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National Community Health Center Week It's time to Walk! Preparations peak for annual rally for the Uninsured
Preparations for the Health Authority's second annual Walk for the Uninsured are in full swing. The event, set to occur on Saturday, August 15, will bring walkers from across Wayne County Detroit's Belle Isle to create a visible groundswell of support around this issue and recognize National Community Health Center Week.
"This is a particularly good time for all individuals and organizations that have a stake in the health care safety net come together, visually, for this event," explained Chris Allen, CEO of the Health Authority. "With our elected officials debating health reform at the state and federal levels, we need to voice our collective call to ensure access to quality care for all people."
A special attraction this year will be a food preparation demonstration featuring Frank Taylor, the Executive Chef of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. He will talk about ways of preparing low cost, nutritious foods and share some of the hospital's recipes.
The Walk's Medical Home Pavilion will supply participants with numerous attractions, including the inaugural screening of the Health Authority's new promotional video; health information for the uninsured; and health services such as podiatry, massage, and dental screening. Representations from federally qualified health centers and community organizations will staff exhibits and distribute literature detailing their services and initiatives, and describing how their health centers provide a medical home for their patients.
Additionally, "Best of the Safety Net Awards" will honor the contributions of the men and women whose work in enduring a seamless fabric of care for residents of Detroit and Wayne County has been exemplary. Walk for the Uninsured is open to people of all ages. The event is free and open to the public. Several walkers will be collecting donations to support a fund to help cover the costs of primary care for the uninsured. Walk Registration begins at 9 a.m. followed by the Walk at 10 a.m. For registration and promotional materials, please contact Megan Kolodgy at mkolodgy@dwcha.org or 313-871-3751.
Community Health Center campaign highlights quality, access
The Health Authority, through its Safety Net Resource Center, is sponsoring an advertising campaign to promote the quality and accessibility of the area's community health centers. Radio advertisements are being aired on V98.7, WWJ, and WYCD, and Mason Radio on WCHB. Also, community organizations are distributing flyers that highlight the campaign theme and advise readers to visit the Health Authority website or call to get a list of available health centers. Advantage Health Centers Host Open House to Celebrate National Health Center Week
On August 12, two of the three Advantage Health Centers locations will provide an opportunity for the general public, as well as current and potential patients, to learn more about how the organization provides a medical home for its patients. Advantage Family Health and Thea Bowman Community Center are hosting an open house from 9 .m. to 11 a.m., during which staff will lead tours of the facilities, conduct HIV testing and free blood pressure screening, and discuss the organization's work. Partner organizations, such as the American Heart Association, Head Start, Community Mental Health, Focus Hope, health plans, and the Department of Health and Wellness Promotion will also be present. |
Health Authority Co-Hosts a Week of Back-to-School Physicals in Western Wayne
Last summer, the Health Authority sponsored a back-to-school physical event in Inkster that allowed more than 1,000 students to receive requisite well checks to return to school in the fall - all in a single day, and all free of charge. The success of that initiative generated interest in duplicating these efforts in other communities.
On Aug. 17-21, the Health Authority will co-host an entire week of free back-to-school health assessments at the Western Wayne Family Health Center's newest location in Taylor. The event will run daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with final registration at 1:30 p.m. daily. Although the event is open to all children who need a well child exam, it is geared toward the communities that comprise the Western Wayne area, including Taylor, Inkster, and Ecorse.
On top of the basic physicals, students and their families will have access to asthma and lead testing, dental screening, and information regarding Medicaid enrollment. If a health problem is detected, students will be referred to a health center, where they will receive care. Participants will also be eligible for raffles and other prizes, such as backpacks, college gear, and school supplies.
For additional information, please contact Michele Calloway at 313-871-3751 or at mcalloway@dwcha.org.
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Integrated Health Focusing Event Leads to Committee Formation
On July 22, the Health Authority hosted a discussion on integrated behavioral health, which brought together mental health professionals from around Detroit and Wayne County to discuss current initiatives and barriers to instituting integrated behavioral health in this region. The event, organized by Nicole La Brie, former Health Authority Summer Intern, was well attended, and sparked spirited conversation around this issue.
At the end of the meeting, those present decided the best course of action would be to convene a committee that would take a deeper look into how integrated behavioral health might be achieved, and ensure that all those who should be part of the dialogue are aware of this committee and its work, as well as in communication with the committee. Kathy Reynolds, former Director of the Washtenaw Community Health Organization and nationally renowned expert on integrated health, has agreed to co-chair this committee, and work with the Health Authority to further this initiative. For more information, please contact Andy Pritchard at 313-871-3751 or at apritchard@dwcha.org.
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Community Baby Shower a Success
On Friday, July 10, the Health Authority, in partnership with Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, hosted a community baby shower, with an emphasis on health information. The event featured a new twist for community baby showers - fathers and grandparents were included. Although event organizers sensed a need for extending invitations to these groups, it was difficult to discern whether or not they would attend the event. Not only did more-than-60 mothers present exceed the anticipated 50, but about nine fathers and a dozen grandparents were also in attendance, overflowing Carter's community room, and proving that organizers' hunches were accurate.
