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 USING THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL, WELLSHARE PARENT EDUCATORS SUPPORT FAMILIES BY: - 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. IN THE CURRENT PROGRAM, WELLSHARE WILL REACH 72 SOMALI FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN PRENATAL TO 5 YEARS WITH TWO YEARS OF PROGRAMMING. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS - BRIDGING THE CULTURAL DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER ("CHW") PEER NETWORK PROGRAM WAS CREATED BY WELLSHARE IN 2005 AND REACHES A STATEWIDE GROUP OF CHWS SERVING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. WELLSHARE HOSTS A MODERATED NETWORK MAILING LIST AND PROVIDES IN-SERVICE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO CHWS. CURRENTLY THE NETWORK REACHES OVER 600 CHWS, EMPLOYERS, AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS. EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM WELLSHARE'S TOBACCO-FREE COMMUNITIES EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE MN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ("MDH"), AIMS TO REDUCE THE HARM CAUSED BY TOBACCO AND SECONDHAND SMOKE AMONG SOMALI AND EAST AFRICAN CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS. ESTABLISHED IN 2013, THE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1. COMPLETE A COMMUNITY-BASED ASSESSMENT TO STRENGTHEN MINNESOTA AFRICAN- AMERICANS' (SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN) COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND INVOLVEMENT AROUND TOBACCO CONTROL THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 2. INCREASE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS' AWARENESS OF THE HOOKAH PROBLEM IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 3. DEVELOP KEY LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE SOMALI TOBACCO/HOOKAH PROGRAMMING. 4. WORK WITH SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN YOUTH TO INCREASE THEIR FOCUS ON HEALTHY BEHAVIORS TO PROMOTE BOTH PREVENTION AND CESSATION EFFORTS (CIGARETTES AND HOOKAH). 5. DEVELOP A PEER-TO-PEER OUTREACH MODEL WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO INTEGRATE A QUIT PARTNER REFERRAL PROCESS. 6. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL PROTECTED BY SMOKE- AND COMMERCIAL TOBACCO-FREE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR POLICIES. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR EAST AFRICAN YOUTH - 'THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS' THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS, A WELLSHARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN YOUTH, OFFERS A CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR SOMALI YOUTH TO LEARN, BE CREATIVE, INTERACT WITH POSITIVE ADULTS, LEARN SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND PREPARE THEM FOR HIGHER EDUCATION BY WORKING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FRANKLIN LIBRARY. THE GROUP IS YOUTH-LED AND OUR SOMALI STAFF MENTORS THE YOUTH TO DEVELOP CREATIVE PROJECTS IN ORDER TO SEND POSITIVE MESSAGES TO THEIR EAST AFRICAN PEERS. EAST AFRICAN AND KAREN REFUGEE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM WELLSHARE'S SPACING PREGNANCIES PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN AND KAREN COMMUNITIES ("SPEAK") INCLUDES TWO PROJECTS: THE SOMALI CHILD SPACING PROGRAM AND THE KAREN FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM. SOMALI AND KAREN CHWS WORK WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, INVESTED STAKEHOLDERS, LOCAL PROVIDERS, AND OTHER SERVICE PROFESSIONALS SO THAT FAMILIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES: - HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO AND UPTAKE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESOURCES, INCLUDING CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS; - RECEIVE MORE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES; - EXPERIENCE INCREASED SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GOALS. SKIN LIGHTENING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM AS ONE OF FOUR MDH GRANTEES, WELLSHARE FACILITATES COMMUNITY-LED EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH RISKS OF MERCURY EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF UNREGULATED SKIN LIGHTENING PRODUCTS. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE - SCIENCE CAF PARTNERSHIP WORKING WITH UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE ("CTSI") RESEARCHERS, WE HELP CONDUCT FOCUS GROUPS IN THE SOMALI AND KAREN COMMUNITY AROUND HEALTH EQUITY TOPICS. THIS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCHERS TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AROUND IMPORTANT HEALTH TOPICS AND INSPIRE MUTUAL CURIOSITY BETWEEN PARTIES ABOUT SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL RESEARCH. COVID-19 RESPONSE WELLSHARE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE PROVIDES A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN MINNESOTA. THIS YEAR, WE MOVED BEYOND HEALTH EDUCATION AND SERVICE REFERRALS, OFFERING COMMUNITY TESTING AND VACCINATION CLINICS, AS WELL AS ADDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT, RENTAL, AND FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES. OUR UNIQUE STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND PROGRAM EFFICACY POSITIONED US TO SERVE AS GOVERNOR WALZ'S SELECT COVID-19 COMMUNITY COORDINATORS. HEALTH PLAN PARTNERSHIPS WELLSHARE PARTNERS WITH MANY MAJOR HEALTH PLANS IN MINNESOTA. OUR DIRECT SUPPORT TO HEALTH PLAN MEMBERS BY PHONE AND IN PERSON INCREASES MEMBER SATISFACTION, HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND SAVES MONEY FOR ALL BY HELPING PEOPLE ACCESS THE SOCIAL SERVICES NEEDED FOR HEALTHIER LIVING, INCREASING USE OF PREVENTIVE CARE, AND REDUCING EMERGENCY ROOM USE. MENTAL HEALTH WELLSHARE IS DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGY, INTEGRATING MINDFULNESS, ACUTE AND CHRONIC CARE REFERRALS, AND SELF-CARE FOR OUR STAFF AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1. INCREASING ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AND DECREASING STIGMA THROUGH AN IN-PERSON AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION STRATEGY; 2. BUILDING STAFF SKILLS THROUGH TRAINING AND MENTORING IN MIND-BODY MEDICINE AND TRAINING STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND MITIGATE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES USING EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID; AND 3. EXPANDING COMMUNITY-BASED MIND-BODY MEDICINE CLASSES FOR SELF-MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY AND STRESS TO OTHER WELLSHARE PROGRAMS. MANKATO HUB OUR NEW CHW SERVICE HUB IN MANKATO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CLINICS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DIRECT CLINIC-TO-HUB REFERRALS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH NEEDS. WE ALSO COLLABORATE WITH CLINICIANS AND COMMUNITY ON HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AND OFFERING 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.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING BARIADI DISTRICT, TANZANIA: 'SURVIVE AND THRIVE- AND 'TOGETHER FOR HEALTH' PROJECTS RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY TO ACHIEVING OPTIMAL HEALTH, WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL'S SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUPS PROVIDE HEALTH EDUCATION, SMALL-BUSINESS SKILLS TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT A VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING MODEL. WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL'S TOGETHER FOR HEALTH PROGRAM USES VIDEO TECHNOLOGY ON IPADS TO DELIVER HEALTH EDUCATION MESSAGES THROUGH HEALTH WORKERS (FROM HOSPITALS/CLINICS) AND CHWS (WHO WORK AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL) TO IMPROVE HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, ACCESS TO CARE, AND QUALITY OF SERVICES.