Projects
The 2022 Summer CHW-Powered Projects Competition aimed to support Community Health Workers and community members by providing funding to their projects. Five teams, across five Houston communities, were successful in making their dream projects become a reality. The 14 Community Health Workers managed to reach over 120 community members in Houston. Supporting and educating our communities in physical health, stroke awareness and recognition, environmental justice and health impact, coping with loss and grief during COVID-19, and the impact of isolation and loneliness in our health.
EVOLVE
The EVOLVE program focuses on assisting seniors (65+) develop independent exercise habits. EVOLVE managed to successfully support 18 community members in their health journey. Educating seniors on different chair-based exercises and providing an example binder for them to reference during and after program completion. Additionally, community members were eager to exercise during and after the program; sharing that they will continue to use the binder and bands on their own. These weekly activities were completed over a span of four months. We would like to recognize Community Health Workers, Audrey Huang and Giselle Castrejo for planning and implementing the EVOLVE program.
“The community created amongst the participants was the most surprising outcome of the entire program. I initially did not think we had much impact other than increasing physical activity. But because the participants have overall enjoyed their experience with us, the music played during the sessions, the company of others, they have learned to enjoy exercising. I learned that building and strengthening a community is one of the best ways to have an effective program.” – Audrey Huang, CHW
DUELO
The DUELO program aims to support community members who are grieving the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19. The inspiration behind the project stems from the lack of support available for the Hispanic community in Houston. DUELO has supported over 20 community members in their grieving process. Working together to better understand their feelings during challenging times. DUELO consist of group and individual sessions in which community members are free to express their emotions and receive support. Additionally, community members were connected to counseling and other mental health resources that are accessible to them. These weekly activities were completed over a span of four months. Now continuing the workshops with ongoing UH CHWI support. We would like to recognize Community Health Workers, Gabriela Casteneda and Nayaned Crispin for planning and implementing the DUELO program.
“The results exceed our expectations, is not an easy topic, we helped people that were very sad and emotionally unstable, they worked in processing their feelings and better comprehension about grief.” – DUELO CHWs
EARTH CLINIC
The Earth Clinic program focuses on raising awareness and education Fifth Ward community members on the effects of pollution in their health. The program is also interested in building civic engagement around environmental justice. Phase Zero of the Earth Clinic managed to reach over 50 community members, educating them on pollution in their community and how plants can help combat harmful environmental elements. Phase One of the Earth Clinic will focus on creating the Stewards of Sustainability (SOS), comprised of Fifth Ward youth looking to better their environment. The next phases will focus on different ways to raise awareness, setting up a mobile earth clinic, and creating a community earth clinic in the community. These weekly activities were completed over a span of four months. Now continuing activities with ongoing UH CHWI support. We would like to recognize the Community Health Workers, Ginger Spencer Jeudy and Briana Azad for planning and implementing the Earth Clinic program.
“I think things are going well. We have reached many people and we are learning a lot, connecting with the community, building our volunteer base, and actively planning for our next steps.” – Ginger Spencer Jeudy, CHW
THE SOCIAL HEALTH PROJECT
The Social Health Project aims to foster relationships through community activities to prevent negative health outcomes due to social isolation and loneliness. The program offers a range of activities in which community members, seniors and those homebound, can participate. For example, painting, gardening, reading, chair exercise, and pet therapy. The program managed to have between 10-12 community members attend the weekly activities. Additionally, the project aims to build a stronger connection between the participants and their loved ones or other community members. These weekly activities were completed over a span of four months. Now continuing activities with ongoing UH CHWI support. We would like to recognize the Community Health Worker, BreAnn Wilson for planning and implementing The Social Health Project.
“I have also learned the importance of building individual relationships with each resident. Each resident has their own goals, interests, and challenges. In spending time getting to know each resident I was able to build activities that better suit their interests. This improved relationship, I think, has contributed to more consistent participation. The residents, I feel, have a deeper sense of social connection when they see that I have brought a new activity that they casually mentioned they were interested in doing in a previous week.” – BreAnn Wilson, CHW
SARP
The Stroke Awareness and Recognition Program (SARP) focuses on education community members in OST / South Union on stroke signs, symptoms, and different ways to reduce the chances of getting a stroke. SARP consisted of three educational workshops with a mix of bingo. The program managed to engage around 60 community members. These weekly activities were completed over a span of four months. We would like to recognize the Community Health Workers, Mathew Mendoza, Amina Chirkli, Adriana De Leon, and La Wanda Brown for planning and implementing SARP.
“The people in the program were really interested in the content of our presentations and even asked questions to better understand strokes.” – SARP CHWs
THANK YOU COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS FOR BEING TRUE CHAMPIONS OF HEALTH JUSTICE