"We were really pleased," Health Authority Community Outreach Manager, Michele Calloway, said. "The event exceeded our expectations." Participants had the opportunity to sit in on presentations by Dr. Varisa Perlman, an Oakwood pediatrician, and physical therapists. A question-and-answer session followed each talk, and all types of family members jumped at the chance to address a knowledgeable doctor with candid queries.
Additionally, Oakwood physical therapists Neelima Vadiraj and Cara Harvell introduced participants to a simple exercise regimen aimed at building stamina and strength.
A health fair occurred concurrently, offering family members the opportunity for asthma assessments, blood pressure measurements, and other basic health services. More than 40 children received lead testing.
"We were able to identify and follow up with a number of pregnant women who were uninsured, and connect them with primary and prenatal care resources," Calloway said. "We provided services not only for expectant mothers, but also for the community." The success of the July event has sparked interest from other religious and community groups to host more community baby showers that mirror this innovative model.
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'Green' initiative begins at Health Authority
The green movement is good for our community. Andrew Pritchard, Health Authority Fellow, is leading the Health Authority in adopting methods of reducing its impact on the environment and looking at the way we do business in an environmentally sustainable way. Some of these include two-sided printing, using "economode" when printing to decrease toner use, adjusting computers' power settings, and recycling.
"While the Health Authority may not be in a position to install a wind turbine on the roof of the New Center One building, or power our entire office with solar energy, there are still all sorts of little things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint," Pritchard said. "These include taking advantage of natural sunlight, carpooling, making sure to turn off office equipment when not in use, and printing on both sides of the paper. Office buildings account for 17 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., so if everyone pitches in, these small steps can add up to big reductions in energy use. For instance, each person who sets their computer to automatically shut down when not in use will save the same amount of energy over the course of a year as it takes to drive a car 750 miles."
During the upcoming months, the Health Authority will identify and adopt changes to make our organization a little bit greener.
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Safety Net Fellowship Program begins accepting applications this Fall
Hospital and health systems have fellowship positions - which allow recent health administration and public health graduates to gain immediate, high-level experience and accelerate their climb to the top of the career ladder - abound; however, analogous positions for those interested in becoming safety net care leaders are not readily available. In an effort to address this issue, the Health Authority will formalize its Safety Net Fellowship program beginning in October. Joslyn Pettway, Director of Primary Care Services and former University of Michigan fellow at the Health Authority, will coordinate the program.
"In my graduate program, there were lots of options for hospital fellowships, but no similar positions at community health centers," Pettway said. "We wanted to give public health and health administration graduates from around the country the opportunity to gain administrative experience in this type of setting." This unique program will fund four two-year fellows, who will rotate between projects at health centers, free clinics, and hospitals, providing them with an opportunity to gain administrative experience at organizations with a strong commitment to primary care and community health.
The program's curriculum is still under development, but applicants from any accredited health management programs are welcome to apply.
"We have already had a lot of interest, both from health centers and students," Pettway said. "This response indicates that there is a need for a program like this one." Fellows will be selected in late 2009 or early 2010, and fellows will begin the program in summer of 2010. Please contact Joslyn Pettway at jpettway@dwcha.org or 313-871-3751 for more information.
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Health Authority Launches the Safety Net Resource Center
Early in July, the Health Authority's Web-based Safety Net Resource Center became available for public use. This highly anticipated resource provides users with a convenient portal through which they can learn about basic demographic and health statistics, as well as health care resources, such as hospitals, federally qualified health centers, oral health sites, by zip code. Data can be imported to an Excel file, and be used for analysis and graphing.
Additionally, the Safety Net Resource Center contains a listing of Web-based resources regarding such topics as policy information, government agencies and programs, as well as corporate compliance. Although the Safety net Resource Center is available to anyone who registers, and registration is free, it is geared toward health center directors, and other individuals who are working on health care resource and delivery planning in the Detroit and Wayne County area. Further, it can provide these individuals with the information necessary to writing compelling grant applications much more rapidly than is currently possible, allowing them to quickly return to the work of running a health center. The site will be maintained by the Health Authority, allowing for flexibility and speed in updating content to better suit users' needs. The organization plans to incorporate the most recent census data into its zip code reports.
The Safety Net Resource Center is available at through the Health Authority website, www.healthaccess1.org. If you have any questions, or would like additional information, contact Andrew Pritchard at 313-871-3751 or at apritchard@dwcha.org.
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MPCA sponsors Plan Development Workshop
The Michigan Primary Care Association will sponsor a workshop on preparing and implementing a business plan, budgeting for CHC grant applications, and development a health care plan on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel in Novi. There is no fee to attend the day-long workshop, but advance registration is required. To register, contact Barb Whitlow at 517-381-8008.
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Summer interns complete work
Thanks to Megan Kolodgy and Nicole La Brie, our summer interns from the University of Michigan. Kolodgy supported the Public Affairs department in a variety of ways, including community outreach services, newsletter preparation, and Walk for the Uninsured. La Brie helped launch the integrated behavioral health initiative. Both enrinched our mission. We wish them well in their professional endeavors.
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The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority's mission is to coordinate efforts to meet the health needs of the uninsured and underinsured residents in Detroit and Wayne County by assuring access and improving the health status of all people.
"It's about access...for all."
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