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IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY
Golden Gate Community Center and United Health Care are in the third year of a unique and ambitious three year project to improve the health of the residents of the community surrounding GGCC where there is over-representation of diabetes and obesity, limited or no health insurance, and limited access to health resources. There are no low-cost medical providers within a reasonable distance from Golden Gate, and transportation is an issue for many families. The neighborhood surrounding Golden Gate has been federally designated a medically underserved area (MUA).
Although not a health clinic, Golden Gate Community Center is a trusted provider of preventive health care screenings and education programs that bridge the gap between the uninsured and access to quality health care for the community. GGCC’s health program utilizes a community based approach through it’s Promotoras de Bienstar program in which Promotoras or ‘lay health workers’ are women hired from the community to engage with residents and empower them to meet their health care needs.
The United Health Care funded project at Golden Gate includes three components:
Annual Health Fairs. During the first 18 months of the project, GGCC hosted three health fairs, four immunization fairs and four family health fairs where they provided 6,796 free health screenings. Nursing students from the ASU College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation’s (CONHI) RN, BSN and NP programs provided some of the services at the health fairs which included immunizations, dental screenings, basic medical exams, hearing screenings, vision screenings, glucose and cholesterol tests, bone density testing, body fat testing, mammograms, fluoride varnish, lead testing, and blood pressure checks. Students also work with GGCC Promotoras on case management calls, connecting families with health services and educating families on health topics. ASU CONHI also provides follow-up services at their downtown health clinic, which is open to the public, on a discounted or sliding fee scale, depending on income.
Aerobics, Education and Cooking. GGCC offers eight aerobics classes each week which include regular fitness assessments and body measures. In addition, a bilingual health literacy curriculum called Salud con Sabor Latino promotes healthy lifestyles though education about topics such as portion size, eating a variety of foods each day and the importance of physical activity, and a cooking component that puts the educational component into practice. The final week of the class includes a tour of the local supermarket as well as a celebration potluck.
Small Groups with Big Ideas. Neighborhood Health Hubs are small neighborhood groups that work together on a health initiatives they consider important. “The most successful of our health hubs so far has been a Self Esteem Support Group,” said GGCC Director, Phyllis Habib. “Each hub has a leader who wants to take a leadership role in their community regarding health issues.” This group is lead by a Promatora and community leader where information and topics on self-esteem and overall health are discussed.
“One of the most valuable aspects of this partnership is that there is funding to provide a measurable evaluation of our work,” added Phyllis. “We will know what works, what doesn’t work and what works best to increase access to healthcare services for our neighbors. Better access means better health, and better health means a stronger community.” |
