The Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition (NIHHC) recently held and attended three events in Warsaw to meet the health needs of the community.
Services were free of charge and addressed prevention through a mental health program, health screenings, vaccination, and education, according to a news release from NIHHC.
NIHHC’s Vivamos a Plenitud (Let’s Live to the Fullest) mental health program was offered at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church from Aug. 20Sept. 10 in two groups, one tailored for women and the other for men. In total, 33 women and six men attended the program. The foursession 1.5hour weekly class was facilitated in Spanish by trained social workers. The program aims to foster holistic wellbeing by imparting skills and knowledge on social, emotional, and physical health while addressing cultural influences and violence as barriers. Participants learned strategies to improve their mental health and live fulfilling lives.
Results from the pre and posttests showed a positive impact, including a 6% increase in knowledge (including acculturation and mental health knowledge) and a 13% decrease in negative perception (including reductions in mental health stigma and viewing substance use as a coping mechanism), according to the release.
On Sept. 14, NIHHC offered free health screenings at Family Safety Day in Warsaw Central Park. Twenty community members, 40% uninsured and 60% Hispanic and 40% nonHispanic White, received 106 screenings, including cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, pulse and BMI. Participants received their results immediately, as well as education on their results in order to determine next steps in their health journey.
Many participants were not aware of their health condition. For example, only 15% selfreported that they have high cholesterol, but screening results revealed that 30% were borderline and 5% atrisk of high cholesterol. Just 10% selfreported having obesity, yet BMI results showed 25% overweight, 20% obese and 5% morbidly obese.
On Sunday, NIHHC provided 61 free flu shots to Hispanic community members at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, in partnership with Walgreens.
“In one month, we responded to several health needs for 120 people who would otherwise not have access to services,” said Liliana Quintero, NIHHC executive director. “Our mental health program recognizes the unique mental health needs of immigrants and the barriers they face, while our preventative health screenings and vaccinations meet the needs of everyone, serving all who face barriers to accessing care.”
Community partners were Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Iglesia Betesda Assembly of God Church, WarsawWayne Fire Territory and Walgreens.
“We know that community members want to take care of their health, and we appreciate the collaboration that enables us to provide these needed services to the community in Kosciusko County,” said Quintero.
The Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of underserved communities by providing preventative health screenings, education, and advocacy with a primary focus on Hispanics.