Volume 1, Issue 10 | October/November 2022 |
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Our Monthly News & Updates |
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"Does Your Chili Have a Little 🌶️?"
Seward LHEAT's Win Sparks A Conversation
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Diana Villarreal (Seward County United Way Executive Director), Clarissa Carrillo Martinez (Regional Community Lead for the West Region), Susan Lukwago (CHW of Seward County) and Karina Vazquez (CHW of Seward County) winning the chili cook-off competition |
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COPE's amazing LHEATs continue to impress us. Of all the talents they have, who knew winning a chili cook-off competition could be one? The Seward County LHEAT recently won third place for the Best Chili in the Annual Duck Festival in Liberal, showing off their unmatched cooking skills.
"I was super excited after hearing we won, especially because it was our first time participating with COPE," said Vazquez.
Lukwago had an inkling that the team had a chance of winning. "We could see that people liked the chili and would come back for more," Lukwago said. The team also took the opportunity to promote the LHEAT. Several people asked "Does your chili have a little heat?" which provided a clever play and opening for the team to engage in a conversation with attendees on LHEAT.
The chef behind the award-winning chili is Kay Burtzloff(an LHEAT member and also President of the Liberal Area Coalition for Families, a key COPE partner. What is the secret ingredient to the chili recipe? "It is cumin," said Burtzloff. Vazquez teased Burtzloff, asking her whether the secret ingredient is love. Cooking without a recipe, Burtzloff concocted chili entirely from experience and feel. "When she makes chili again, it will be wonderful and taste a little different," Lukwago said.
Seward County LHEAT's competition benefited the wider Liberal community. "The Chili Cook-Off Competition was part of a yearly fundraiser by the local Seward County United Way to raise funds to help families in our community through different local organizations," said Clarissa Carrillo Martinez (Regional Community Lead for the West Region).
Courtesy photos: Clarissa Carrillo Martinez
Clarissa Carrillo Martinez, Susan Lukwago and Karina Vazquez contributed reporting
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An Onsite Greenhouse Continues the Legacy of Fresh Start Youth Garden Program in Montgomery County🥕
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Before (L) and after the green house installation (R) at the Fresh Start Youth Garden in Coffeyville |
Montgomery County LHEAT has been working steadily on acquiring and building a greenhouse since July. The installation is close to complete.
This greenhouse is built on the Fresh Start Youth Garden site in Coffeyville. It will allow for early plantings, extend the growing season and provide more varieties of produce to distribute in 2023. COPE's key partner, Coffeyville Neighborhood Initiative, oversees the project, from inventorying and labeling over 200 parts, digging and leveling the trench, assembling below ground foundation frame and side frame and, finally, clearing and leveling the floor. This is truly a labor of love. We can't wait to see the final installation and celebrate the early start of your next growing season!
Courtesy photos: Peggy Steele and Fresh Start Youth Garden Project Facebook page
Source: Montgomery County LHEAT Action Plan
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Grant County CHWs Offer Free Glucose Checks |
The Grant County CHW team joined a free health screening event organized by Women of Purpose and Bob Wilson Hospital on Saturday, September 28. This event allowed various healthcare organizations to set up tables and share resources with the community.
COPE's CHWs conducted free glucose checks to about 15 people, who also received buck slips, COVID-19 at-home test kits and a COPE information pamphlet.
Grant County had many community events that Saturday. "If we can impact and change the situation of at least one person we've served our purpose," said Lucy Watie (CHW Supervisor of Grant County with a home base in Genesis Family Health). The team plans to post future events in Spanish on social media to invite its growing Spanish community members.
Courtesy photos: Lucy Watie
Lucy Watie contributed reporting
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Brown-Jackson County CHWs Raise Over $200 for the Emergency Services Fund at the Maple Leaf Festival |
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The Maple Leaf Festival is the most popular event in the Brown-Jackson Counties, according to Johnny Curtis-Parker (CHW Supervisor with a home base in NEK-CAP, Inc.). Brown-Jackson County CHWs set up a booth to showcase what COPE offers. Curtis-Parker and Stevie Goodpasture (CHW with a home base in NEK-CAP, Inc.) presented information and shared resources with attendees. They also raised over $200 for Brown County Emergency Services Fund at the event.
