Community Health And Empowerment Through Education And Research Inc

CHEER'S MISSION IS TO GIVE LONG BRANCH AND TAKOMA PARK RESIDENTS THE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO CREATE HEALTHY THRIVING COMMUNITIES BY FACILITATING COLLECTIVE ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY DEFINED GOALS AND PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELL BEING, ESPECIALLY IN UNDER SERVED AND POORLY REPRESENTED NEIGHBORHOODS. CHEER TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE MOST IMPORTANT SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, SUCH AS ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD AND MEDICAL CARE, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

HEALTHY LONG BRANCH EMPLOYS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. IN FY 2021 CHWS PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT FOR RESIDENTS AND HELPED ENROLL THEM IN SNAP AND APPLY FOR RENT RELIEF, ARRANGING PRENATAL CARE FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. CHEER ENROLLED 341 HOUSEHOLDS (831 PEOPLE) IN QUALIFIED HEALTH PLANS OR MEDICAID, 150 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN FREE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND ENROLLED 80 CHILDREN IN THE COUNTY CARE FOR KIDS PROGRAM. THE LONG BRANCH HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM PROVIDES WEEKLY DELIVERY OF FRESH PRODUCE AND THE SUPPORT OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TO PEOPLE WITH DIABETES AND LOW ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. IN FY 2021, 112 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED 1,448 BOXES OF FRESH PRODUCE AND MORE THAN 60% OF THEM IMPROVED THEIR BLOOD GLUCOSE CONTROL, LOST WEIGHT, AND IMPROVED THEIR HEALTH STATUS.

THE EMPOWERMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTS COMMUNITY GROUPS IN UNDER SERVED AND UNDER REPRESENTED NEIGHBORHOODS TO ORGANIZE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT THEIR PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DECISION MAKING. IN FY 2021 THIS PROGRAM FOCUSED ON OPERATING NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS FOR LONG BRANCH AT NEW HAMPSHIRE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IN TAKOMA PARK ON MAPLE AVENUE. FY 2021 FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS PROVIDED 15,063 BAGS OF FOOD TO 820 DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS. THE WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY INTERESTS AND NEEDS AND TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESOURCES. IN 2021, CHEER LAUNCHED AN EFFORT TO FOSTER LEADERSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED GARDENING. CHEER RECRUITED 67 PARTICIPANTS FROM LONG BRANCH AND TAKOMA PARK TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF SIX OUTDOOR WORKSHOPS ON CONTAINER-BASED GARDENING FOR GROWING HERBS AND VEGETABLES INDOORS, ON BALCONIES AND PATIOS. CHEER ALSO LED HANDS-ON GARDENING SESSIONS FOR TEN PEOPLE WITH NO ACCESS TO LAND ON GARDEN SPACE DONATED BY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

CAMP PINEY BRANCH IS A FREE SUMMER CAMP FOR LONG BRANCH KIDS RANGING IN AGES FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 11TH GRADE. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ALL FROM SCHOOLS WHERE MOST STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS. DUE TO COVID-19, THE CAMP WAS FORCED TO GO ONLINE. 36 YOUTH ENROLLED IN THE CAMP AND PARTICIPATED IN FUN AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES. ACTIVITY KITS WERE DELIVERED TO KIDS TO DO AT HOME. THE ACTIVITIES WERE ALIGNED WITH A HIGHLY REGARDED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CURRICULUM THAT COVERED TOPICS SUCH AS WHO AM I?, HEALTHY LIFE, PASSION AND PURPOSE, INVENTION AND IMAGINATION, EXPLORING MY WORLD, AND GLUING IT ALL TOGETHER. FOR 65% OF THE PARTICIPANTS, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME PARTICIPATING IN A SUMMER CAMP. 95% WERE HAPPY WITH THE ACTIVITIES; 85% MET NEW PEOPLE.