AHA UPDATE

THE MEDICAL CENTER OF AURORA HOSTS
AHA "ACCESS TO SPECIALTY CARE"  (ASC) TASK FORCE

The Medical Center of Aurora hosted the September meeting of AHA's Access to Specialty Care (ASC) Task Force.  Bebe Kleinman, the Executive Director of Doctors Care, was the guest presenter.  Several participants, including those from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), Tri-County Health Department, Colorado Access, and Metro Community Provider Network (MCPN) provided updates on their incremental progress toward addressing this serious issue for Aurora. You can find the meeting notes and a list of task force members on AHA's website (click here).  The November meeting will be hosted by the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians.  If you'd like to join this task force, please let us know at admin@aurorahealthaccess.org.  We'd love to have you join us.
Bebe Kleinman, Doctors Care, and Mary Passantino, The Medical Center of Aurora, present to participants at the 
AHA Access to Specialty Care (ASC)
 Task Force meeting.
Participants at AHA's  Access to Specialty Care (ASC) Task Force meeting September 2015.


UPDATE ON AHA'S SENIOR CIRCLE
 
On September 21, AHA's Senior Circle was hosted by the Aurora Commission for Seniors at the Aurora Center for Active Adults. Ron DeVries, the Senior Circle's Chair, gave an overview of the Circle and the 2015 Senior Forum.  Benjamin Moultrie, Chair of the Commission, led a discussion about how the two groups might collaborate and support one another. The two groups came away with specific action steps to move toward increased collaboration. 
 
Following the joint meeting, the AHA Senior Circle held its regular monthly meeting, attended by 24 participants.  Linda Haley, Division Manager for Arapahoe County Housing, Community Development, and Senior Resources, presented on the changes this summer in transportation services in Arapahoe County.  Sheila Anthony provided an overview of the Aurora Center for Active Adults and a tour of the facility. 
 
The next meeting of the Senior Circle will be Monday, October 19, 2:00-3:30 back in the usual meeting place at the InnovAge/PACE Chambers Center.
 
To learn more about the Senior Circle, click here.

MAKING SURE OPEN MEANS OPEN!

As you know, the open enrollment period for health insurance coverage is coming up soon. But what about enrollment services for refugees and immigrants?  AHA spearheaded a meeting on September 23rd for those who provide enrollment assistance to Aurora's refugee and immigrant population.  The theme of the meeting was Share.  Connect. Learn. Shine.
 
Held at the Aurora Welcome Center, the meeting was hosted by Aurora Health Access, Aurora Welcome Center, Aurora Coverage Assistance Network, Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council, and Enroll Colorado.  The various representatives (30) who attended valued the time spent connecting with one another and learning about each other's services so they can ensure better service and referrals for the upcoming enrollment period.
 
Participants enjoyed lunch, provided by ACECC, and shared information about what specific enrollment services they offer, which languages are spoken on-site, and how their organizations "shine"  in reaching and serving refugee and immigrant communities.  The open enrollment period will run from November 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016.  Let's shine in Aurora!  
COMING UP!  AHA'S FALL QUARTERLY COMMUNITY MEETING

AHA's Fall Quarterly Community Meeting will be hosted by the InnovAge/PACE Chambers Center, 3551 N. Chambers Rd., Aurora on Wednesday, October 21, from 2:00-4:30.  The "Did You Know Panel" will include representatives from the Autism Society of Colorado, Aurora Public Schools, Think About It Colorado, and the Bridges to Care Program.   As always, there will be time for you to make announcements about your organization or program, and you can bring materials and information to display on the resource table.   If you've never been to this InnovAge facility, it's lovely - and you won't believe the energy of this place!  Staff will offer brief tours following the AHA meeting.  We hope to see you there.
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THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING
 
We're happy to announce that the Winter Quarterly Meeting, on WednesdayJanuary 20, 2016, from 2:00-4:30 will be hosted by Colorado School of Public Health, Center for Public Health Practice.  Please mark your 2016 calendar now!  
COMMUNITY NEWS

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Community Campus Partnership Opens Employment Website

It's been in the works and now it's here:  you can now search for employment opportunities on Community Campus Partnership's (CCP) website.  Simply visit com-cam.org.  Scroll down and click on the "Search for Opportunities" box on the left, and then click "Employment" under the "Opportunities" categories on the right. 
 
Please help spread the word about this website.  Community and campus entities are able to view and post information about local events, volunteer opportunities, and activities happening right here in our neighborhoods!

Children's Advocacy Boot Camp

Children's Hospital Colorado is proud to announce its Advocacy Boot Camp, a program for adults who want to learn how to advocate for children's health care issues that matter to them.  Consisting of seven monthly half-day sessions featuring expert speakers on a variety of advocacy-related topics, the hospital's Advocacy Boot Camp resembles traditional leadership programs but is geared toward teaching the fundamentals of becoming an effective advocate, whether at the Capitol, in your community, in your child's school or with your child's doctor.  

Interested individuals must apply to participate in Advocacy Boot Camp. The application process will begin in the Fall of 2015. Click here to find the application.  For questions about the program, please contact Kay Jenner at karin.jenner@childrenscolorado.org or 720-777-4630.

'Tis the Season for 9Health Fairs

There will be many hosts of  9Health Fairs in Aurora through October and into November:  Asian Pacific Development Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, 8:00 am to 12:00 noon and Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion, Sat. Oct 10, 2015, 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, among many others.  Go to the "find a location" function at the 9 Health Fair website to find all the sites available in your area.
Read the personal stories of the many immigrants who have benefited from CPIN's services on their website.
AHA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

Colorado Providers for Integration Network

Colorado Providers for Integration Network (CPIN) is a group of service providers and interested community members who believe that one of the paths towards immigrant integration is to raise the level of service provision for immigrants and refugees through collaboration, training, language access, cultural understanding, and awareness.  Through our monthly service provider meetings, listserv, social media projects, trainings, collective knowledge, and skill sharing, we aim to increase the integration success rate for our clients and fellow community members.  We believe a collective effort is needed to help our immigrant and refugee clients navigate the various systems needed to go from surviving to thriving and contributing.

What is "immigrant integration"? Immigrant integration is a dynamic, two-way process in which newcomers and the receiving society work together to build secure, vibrant, and cohesive communities. As an intentional effort, integration engages and transforms all community members, reaping shared benefits and creating a new whole that is greater than the sum of its parts (Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees).

The CPIN project has been functioning for the last five years. Meg Allen, Director, works directly on the project, but she is also the Neighborhood Liaison for Immigrant and Refugee Communities with the City of Aurora.

Meg answers emails and calls from service providers who are looking to find the right solution to help their clients navigate through our systems.

CPIN hosts a monthly meeting for service providers (second Wednesday of every month) from 11-1 where they provide training, networking, and community updates regarding the services everyone provides.  To find out about meetings, please join their outreach list.

If anyone wants to join the CPIN outreach list, please let Meg know:  director@cpinetwork.org

Website:  http://cpinetwork.org/  

AHA envisions a community where all residents have an opportunity for health. 

AHA works collaboratively to improve access to care and create a healthier Aurora.