Photos were gathered from the COPE Brown/Jackson County Facebook page
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40 Individuals Benefit from Bourbon County LHEAT's Free Credit Building/Repair Workshop 🛠️ |
A high credit score is indispensable in today's society, but resources on how to build and raise credit scores often leave under-resourced communities in the dark. The Bourbon County LHEAT broke that barrier and offered such a service on September 29.
This Free Credit Building/Repair Workshop attracted close to 40 participants. It covered how to attain loans for housing and transportation and how to start or expand businesses. Childcare, refreshments and $40 gas vouchers were provided to support attendees. Fourteen individuals worked with New Growth Women's Business Center consultants to create action plans to improve their credit. "Over 90% of participants told us that the workshop was exceptional in a post-workshop survey," said Rachel Carpenter, Bourbon County LHEAT Lead and Director of the Center for Economic Growth at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team. The event also led to the successful recruitment of two new LHEAT members.
"I came in for a gas voucher but I am left with so much more." - workshop attendee
Lisa Robertson (CHW of Bourbon County with a home base in CHC/SEK) witnessed the power of the workshop and what COPE offers. A workshop attendee returned the next day, telling Robertson that she just left an abusive relationship and needed help paying a car tax. The woman was on a $50 per-month income. Robertson guided her one-on-one, setting goals and connecting her to a local organization that assisted with the car tax. The woman now volunteers three hours per week to pay back the tax and just landed a job interview at a local pizza shop. "I came for a gas card but I am left with so much more because we talked about goals and how I can be in a different situation."
Courtesy photos: Rachel Carpenter
Rachel Carpenter and Lisa Robertson contributed reporting
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💥Sedgwick County CHWs In Full Effect💥
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"Like a Good Neighbor, COPE is there!" On October 1, Angela Scott (CHW Field Supervisor) and Thien Doan (CHW of Sedgwick County with a home base in GraceMed) met with 50 individuals during the Good Neighbor Week at Atwater Resource Center. They also distributed about 50 COPE pamphlets with a QR code linked to COPE's referral page.
The event was free and open to all Wichita residents. Residents also can attend a no-cost Community Health Session to learn more about health behaviors.
The COPE team has intentionally brought more awareness to many services that CHWs offer; being present at the event also helps cultivate a relationship with the community.
Courtesy photos: Tien Doan
Event flyer was from the Good Neighbor Week! promotional page.
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Sedgwick County CHW Team Commemorates Indigenous People's Day: On October 9, Candra Jones (CHW Supervisor of Sedgwick County) and Angela Scott (CHW Field Supervisor) attend the MMIP event organized by the American Indian Council. The event also included a fundraiser to facilitate continued efforts to bring missing and murdered indigenous people home.
The team received contact information from 10 potential clients and families, as well as formed partnerships with St. Francis Foster Care services and Wichita Family Crisis Center.
This event would be impossible without Thien Doan (CHW with a home base in GraceMed), who built the initial connections and partnership with the American Indian Council.
Courtesy photos: Candra Jones
Candra Jones contributed reporting.
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Angela Scott and Candra Jones at the event (Top); A thank you card from MMIP of South Central Kansas (Bottom) |
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At the fair, Thien Doan (CHW with a home base in GraceMed), Angela Scott (CHW Field Supervisor) and Candra Jones (CHW Supervisor) worked tirelessly to introduce COPE and resources to 20 individuals. They not only recruited potential clients but also formed partnerships with Aetna Insurance, mental health consultants, Adventure Dental and Vision and dentist Bryant Giang. The team also offered health screenings to attendees, thanks to KU Medical School students.
The Wichita Asian Festival immediately took place after the Health Fair. To celebrate the occasion, the City of Wichita also issued a proclamation for Wichita Asian Festival Day.
