Multicultural Health Institute

THE ORGANIZATION, THROUGH COLLABORATON AND EDUCATION, INTERACTS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND HEALTH CARE THAT WILL LEAD TO LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES, AND REDUCE COSTLY HEALTH INEQUITIES THROUGH EFFECTIVE PREVENTION EFFORTS. IT SEEKS TO LEVEL THE HEALTHCARE PLAYING FIELD BY PROMOTING, EDUCATING, AND ENSURING EQUAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND TREATMENT FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO EXPERIENCE DISPARITIES IN THE RATES OF DISEASE. IT USES THE PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, LINKAGE TO CARE, AND SUSTAINABILITY ("PEARLS") TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE, IDENTIFY AND TEST FOR CONDITIONS SUCH AS CANCER, DIABETES, OBESITY, STROKE, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, INFANT MORTALITY, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, ENVIRONMENTALLY-RELATED HEALTH DISORDERS, AND VARIOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS HIV/AIDS AND COVID. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ONGOING PROGRAMS SUCH AS:1. DEPLOYMENT OF NAVIGATORS AND SAFEKEEPERS TO ASSIST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN ACCESSING ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE AND RESOURCES AND TO MAINTAIN A HELPLINE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN CALL TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE OR INFORMATION.2. COLLABORATE WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO VITAL RESOURCES DURING THE OCCURANCE OF STORMS (SUCH AS HURRICANES) AFFECTING THE LOCAL AREA, SUCH AS MEDICAL SUPPLIES, PRESCRIPTION REFILLS, EQUIPMENT, VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS, AND TIMELY UPDATES.3. GENERATE PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATE THE RELEVANT HEALTH AND WELLNESS UPDATES THAT IS IMPORTANT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY, PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON THE COVID DISEASE. HOLD MONTHLY "HEALING CIRCLE" MEETINGS THAT WOULD FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC HEALTH ISSUE.4. REACHING OUT TO UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE MANASOTA, FLORIDA REGION TEACHING ABOUT SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, MATH AND HEALTH (STEAMH) CAREERS AND PROVIDING SHADOWING AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES VIA THE MHI SCHOLARS PROGRAM.5. PUBLIC OUTREACH WITH THE MHI SAFEKEEPERS BY PARTICIPATING AND HOSTING SERVERAL FOOD DONATION EVENTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH SUPPLIES SUCH AS MASKS.6. ACTIVELY EDUCATING PARTICIPANTS IN A YEAR LONG PROGRAM (CDC-APPROVED PREVENT T2 LIFESTYLE PREVENTION PROGRAM) THAT AIMS TO REDUCE HEALTHCARE COSTS AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES.7. THE CARE COORDINATION PROGRAM WORKS TO IMPROVE ITS CLIENTS' OVERALL HEALTH AND SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES BY CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IT IS ALSO DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS TO BETTER MANAGE THEIR CHRONIC CONDITIONS, MONITOR THEIR MEDICATION USAGE, AND ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS.8. CONTINUING WITH THE WORK ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY WITH PANEL DISCUSSIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.