|
|
| Join Our List |  |
|
Sister2Sister | |
Cynthia Bloodgood (Peer Counselor) is working at Henry Booth House as a Birth and Breastfeeding Educator
Karen Danley (Peer Counselor) and husband Jeremy welcomed a baby boy on June 18th weighing 9 pounds 4 ounces - joining big brother Caius!
Donna Grant-Dorsey (HC One Board) was named one of the Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive & Emerging Leaders by Diversity MBA Magazine.
Arielle Martinez (Peer Counselor) received her G.E.D. and is now in college working on her pre-reqs for nursing school.
Beth Pellettieri (Staff/Consultant) and husband Sam welcomed their daughter Amelia into the world on June 5th, happy and healthy at 9 pounds 6 ounces.
Susie Reyes (HC One Associate Board) is a new mother of two! She gave birth in August to two beautiful boys - Joaquin and Michelangelo.
Kristy Ruiz (Peer Counselor) is in nursing school.
Rosetta Walls (Peer Counselor) was accepted to the Keller Graduate School.
Tracy Wilhoite (Peer Counselor) recently passed the nursing boards.
Sadie Wych (Staff) has just completed her MPH at UIC's School of Public Health. |
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
In our neighborhoods, children have returned to school, houses are quieter, weekends are busier - or more relaxing - and many of us have just entered a new fiscal year. We are coming off the excitement of World Breastfeeding Week celebrations, and we are heading into Fall.
In this eNews, we want to share with you the voices of community health workers involved with a new faith-based program in Waukegan, Illinois, the images of breastfeeding moms all over the country, and suggestions for contacting the federal decision-makers whose choices affect our everyday lives.
The wind is picking up, and the leaves will soon fall. The year is turning. Our work with families and communities begins again - as it does with each new season.
I wish each of you the best in this time of change.
Sincerely,
Rachel Abramson
Executive Director |
| Oh, the Places We'll Go... to Breastfeed! | |
Contest Results
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2011 World Breastfeeding Week photo contest, "Oh, the Places we'll go ... to Breastfeed!" HealthConnect One is grateful to all of you for helping us promote breastfeeding and provide support to new families throughout the United States.
We are delighted with the ...
... which together made our contest possible.
Congratulations again to our winners: Angelica Martinez, the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), and Katie Neville!
Stories Online!
You can now read the winning stories by AJWS Milk Mamas for Social Justice on the blog, Raising Kvell: A Jewish Twist on Parenting! Click here for The Story of 10 Women Pumping Milk Together.
Click here to make a donation today
in honor of your favorite breastfeeding mom. |
|
CHW PERSPECTIVE: Each one, Reach one | | |
by Denetha Weaver
 My name is Denetha Weaver. I first heard about the Community Health Worker Program through the Family First Center of Lake County (Illinois), which is a community program operating through my place of worship, Jesus Name Apostolic Church. When I first came, I was excited to see how interesting and insightful it was to be a part of a group of individuals who were sold out for Christ, coming together from different nationalities to incorporate Health and Religion. I went home the first day saying "Wow!!! You mean I can help people make healthy lifestyle changes while lifting up the name of Jesus all at the same time? . . . PRAISE GOD."
Through my participation in this program, I have learned that we as people suffer from lack of knowledge. We are afraid to seek help, to gain access to needed outside agencies, because we just don't know the facts about certain chronic diseases. Having a chronic illness is not a death sentence. You can live a long, productive life with the proper information.
To me, what really stands out in this training is that you can be firm and effective with people about being healthy, and have fun at the same time, through doing interactive visits with your clients. And if you don't know the answer to a question someone asks you, it's okay to say you just don't know . . . but you can get them more information on that particular subject if they would like it.
I have 6 children, ages 23, 21, 18, 17, 9, and 2 years. Being a CHW has challenged me as a parent to stay fit and healthy in the home as well as teaching others out in the community. I am a firm believer in practicing what you preach. Now, this doesn't change the fact that my children would like to have a McDonald's burger here and there, but I am able to make a fun family project out of them wanting the burger by hopping in the car and going to the grocery store for ground turkey instead of ground beef. And then getting them to eat more colored foods by letting them pick out other healthy things to add to the burger. Kids love to eat what they themselves create.
On the weekends, one thing I like to do is spend time with my family and cook new dishes. My family loves my cooking.
The advice I would give to someone wanting to become a CHW is that this work is not easy. The task at hand is to gather all the facts and pass the information along. You will run into resistance out there, but once people see how your work has changed you and how passionate you are about what you do, you will draw them right in and they will want to know more about the "Healthy Lifestyle" you talk about.
One thing I often say in the work place is: "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant!"
It's a great feeling inside to hear someone you have visited say, "You care about me enough to sit here with me and teach me ways to save my life? . . . Thank you, Ms." Now that one visit is a productive day for me. Each one, reach one.