Courtesy photos: Tien Doan
Tien Doan contributing reporting
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😷 Hygiene Kits for the Geary County Public Schools
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Courtesy photos: Linda Gibson
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Cowley County LHEAT Supports House of Hope to Build Transitional and Emergency Housing |
House of Hope staff described its mission and future plans at the building site. COPE members Kim Mercer (Cowley County LHEAT lead) and Robin Henderson (CHW Supervisor and Executive Director at Eagle Nest, Inc.) also took the opportunity to share the unique setup of LHEAT and CHWs. Other COPE members present at the ceremony included: Nadine Long (Regional Community Lead for the Central Region), Christina Pacheco (Project Director), Angela Scott (CHW Field Supervisor), Ton Miras Neira (CHW Project Manager) and Sarah Kessler (Faculty Lead).
Courtesy photos: Christina Pacheco
Video produced by Jeffrey Field, Department of Family Medicine & Community Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Christina Pacheco contributed reporting
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7 Opportunities to See COPE in Action 🎬
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Are you going to the American Public Health Association Conference in Boston this year? If so, come say hi to COPE. We'd love to see you! |
November 7
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11 am - 11:15 am: Community Health Worker Workforce Development‚ Including Supervision Skills, Professional Support and Workforce Advocacy & Policy
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4:45 pm - 5:00 pm: Primary care clinic managers’ and clinician’s understanding of COVID-19 vaccination practices, available community resources, and familiarity with community health workers in underserved Kansas counties
November 8
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8:30 am - 8:45 am: Partnering with communities to create and implement strategies to promote health equity across Kansas through Local Health Equity Action Teams
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10:30 am - 12:00 pm: Community-led Distribution of COVID-19 At-Home Tests Among 20 Counties in Kansas
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1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Engaging local communities in the public health response to COVID
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3:15 pm -3:30 pm: Leveraging community-academic partnerships to enhance equity work and address social determinants of health in Liberal, Kansas
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Thanks to Dr. Kevin Sykes for sharing this list with us! |
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On October 12, Dr. Ithar Hassaballa (Evaluation Project Manager) presented at the Ujamaa Virtual Colloquium Series sponsored by the Kansas African Studies Center and Center for Global & International Studies at the University of Kansas.
In this talk, she shared case studies and personal experiences that formed a foundation for her successful global health partnerships. She specifically spotlighted culturally-centered Ebola response efforts in Liberia, intervention components that prioritize health system and community transformation and coordinated evaluation efforts. Her work was key to an Ebola-free Liberia in 2015.
Read three publications resulting from this work:
How does one cultivate successful partnerships at the global level? Tips from Dr. Hassaballa included: bringing value, timing, celebrating partners, being dependable and flexible and, finally, uplifting others and advocating. In the audience Q&A, she gave advice on how to build trust and embrace cultural differences in a global health context.
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COPE Receives a Leadership Transformation Grant from the Kansas Leadership Center |
On October 17, Kansas Leadership Center awarded COPE a Leadership Transformation Grant. This grant, which aims to foster a leadership culture in organizations and communities, will enable the team to offer the KLC Path to LHEAT heads in 2023. Congratulations! |
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🥂 Congratulations to Dr. Greiner's "Healthcare Provider of the Year" Award 🥂
Dr. Allen Greiner, M.D., MPH, received the "Healthcare Provider of the Year" Award from the Wyandotte Health Foundation. The foundation is passionate about creating genuine opportunities for all to thrive.
Dr. Greiner is a COPE Patient Care Team member and a Southeast Regional Liaison. He is seen here with Rev. Tony Carter (L) at the award ceremony.
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Wyandotte and Johnson County CHWs Share Their Experiences Championing for Black, African Immigrants and African Refugees |
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Kansas City-based CHWs participated in two Roundtables moderated by Hassaballa and Ruaa Hassaballa-Muhammad (Regional Community Lead for the Northeast Region).
