPS: WELLSHARE PARTNERS WITH THE MAJOR HEALTH PLANS IN MINNESOTA. HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE COMPLEX SOCIAL AND HEALTH SYSTEMS FOR EFFECTIVE USE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND THE FULL RANGE OF THEIR SERVICE BENEFITS. WE PARTNER WITH CLINIC SYSTEMS, HEALTH PLANS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO REDUCE ACCESS BARRIERS AND DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES FOR GAP CLOSURE IN SOCIAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH AND USE OF CLINICAL SERVICES. MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION/COVID-19 RESPONSE PROGRAMMING: WELLSHARE HAS ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION SESSIONS AND RESPOND TO OTHER COMMUNITY NEEDS. AT WELLSHARE, WE CONTINUE TO TRAIN CHWS IN DELIVERING LEARNING TO BREATHE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON MINDFULNESS, ATTENTION AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION. WELLSHARE COMPLETED 33 MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION COHORTS. A TOTAL OF 5,380 INDIVIDUALS WERE REACHED THROUGH OUTREACH AND SMALL GROUP ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AIMED TO PROVIDE AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING ADDRESSING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH IT. 445 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE REFERRED TO SERVICES OUTSIDE OF WELLSHARE. A TOTAL OF 371 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED WEEKLY MENTAL HEALTH CLASSES THAT SPANNED 6 TO 8 WEEKS PER COHORT. A TOTAL OF 26,973 INDIVIDUALS WERE REACHED THROUGH LOCALLY OWNED COMMUNITY MEDIA, DELIVERING CULTURALLY TAILORED MESSAGING. THE MEDIA INCLUDED LOCAL COMMUNITY TV CHANNELS, RADIO STATIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WELLSHARE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE PROVIDES A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN MINNESOTA, PROVIDING SERVICES AND INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WELLSHARE CHW'S DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 2,400 AT-HOME TESTING KITS AND PPE SUCH AS HAND SANITIZER AND FACE MASKS AS WELL AS OVER 2,000 FLYERS DISTRIBUTED. IN 2024 WITH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS (E.G., CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, MOSQUES) AND FELLOW PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES TO VACCINATE OVER 400 PEOPLE. WELLSHARE, MANKATO AREA: OUR CHW SERVICE HUB IN MANKATO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CLINICS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DIRECT CLINIC TO HUB REFERRALS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH NEEDS. WE ALSO COLLABORATE WITH CLINICIANS AND COMMUNITY ON HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AND OFFERING COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINE POP UP CLINICS. MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF MANY DEMOGRAPHICS IN RURAL AREAS FACE UNIQUE BARRIERS TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE TWIN CITIES. ADDITIONALLY, GROUP CLASSES ARE CONVENING TO ADVANCE HEALTH EDUCATION FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND ADULT PHYSICAL FITNESS PROMOTION. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO SUPPORT STAFF ON THE PATH TO BECOMING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS), OFFERING ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIP-FUNDED COURSEWORK AND HANDS-ON TRAINING. THIS INITIATIVE HAS PLAYED A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN EXPANDING OUR TEAM'S CAPACITY TO SERVE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA, EQUIPPING THEM WITH BOTH THE CREDENTIALS AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE TO DELIVER IMPACTFUL, COMMUNITY- CENTERED CARE. DHS-CLAS: THE CLAS PROGRAM AT WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL, FUNDED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS) AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AIMED TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE, CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES ACROSS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA, INCLUDING HISPANIC, SOMALI, OROMO, KAREN, AND NUER POPULATIONS. GUIDED BY NATIONAL CLAS STANDARDS, WELLSHARE IMPLEMENTED 27 FOCUS GROUPS ACROSS METRO AND GREATER MINNESOTA TO GATHER COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INSIGHTS ON BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS, AND SERVICE PREFERENCES. EACH FOCUS GROUP WAS LED BY TRAINED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS FAMILIAR WITH THE POPULATIONS THEY SERVED, ENSURING CULTURALLY RESONANT FACILITATION. THE INITIATIVE ALSO PRODUCED MULTILINGUAL OUTREACH MATERIALS, OFFERED FREE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE, AND PROVIDED COMPENSATION AND SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS, UNDERSCORING WELLSHARE'S COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2.5M