Community Wellness and Outreach Department
What Is Community Wellness and Outreach?
The Community Wellness and Outreach Department (CWO), provides
welllness and education services to clients and empowers them
to make lifestyle changes that will change the course of their
health and lives. Services are provided at the IHC's Wellness
Center in close collaboration with the IHC's Medical Department.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES
HIV/AIDS Services
CWO offers HIV prevention programs, testing and counseling
by appointment. Click HERE for more info.
Fitness Program
CWO operates a fitness center that is open to all IHC patients.
The fitness center has a full schedule of individual and group
classes including tai chi, yoga, walking, chair exercises,
pilates and People With Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE Program.)
Fitness staff develop individualized fitness plans for each
patient in consultation with the patient's medical provider.
Nutrition Services
A Registered Dietician / Certified Diabetes Educator provides
nutrition education and cooking classes.
Diabetes Services
The IHC offers an intensive 16-week diabetes prevention program
focussing on fitness, nutrition and one-on-one lifestyle coaching.
Our program was designed specifically with Native American
tradition and culture in mind. In addition, the IHC provides
a diabetes orientation class, diabetes education, and one-on-one
case management to assist patients who have been diagnosed
with diabetes. Visit our Diabetes Program page for more information.
Health Education
CWO staff provide health screenings for blood sugar, cholesterol
and high blood pressure at clinic events, and home visits.
In addition, staff provide health education to the community
regarding chronic disease prevention and wellness promotion.
Topics include:
~ Family planning
~ HIV testing and counseling
~ Injury prevention
~ Prenatal education
~ Smoking cessation
Transportation Services
The IHC has a van driver available to transport patients to
medical, dental and wellness appointments as well as to participate
in cultural activities.
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CULTURAL SERVICES
CWO also provides culturally specific care in
order to improve the health condition of the American Indian
community. Since health is strongly linked to engagement in
cultural activities and traditions, it is a central focus
of these services.
Cultural Wellness Activities
Cultural enrichment activities are provided through native
dancing, beading, drumming and craft classes. A number of
events are held such as American Indian Care Days and American
Indian Family Fun Nights.
Native American Youth Empowerment Program
(NAYEP)
This program works with American Indian teens age 12-17 to
develop leadership skills, learn cultural skills, participate
in fitness activities, develop lifeskills, and learn about
various health and wellness topics.
Elder Care Program
American Indian / Alaskan Native elders are often the key
cultural link to the traditional ways. The Elder Care Program
provides health care services to elders who are often isolated
and homebound. Services include:
~ Home visits
~ Health screenings
~ Transportation to medical appointments
~ Case management
~ Fitness programs
~ Elder's luncheon to develop and maintain social relationships
Outreach and Linkage Services
CWO staff attend American Indian events and meet with community
members to let them know about the IHC's services and need
for ongoing health care. Staff assist in making referrals
so that patients get the care they need.
CWO Staff 2008
Bottom Row (left to right): Jan Chacon, Cathy Godwin, Terri Dairo, Elizabeth Santana, Judy Soito, Caroline Reynolds.
Top Row (left to right): Cindy Papp, Sarah Gauss, Sharon Torres, Michael Bennett, Tracy Dingle, Ramin Naderi
Like many people, Betty was struggling to control
her weight so she became involved in IHC fitness programs.
Through guidance from IHC's medical nutrition therapist and
fitness coordinator, she was able to develop and follow a
personal health improvement plan that allowed her to increase
the quality of her life.
"I am more energetic, more willing
to go out in the world and do things. Before, I did not want
to go anywhere. I was exhausted and did not feel good about
myself. Now I have more ambition to go on with my job search
and lose weight. My cholesterol is down and I have changed
my diet." -Betty C.
American Indians & Diabetes:
A Focus on Prevention
Diabetes is a terrible disease. Without prevention,
the disease can strip away a person's dignity; if untreated
it can take their sight, their limbs, and eventually their
life. Diabetes severely affects the cardiovascular system,
putting further strain on the body. American Indians have
one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world and are
two and a half times more likely to have diabetes than the
general public.
The IHC is participating in a nationwide five-year
study conducted by Indian Health Service on diabetes prevention.
IHC's diabetes prevention program consists of a 16-week intensive
lifestyle intervention, comprised of fitness, nutrition, education
and one-on-one coaching. Participants are being tracked for
short and log-term gains in lifestyle change.
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