- Roundtable 1: “Helping Healthcare Providers Understand Black, African American, African Immigrants and Refugee Patients in KC.” Panelists included Leylah Ndinda, Estella Fondzeka, Essence Miller and Khulud Khudur.
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- Roundtable 2: “Everyday Considerations and Everyday Resilience in the Life of a Black, African American, African immigrant, or Refugee in the Midwest.” Panelists included: Kim Weaver, Salma Abdalla, Taj Suleyman and Dr. Farris Muhammad.
In both roundtables, COPE and non-COPE CHWs highlighted the importance of championing for community members, lifting up other voices, being a good listener, being creative when problem solving and building trust as key components of CHW activities. The conference attendees were engaged and asked a lot of questions. There was high praise in the room by other attendees who shared how practical this information is when it comes to improving the health and wellbeing of Kansas City residents.
Author and photo contributor: Ithar Hassaballa
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Dr. Ithar Hassaballa (Evaluation Project Manager), was elected President of the Mid America Association for African Studies (MAAAS) during its 26th Annual conference.
“As President, I am committed to collaborating with CHWs and public health practitioners in Kansas to share wins, lessons-learned and strategies to improve the health and well-being of those with multiple vulnerabilities in the Midwest,” said Hassaballa.
Congratulations! We are so proud of you!
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Each month we highlight and celebrate COPE members who have rich lived experiences and stories that humble us daily.
This month we spotlight James Wright, a CHW of Cherokee County with a home base in CHC/SEK. Instead of featuring Wright's biography, we take this opportunity to invite him to share one of his impactful works with us.
This is James Wright's story, as told to COPE's Communications Team.
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I have recently been working closely with a client with co-occurring comorbidity* and breast cancer. She was really down. This woman is intelligent and achieved educational success with four Bachelor's degrees and two Master's. But, without an adequate transportation option, she relied on food delivery, which drained her finances.
She told me she once loaned a friend $5,000 but never pressed the friend to pay her back. This friend perhaps sensed her call for help and re-connected with her out of the blue, telling her that "I forgot that I owe you $5,000, and here it is."
With the money, she thought a car would ease her stress and make her more independent. I connected her to a car dealership. The owner has a track record of supporting women in their fight against breast cancer. My client got a great deal. She pays $225, instead of the typical $400 monthly payment, for a 2018 vehicle.
This car does more than get her to point A to point B. This car helped her overcome that emotional hump, and I was proud to be there for her.
*The occurrence of two disorders or illnesses in the same person.
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Congratulations to Ian's Engagement! |
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Ian Knight, the Communication Coordinator of COPE, is engaged! Knight popped the question to Courtney Born on September 29 with a custom engagement ring made in San Diego.
Congratulations on finding forever.
“Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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"Breast cancer, whether I like it or not, is part of my family's story. That's why I am so passionate about raising awareness because I have seen firsthand how it can impact others." - Deangelo Williams |
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November is National Home Care and Hospice Month |
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The home care and hospice community honors the millions of nurses, home care aides, and health workers who impact the patients and families they serve. Homecare providers travel more than eight billion miles to deliver healthcare globally. This grand sacrifice should not be overlooked, as homecare is a privilege many aging Americans seek. Home care is the preferred method of health care for 90% of Americans. This number is only going to grow.
"Home care and hospice nurses, therapists, aides, and other providers who choose to use their lives to serve our country's aged, disabled, and dying. This noble work deserves our recognition and praise and we celebrate November as Home Care & Hospice Month for that very reason." – NAHC President William A. Dombi
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Looking for graphics to promote Home Care and Hospice Month? |
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Download facts about Home and Hospice Care. |
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Learn more about hospice care with this short video. |
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If you'd like to learn more about equity and the work from the medical community all over the country, look no further: DEI Learning Opportunities
Thanks to the Center of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from KU Medical Center for sharing this with us!
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Missed our prior issues? Want to share our work with community partners? Links to prior issues below.
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