Editor's Note: Click here to read more stories from a CHW Perspective on our website. Or read more about this particular CHW program, Wellness for Life/Bienestar para la Vida, on their Facebook page. |
|
POLICY UPDATE - Program Funding | | |
 Federal FY12 Appropriations
The FY12 appropriations process was put on hold during the summer for the debt ceiling crisis, and will be resumed once Congress returns to Washington, DC this month. Because the FY12 appropriations process was delayed, we are in a unique position to advocate for our programs this fall, before funding is appropriated. We encourage you to contact your Legislators when they return to Washington DC. Share your voice to demonstrate the power of your program and advocate for continued funding of Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant funding.
For tips on Advocacy, please visit the HC One website.
 Survey - Coming Soon
HealthConnect One will soon be sending out an email survey to get community-based doulas' thoughts and ideas about what advocacy tools would be helpful and what to include in our 2012 Policy Summit. We hope everyone who receives it will take a few minutes to share your knowledge and ideas.
To stay connected to policy initiatives related to community-based doula programs, please join our National Community-Based Doula Network.
|
|
CHW PERSPECTIVE: Graduation! | | |
by Janett Chocianowski
From CHW Graduation Speech - Thursday, August 4th, 2011
The board of directors, Family First Support Center, HealthConnect One trainers Tikvah and Laura, guests, friends, and relatives: On behalf of my peers, I want to express our appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the ten week training program to become a community health worker (CHW). I believe we have joined forces with an elite organization and a dedicated, committed body of workers who demonstrate a passion to help people in their communities.
We take this responsibility seriously. The training indeed was an eye opener and a valuable learning experience. A few areas stood out to us.
First, even though there are several health departments and a plethora of doctors and health care professionals in the [Lake County] area, there is a great need to reach an underserved population. Sometimes people need extra help understanding information, or they may be apprehensive about getting checkups. This is where a CHW can be effective, to lend support and develop trust, as well as guide and encourage. I would say, and I am confident my peers would agree, that one of the very important and probably the most important thing we learned is the three-step approach to communication:
- Ask open-ended questions - These are questions that will allow the person to open up so we can better understand the situation.
- Affirm feelings - Showing empathy and giving genuine support.
- Educate - Provide more information that would help clear ambiguity.
Read more...
Editor's Note: Through this new faith-based program in Waukegan, Illinois - Wellness for Life/Bienestar para la Vida -CHWs conduct community outreach during church health fairs, provide health education following morning worship, and act as a resource for clients referred by local social service providers. Their vision is to keep the faith base, but to also offer services in the broader community. |
|
HC One Reception at APHA | | |
October 30, 2011 - Sunday
6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H St. NW
Washington, DC
Join HealthConnect One staff and community partners for a special reception at the American Public Health Association's 139th Annual Meeting this fall! Are you involved in a community-based doula program? Are you a community health worker? Would you like to start a breastfeeding peer counselor program? Join us on Sunday evening to learn about the struggles and successes of community-based programs around the country.
Enjoy a quick snack. Have fun with old friends. Celebrate the inauguration of HC One's own Wandy Hernandez, as Chair-Elect of the American Public Health Association's CHW Section!
Please RSVP to Melanie Garrett at mgarrett@healthconnectone.org.
For more details on HC One's presentations at the APHA Annual Meeting, please click here. |
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS | | |
September - National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
This year, the Office of Minority Health decided to partner with local communities, and focus on the role of the health care provider.
Postpartum Support International - 25th Annual Conference
"Whole Care for the Whole Family"
Sept 14 - 18, 2011 (Seattle, Washington)
Working with Young Adults - Narrative Therapy
Evanston Family Therapy Center
September 16 - 17, 2011 (Evanston, Illinois)
CityMatCH Annual Conference
September 17 - 20, 2011 (San Francisco, California)
Chicago Area Breastfeeding Coalition Conference
October 1, 2011 (Chicago, Illinois)
A Feastival Celebration: Nurturing Healthy Communities with Food and Faith -
"Increasing Breastfeeding Support in Places of Worship" presented by HC One
October 10, 2011 (Brookfield, Illinois)
SE Black Midwives and Healers Summit
October 14 - 16, 2011 (D'lberville, Mississippi)
American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting
October 29 - November 2, 2011 (Washington, DC)
To learn about HC One presentations at these and/or other upcoming events, please visit our website.
To include your upcoming events in the next eNews, please contact RoiAnn Phillips at rphillips@healthconnectone.org. |
|
FRIDAY FACEBOOK FACT:
How do you spend your off-hours? | |
Every Friday on Facebook, we want to share something about the folks who do this work each day. We started with staff: We told you about Jere's ideal travel destination, Brenda's loud cheering during soccer games, Wandy's election to the role of APHA's CHW Section Chair-Elect, and Stephen's life as a theater director in his off-hours.
What can you tell us about yourself, your staff, or your colleagues? Brag! Share something silly. Or tell us what you like to do in your off-hours.
Please submit your Friday Facebook Facts - anytime - to RoiAnn Phillips at rphillips@healthconnectone.org. Or visit us on Facebook some Friday and post on our wall. Thank you! |
|
|
|
|
"In the training, the instructors practice what they preach so that our voices are heard, our experiences and our power respected, and community fostered."
- Hannah White, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Class of 2009
| |
|
|
