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 2022 CHWS PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT TO 572 RESIDENTS. THIS INCLUDED ENROLLMENT HELP IN SNAP, RENT RELIEF, ARRANGING PRENATAL CARE FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND MAKING OTHER REFERRALS AS NEEDED. CHEER ENROLLED 312 HOUSEHOLDS (720 PEOPLE) IN QUALIFIED HEALTH PLANS OR MEDICAID, 152 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN FREE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND ENROLLED 26 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 2022, 120 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED 898 BOXES OF FRESH PRODUCE AND MORE THAN 54% OF THEM IMPROVED THEIR DIET, 47% LOST WEIGHT, AND 72% IMPROVED THEIR SELF REPORTED 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 2022 THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED TRAINING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY WHO CONDUCTED WATERSHED AND OPEN SPACE CLEANUP ACTIVITIES AND ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT. IT ALSO INCLUDED COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND AN ADVOCACY WALK TO BRING ATTENTION TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, SUCH AS PUBLIC SAFETY, LACK OF PARKING, AND BUS TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. CHEER CONDUCTED A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT ENDEAVORED TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS IDENTIFY WORK AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. IT ALSO DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY SUPPORT BY ENGAGING AN AVERAGE OF 25 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS PER WEEK IN NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS FOR LONG BRANCH AT NEW HAMPSHIRE ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IN TAKOMA PARK ON MAPLE AVENUE. FY 2022 FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS PROVIDED 17,609 BAGS OF FOOD TO 819DIFFERENT 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 FY 2022, CHEER CONTINUED TO FOSTER LEADERSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED GARDENING BY PROVIDING ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO ACCESS TO LAND TO GARDEN ON SPACE DONATED BY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS

CAMP PINEY BRANCH IS A FREE SUMMER CAMP FOR LONG BRANCH KIDS RANGING IN AGES FROM KINDERGARTEN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ALL FROM SCHOOLS WHERE MOST STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS. THE CAMP WAS HELD IN PERSON AT CLIFTON PARK BAPTIST CHURCH. 48 YOUTH ENROLLED IN THE CAMP AND PARTICIPATED IN FUN AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES. THE CHILDREN DID ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS TIE DYE SHIRTS, PAINTING ON A CANVAS, MAKING YOUR OWN PLAY DOUGH; EDUCATIONAL GAMES AND SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS THE EVOLUTION GAME, AND MAKING A CATAPULT, AND OTHER SPORTS AND GAMES, SUCH AS CRAB SOCCER, DODGEBALL, BINGO, AND MUCH MORE. THE CAMP ALSO INCLUDED FIELD TRIPS TO THE CROSSROADS FARMERS MARKET, A TRIP TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE AND TRIPS TO A SWIMMING POOL.