Health Care

What happens when local residents cannot go to the doctor when they are sick? National studies show that the community feels the pain. Access to quality healthcare has been a defining component of communities nationwide, separating the struggling from the successful.

At Create CommUNITY, we recognize the impact that the large number of underinsured and underserved individuals has on our community’s financial and social health.

A group of local business, government and nonprofit leaders have been focusing on improving access to healthcare in this community by enhancing communication, about systems change and attitudes about health and healthcare access.

Gaps

A lack of insurance hinders access to basic healthcare: Less than 6 percent of White Minnesotans are uninsured, compared to:

34% of Hispanics
21% of American Indians
13% of African Americans
10% of Asian Americans

Our Goal

Improve access to health care and overall patient satisfaction for people of color.

Taking Action

Create CommUNITY is dedicated to providing people of color better access to the community’s strong healthcare system and has outlined some key objectives and metrics to achieve results.

Awareness through anti-racism training for St. Cloud healthcare leaders and work with local providers to incorporate the training into their workplaces
Building social capital as a strategy to eliminate health disparities using intentional social interaction
Increasing the number of Community Health Workers in communities of color

Community Health Worker Program Success

In 2007, Create CommUNITY sent out an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a Community Health Worker (CHW) in communities of color. Minnesota Health Volunteers (MIHV) was awarded an 18 month grant providing St. Cloud’s Somali population with a community health worker. Ms. Fartun Hussein was the community health worker (CHW) for this project. MIHV became WellShare International and they completed their role in this project on January 15, 2010.

Direct Services to Somali Residents of St. Cloud

The primary purpose of this project has been to assist individuals in accessing health coverage and care. Over 18 months, including the initial 60-day needs assessment period:

128 separate households were reached by the CHW via a total of 373 home visits.
26 of the households reached needed between 4 and 10 visits to resolve issues.
39 households, (31% of the total) were assisted to enroll in health care coverage or renew existing coverage.
23 households received assistance with insurance issues other than enrollment/renewal (transferring records, changing providers, and resolving bills).
77 households (60%) were assisted to schedule at least one medical appointment.
42 households (33% of the total) were assisted in utilizing specific benefits of health care coverage.

Some examples include:

obtaining dental care - 16
obtaining pre-natal, newborn or post-partum appointments - 14
scheduling annual check-ups - 16
getting prescriptions filled or re-filled - 7
accessing specialists - 6
obtaining immunizations needed for immigration 2

Key successes include the number of households reached, and the variety of assistance the CHW was able to provide. Through this project, 128 Somali families were assisted with a health care challenge they were unable to resolve on their own. Among them, at least 77 families received care they may not have otherwise, or at least received it more quickly. Detailed information on the CHW program is available on request.

COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY!

By assisting these families to obtain or maintain health insurance, a significant amount of money and time was saved for those providing the health care. This program is clearly needed in the community and Create CommUNITY encourages health professionals, clinics, non-profit groups to provide Community Health Workers to help clients successfully navigate the healthcare system.

Create CommUNITY is committed to the advancement of a strong and sustainable Community Health Worker program in our community’s healthcare system.




	Upcoming Events	Health Care What happens when local residents cannot go to the doctor when they are sick? National studies show that the community feels the pain. Access to quality healthcare has been a defining component of communities nationwide, separating the struggling from the successful. At Create CommUNITY, we recognize the impact that the large number of underinsured and underserved individuals has on our community’s financial and social health. A group of local business, government and nonprofit leaders have been focusing on improving access to healthcare in this community by enhancing communication, about systems change and attitudes about health and healthcare access. Gaps A lack of insurance hinders access to basic healthcare: Less than 6 percent of White Minnesotans are uninsured, compared to: 34% of Hispanics 21% of American Indians 13% of African Americans 10% of Asian Americans Our Goal Improve access to health care and overall patient satisfaction for people of color. Taking Action Create CommUNITY is dedicated to providing people of color better access to the community’s strong healthcare system and has outlined some key objectives and metrics to achieve results. Awareness through anti-racism training for St. Cloud healthcare leaders and work with local providers to incorporate the training into their workplaces Building social capital as a strategy to eliminate health disparities using intentional social interaction Increasing the number of Community Health Workers in communities of color Community Health Worker Program Success In 2007, Create CommUNITY sent out an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a Community Health Worker (CHW) in communities of color. Minnesota Health Volunteers (MIHV) was awarded an 18 month grant providing St. Cloud’s Somali population with a community health worker. Ms. Fartun Hussein was the community health worker (CHW) for this project. MIHV became WellShare International and they completed their role in this project on January 15, 2010. Direct Services to Somali Residents of St. Cloud The primary purpose of this project has been to assist individuals in accessing health coverage and care. Over 18 months, including the initial 60-day needs assessment period: 128 separate households were reached by the CHW via a total of 373 home visits. 26 of the households reached needed between 4 and 10 visits to resolve issues. 39 households, (31% of the total) were assisted to enroll in health care coverage or renew existing coverage. 23 households received assistance with insurance issues other than enrollment/renewal (transferring records, changing providers, and resolving bills). 77 households (60%) were assisted to schedule at least one medical appointment. 42 households (33% of the total) were assisted in utilizing specific benefits of health care coverage. Some examples include: obtaining dental care - 16 obtaining pre-natal, newborn or post-partum appointments - 14 scheduling annual check-ups - 16 getting prescriptions filled or re-filled - 7 accessing specialists - 6 obtaining immunizations needed for immigration 2 Key successes include the number of households reached, and the variety of assistance the CHW was able to provide. Through this project, 128 Somali families were assisted with a health care challenge they were unable to resolve on their own. Among them, at least 77 families received care they may not have otherwise, or at least received it more quickly. Detailed information on the CHW program is available on request. COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY! By assisting these families to obtain or maintain health insurance, a significant amount of money and time was saved for those providing the health care. This program is clearly needed in the community and Create CommUNITY encourages health professionals, clinics, non-profit groups to provide Community Health Workers to help clients successfully navigate the healthcare system. Create CommUNITY is committed to the advancement of a strong and sustainable Community Health Worker program in our community’s healthcare system.
		Some photography courtesy of Derek Eaton Hughes

Upcoming Events

Health Care

Community Health Worker Program Success