Ityá Health Project (IHP)’s Post

What should go into the design of a community health plan? For sure, voices of the community and its stakeholders and its partners, and policy makers and anyone else associated with life of the community- those who provide food, playground, fun  ….and more that you have not thought of.  And if you are going to wait for a complete list of multi-level stakeholders, you will never get started. With that thought in mind, on 1 November 2024, we embarked on our Stakeholders Engagement session to share the Yuhua Community Health Plan which carries the slogan “Good Health and Well-Being are attainable by all”.  More than 30 organisations and about 100 people participated. The organisations were NUHS, public agencies, hospitals and community health posts, universities, funders, faith-based   organisations, market associations, community leaders, social service agencies and among the participants were volunteers and some affiliated by hobbies eg people who sew together (call themselves Yuhua Sewmates).  As Minister Grace Fu puts it, the most amazing thing, is that the participants take this seriously enough to give up part of their time to see how they can contribute to community health in Yuhua. This was their Big Bet for the ground-up initiative. There was opportunity for sharing and networking and the kinship of the Yuhua family was palpable. More later… I would love to hear from those who participated in our Yuhua family event and those who had organised stakeholders engagements. There is much to learn about collaborations and community engagements especially in a complex area such as health. and also What makes a community healthy? What would a good life attainable by all look like?

Transforming community health planning into action can be challenging. Our new blog post outlines best practices for creating sustainable health initiatives.

Community Health Workers (#CHWs) are the heartbeat ♥️ of their communities. 🏘️ Living and working where they serve, CHWs bridge the gap between healthcare systems and underserved populations. From navigating social services to delivering health education, CHWs wear many hats—𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, and 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝. Their deep connection to their neighborhoods enables them to gather invaluable insights and build trust within their communities. This year, the 𝐂𝐇𝐖 𝐇𝐮𝐛 was launched by Acenda Integrated Health and funded by the NJ Department of Health. In partnership with Unite Us, 🤝 the Hub empowers CHWs with essential tools to seamlessly coordinate healthcare and social services. In our 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠, Dr. Monica Lallo, Senior Vice President at Acenda, joins us to  delve into this transformative work. Discover how CHWs are: ✔️ 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐩: Connecting individuals to vital healthcare and social services. ✔️ 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚: Gathering insights into social determinants of health (#SDoH) to inform targeted interventions. ✔️ 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞: Empowering communities to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐇𝐖 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭. "𝘉𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘏𝘞𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴—𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴," says Dr. Lallo. 💬 Together, we’re creating an equitable healthcare system that values the voices of every community. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐲’𝐬 𝐂𝐇𝐖 𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 👉 https://bit.ly/3CTCz7R

The Working Better Together in Neighbourhoods report has been published today and I particularly appreciate the need to empower and connect communities by building trusting relationships. It’s essential to the success and sustainability of locally driven health solutions. #engagingcommunities #collaboration #communityhealth #localleadership

Exciting news coming out of #NewMexico! 🌟 We're thrilled to announce that the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County have teamed up with Unite Us to seamlessly connect residents to social services. This partnership will enhance connectivity and coordination of care, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks. 🗨️ “Health is measured in more than just medical care. Food security, housing security, transportation, and child care are all critical to the health of our communities, so we’re making sure people can get connected to the right help for them. With this investment, we’re ensuring that Albuquerque families have better tools to access the resources they need," said Mayor Tim Keller. How It Works: 🔎 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬: Healthcare providers and community organizations conduct screenings for social needs like food insecurity or housing instability. 🔗 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬: If needs are identified, electronic, HIPAA-compliant referrals are sent to appropriate organizations through the Unite Us platform. ✅ 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩: Service providers update the platform with referral outcomes, ensuring coordinated care. Read more in the full #pressrelease ⏩ https://bit.ly/462sRue #HealthcareTransformation #SocialCare #HealthTech

Often the best path forward does not come from a workbook or toolkit. It comes from taking the time to figure things out together. Our #CommunityHealth Workbook is designed with this in mind. If you’ve ever had an enlightening conversation with your partners but felt tasked with the question, “Now what?”, you’ll find value in our conversation guides. They can help guide discussions on topics such as: 💬Aligning the definition of equity in your community, 💬Setting the tone for your partnership to make the most of your commonalities and differences, 💬Unlocking best practices for community engagement, 💬Identify shared policy goals and put ideas into action. Explore the #BUILDHealth Workbook ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gD24RtgH

If you are in a community based partnership this toolkit (10 different exercises around visioning, leveraging data, connecting with community members, etc.) will be really useful.

What does surfing have to do with community engagement practice??? Find out as PFCCpartners Stephen Hoy shares insights in building effective partnerships in this Camden Coalition blog. Keeping it real!

Community Engagement is vital for patient centered healthcare and has many additional benefits: 1. Increased visibility and understanding of issues 2. Empowerment of communities to have their say around issues that affect their lives 3. Improved quality and utilization of services 4. Increased accountability and transparency of healthcare services 5. Increased diversity and representation of communities in policy and practice design 6. Stronger relationships and TRUST Seek to meet new friends and colleagues who are outside of your normal circle. Get connected to the pulse of what the concerns are in your community-ask questions. Be proactive, change is inevitable. Be a part of shaping it for your organization and for your community. It is fun, it's informative and everyone benefits!

Community Health Outreach and Engagement Program: A Blueprint for Healthier Communities 🌟 Health is not just an individual asset, but a collective one. The backbone of a thriving society lies in its ability to care for every member, especially those underserved. Enter the Community Health Outreach and Engagement Program—transformative, impactful, and essential. Key Elements of Successful Outreach: - **Accessibility:** Prioritize reaching people where they are. Mobile clinics, local health workshops, and telehealth services break down traditional barriers. - **Education:** Empower communities through knowledge. Health literacy programs can destigmatize conditions and promote proactive care. - **Partnerships:** Collaborate with local organizations, schools, and religious establishments. These relationships can magnify reach and effectiveness exponentially. The Benefits: - **Preventive Care:** Early detection and intervention can save lives and reduce healthcare costs. - **Trust Building:** Consistent presence in communities fosters trust and encourages individuals to seek care. - **Cultural Competency:** Tailoring health messages to reflect cultural nuances ensures better understanding and compliance. That said, successful engagement must be **continuous, inclusive, and adaptive.** Remember: - Real impact is seen when communities take ownership of their health. - Metrics matter. Utilize data to refine strategies and demonstrate the program's value. - Celebrate small victories to build momentum and sustain morale. Empowering our communities isn't just an initiative; it's a call to action. Let's champion health for all, one neighborhood at a time. 💪🌍 How is your organization contributing to community health outreach? Let's share strategies and stories in the comments below! 🤝👩⚕️👨⚕️