Wellshare International

THE MISSION OF WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL IS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY HEALTH AROUND THE WORLD.

DOMESTIC PROGRAMMING EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY HOME VISITING WELLSHARE SERVES SOMALI AND OROMO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN PRENATAL TO 5 YEARS WITH TWO YEARS USING THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL: -HELPING PARENTS UNDERSTAND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE PARENTING SKILLS, -IDENTIFYING DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS EARLY, -PROVIDING COMMUNITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES, AND, ULTIMATELY, -IMPROVING CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS. THE GOAL OF THE FHV PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND AND SCALE-UP SERVICES TO SOMALI AND OROMO FAMILIES TRANSITIONING FROM AN EVIDENCE-BASED FAMILY HOME VISITING PROGRAM SO THAT MORE SOMALI AND OROMO CHILDREN IN THE TWIN CITIES GROW UP IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, ARE HEALTHY, AND ARE PREPARED TO LEARN WHEN THEY ENROLL IN SCHOOL. EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN 2013, WELLSHARE'S TOBACCO-FREE COMMUNITIES EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE MN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AIMS TO REDUCE THE HARM CAUSED BY TOBACCO AND SECONDHAND SMOKE AMONG SOMALI AND EAST AFRICAN CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2022 PROJECT YEAR INCLUDE: ADOPTION OF 35 SMOKE-FREE BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL TOBACCO- FREE EVENT POLICIES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO +8,000 INDIVIDUALS; 150 YOUTH REACHED THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS (SHERMAN MANAGEMENT, RIVERSIDE PLAZA TENANT ASSOCIATION, THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH), AND COMPLETION OF AN EVALUATION OF CESSATION PRACTICES IN CLINICS SERVING SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR EAST AFRICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH - 'THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS' THIS WELLSHARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH, OFFERS A CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH TO LEARN, BE CREATIVE, INTERACT WITH POSITIVE ADULTS, LEARN SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT & HIGHER EDUCATION BY WORKING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. IN 2022, APPROXIMATELY 100 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE 9-MONTH LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM. AS PART OF THE PROGRAM, YOUTH LED COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION EDUCATIONS SESSIONS FOR 300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. EAST AFRICAN AND KAREN REFUGEE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM OUR SPACING PREGNANCIES PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN AND KAREN COMMUNITIES (SPEAK) INCLUDES TWO PROJECTS: THE SOMALI AND KAREN CHILD SPACING PROGRAM. SOMALI AND KAREN CHWS WORK WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, INVESTED STAKEHOLDERS, LOCAL PROVIDERS, AND OTHER SERVICE PROFESSIONALS SO THAT FAMILIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES: 1) HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO AND UPTAKE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESOURCES, INCLUDING CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS; 2) RECEIVE MORE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES; AND 3) EXPERIENCE INCREASED SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GOALS. IN 2022, CHWS REACHED MORE THAN 620 INDIVIDUALS WITH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES. HEALTH PLAN PARTNERSHIPS WELLSHARE PARTNERS WITH THE MAJOR HEALTH PLANS IN MINNESOTA, HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE COMPLEX SOCIAL AND HEALTH SYSTEMS FOR EFFECTIVE USE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND THE FULL RANGE OF THEIR SERVICE BENEFITS. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH CLINIC SYSTEMS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO REDUCE ACCESS BARRIERS AND DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR GAP CLOSURE IN SOCIAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH AND USE OF CLINICAL SERVICES. MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION WELLSHARE CHWS ARE TRAINED IN MULTIPLE EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO HELP PEOPLE RECOGNIZE AND ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. IMPLEMENTING AN ORGANIZATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGY INTEGRATING MINDFULNESS, ACUTE AND CHRONIC CARE REFERRALS AND SELF-CARE FOR OUR STAFF AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, WE: 1. INCREASE ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AND DECREASE STIGMA THROUGH IN-PERSON AND SOCIAL MEDIA; 2. BUILD STAFF SKILLS THROUGH TRAINING AND MENTORING IN MIND-BODY MEDICINE, TRAIN STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND MITIGATE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES USING MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID; 3. EXPAND COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION CLASSES FOR SELF- MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY AND STRESS, FACILITATE ACCESS TO CLINICAL SERVICES AS NEEDED, SUPPORT ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT AND AS WELL AS OTHER WELLSHARE HEALTH PROGRAMS. COVID-19 RESPONSE WELLSHARE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE PROVIDES A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN MINNESOTA, PROVIDING SERVICES AND INFORMATION TO OVER 250,000 INDIVIDUALS THIS YEAR. TO MEET COMMUNITY NEED DURING A CRITICAL TIME, WELLSHARE CHWS BECAME LINCHPINS FOR INFORMATION AND HEALTHCARE ACCESS BY OFFERING COMMUNITY TESTING AND VACCINATION CLINICS, PROVIDING NAVIGATION TO NEEDED RESOURCES AND SERVICES, AS WELL AS ADDED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT, RENTAL, AND FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES. OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, GRASSROOTS APPROACH, AND OVERALL AND PROGRAM EFFICACY POSITIONED US TO SERVE AS ONE OF GOVERNOR WALZ'S SELECT COVID-19 COMMUNITY COORDINATORS THROUGH MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY. CLINIC SYSTEM PARTNERSHIP WELLSHARE CHWS WORK BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF CLINICS, TO INCREASE OUR COMMUNITIES EFFECTIVE USE OF CLINICAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS TO IMPROVE CLINICAL SERVICE SYSTEMS AND PROVIDER PRACTICES - TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO HEALTH EQUITY. MODELS INCLUDE CLINIC STAFF REFERRALS TO OUR CHWS FOR FOLLOW ON HEALTH EDUCATION, SERVICE NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE - AND ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES ADDRESSING SOCIAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH. WE FACILITATE RESEARCH ON COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES, AND EXPERIENCE WITH CLINIC SYSTEMS. IN 2022, WE CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE WITH CLINICIANS IN THE OFFERING OF COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINE POP UP CLINICS. MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF MANY DEMOGRAPHICS IN RURAL AREAS FACE UNIQUE BARRIERS TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE TWIN CITIES. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WELLSHARE PROVIDES FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR COMPLETION OF CHW CERTIFICATION (17 TRANSFERABLE CREDITS) AND PRACTICUMS. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING THIS IMPORTANT ENTRY POINT TO A CAREER IN HEALTH CARE, FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN MN, WE INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY IN PAID ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AS WELL AS INTERNAL ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING TANZANIA, BARIADI DISTRICT: 'SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUPS- AND 'TOGETHER FOR HEALTH' PROJECTS OUR "TOGETHER FOR HEALTH" PROGRAM USES VIDEO TECHNOLOGY ON IPADS TO DELIVER HEALTH EDUCATION MESSAGES THROUGH HEALTH WORKERS (FROM HOSPITAL/CLINICS) AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (WHO WORK AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL) TO IMPROVE HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, ACCESS TO CARE, AND QUALITY OF SERVICES. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR ACHIEVING OPTIMAL HEALTH, OUR SURVIVE AND THRIVE VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING GROUPS PROVIDE HEALTH EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS SKILLS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT A VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING MODEL. IN 2022, WE PROVIDED 266,961 HEALTH EDUCATION AND NAVIGATION SERVICE CONTACTS, SUPPORTED 49 SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUP PARTICIPANTS AND 329 VICOBA PARTICIPANTS WITH TECHNICAL TRAINING IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.