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2009 ANNUAL REPORTEASTERN AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER, INC.
Connecting
Professionals to
and Communities to
toStudentsCommunities
Better Health!
Careers
A Letter from the Executive DirectorDear Community Partners, Colleagues, & Students,
On behalf of the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, I’d like to thank you for your support of the statewide AHEC System and of Eastern AHEC, Inc. We have many enriching programs that promote workforce development in the �elds of health, public health and mental health. Our belief is that a quali�ed health care workforce requires service-based learning in the community with our most vulnerable populations who are underserved medically.
The Medical Interpreter Training program is a 48-hour course that requires demonstrated language pro�ciency and a post-training follow-up evaluation for certi�cation granted by the Connecticut AHEC Program. We o�er an in-service for health care administrators that highlights the best practices of Language Access Services endorsed by the American Medical Association and another in-service speci�c to health care providers in assessing the need for an interpreter and how to work with an interpreter. Maritza Rosado is the director of the program.
Our premier program is the Collegiate Health Service Corps which was recently nominated by a college student and consequently won the Community Service Award given by the Connecticut State Department of Higher Education. The CHSC operates at the UConn Storrs Campus and throughout the Connecticut State University System. This past year over 200 students provided close to 5,000 service-based learning hours of community service. Health Profession students from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy also participate in the Corps through service learning embedded in coursework. Victoria Lowe is the statewide program coordinator.
The Youth Health Service Corps operates in Killingly, Norwich and Jewett City. Eighty-eight high school students participated in 2009, providing over 1,500 hours of service-based learning activities in their home towns. The YHSC has been replicated in 20 other states, providing approximately 10,000 community service hours annually. Christy Hildebrand is the eastern regional coordinator.
Building Bright Futures in Connecticut is a training program for teachers, social workers, state employees and other folks who work with children and adolescents. Participants have little or no formal training in mental health and are trained to work with families from a strength-based perspective toward mental health. This program is state-wide and has trained over 300 professionals this year funded by the Department of Public Health. Emily Jensen is the statewide program coordinator.
The Connecticut AHEC program provides us with a strong structure of professional support and development, allowing AHEC to achieve its stated goals to recruit and train a quali�ed health care workforce and to increase access to health care by those populations that are traditionally medically underserved.
Sincerely, Catherine Russell, EdDExecutive Director
History
Objectives Eastern AHEC, Inc.
The Federal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) was established in 1973 as a way to encourage medical schools to increase the number of students and residents trained in underserved communities.
The Connecticut AHEC Program was established in 1995 by Connecticut General Assembly and received initial federal funding in 1997. The program is based at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington and implemented by regional AHECs in Trumbull and Jewett City, Bridgeport and Norwich.
Mission StatementTo increase access to quality health care by improving the supply, distribution and training of health care professionals through community and academic educational partnerships.
Promote health careers through the development and distribution of
curricula aimed throughout the pipeline (elementary, high school and
college students), particularly those from underrepresented
populations.
Collaborate to develop and market community-based education and
training programs for health care professionals.
Address health care workforce shortages through coalition-building
and continuing education and professional development programs to
improve quality of worklife and retention.
Collaborate on preventative health care and public health initiatives to
promote healthy lifestyles and healthy communities.
One Sylvandale RoadJewett City, CT 06351(860) 376-1600(860) 376-8118 (fax)
Email: [email protected]: www.easternctahec.org
Catherine Russell, Ed.D.Executive Director
Board of DirectorsMarge Valentin- PresidentAssociate Dean, Continuing EducationThree Rivers Community College574 New London Tpk. Norwich, CT 06360 860-885-2391 [email protected]
Mary Horan- Vice PresidentDirector, Family Center CareIntegrated Health ServicesWindham Memorial Hospital112 Mans�eld Ave. Willimantic, CT 06226 [email protected]
Duckworth Grange- TreasurerCommunity [email protected]
NORTHWESTERN AHEC530 Middlebury Road, Suite 212BMiddlebury, CT 06762(203) 758-1110(203) 758-1193 (fax)Patricia Harrity, Executive DirectorEmail: [email protected]
CENTRAL AHEC2 Holcomb AveHartford, CT 06112(860) 543-8868(860) 722-6937 (fax)Brenda Delgado, Executive DirectorEmail: [email protected]
SOUTHWESTERN AHECPO Box 550Bridgeport, CT 06601(203) 372-5503(203) 372-5504 (fax)Meredith Ferraro, Executive DirectorEmail: [email protected]
EASTERN AHECOne Sylvandale RoadJewett City, CT 06351(860) 705-4423(860) 760-6230 (fax)Catherine Russell, Executive DirectorEmail: [email protected]
CONNECTICUT AHEC PROGRAMUniversity of Connecticut School of Medicine263 Farmington Ave, MC 2928Farmington, CT 06030-2928(860) 860-679-7971(860) 679-1101 (fax)Petra Clark-Dufner, Associate DirectorBruce Gould, M.D., Program DirectorEmail: [email protected]
Paul Doyle, SecretaryDirector, Covenant Soup Kitchen220 Valley StreetWillimantic, CT 06226860-423-1643 [email protected]
David Yovaisis- Board MemberChief Development O�cer, TVCCAOne Sylvandale RoadJewett City, CT 06351 [email protected]
Mary Conway- Board MemberSuperintendent, Plain�eld Public Schools651 Norwich RoadPlain�eld, CT 06374 860-564-6403conwaym@plain�eldschools.org
Kimberly Silcox- Board MemberDirector, Center for Community EngagementEastern Connecticut State UniversityAlvin Wood Support Service [email protected] 0-465-4426
Dr. Kathyrn Radcli�- Board MemberProfessor of Sociology, Department of Sociology University of Connecticut Unit 2068 344 Mans�eld Rd. Storrs, CT 06269-2068860-486-3886kathryn.ratcli�@uconn.edu
Connecticut Youth Health Service Corps (YHSC)
The Youth Health Service Corps of Eastern AHEC is directed and coordinated by Christy Hildebrand. Students from Plain�eld High School and Norwich Free Academy participatedduring the 2008-2009 academic year. For the 2009-2010 year, NFA and PHS have resumed their work, with Griswold and Killingly high schools also picking up the program.
Most recently, Windham High School has expressed an interest in resuming the YHSC. Corps members gain real life, hands-on experiences while developing relationships with their communities. Across the region, students are able to earn high school credit while simultaneously satisfying their high school service requirement through completion of the three-tiered YHSC program.
Students strengthened their existing community partnerships with the organizations like the March of Dimes and The Barnaba Institute. They have participated in a wide range of Service Learning Projects, including March for Babies 2009, which turned out students from Norwich Free Academy and Plain�eld High School and raised over $300 to aid in the �ght against premature birth and birth defects.
NFA students organized a personal hygiene items drive for The Barnaba Institute, and assembled over �fty kits for distribution to women and girls who have become victims of human tra�cking. PHS students provided services to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam by assembling health intake charts one Friday a month. Other projects included World AIDS Day in Willimantic, a short �lm project promoting Universal Healthcare, and participation in the ECSU Annual Health and Wellness Fair.
Area health providers bene�t by increasing their service capacity with trained, motivated and energetic volunteers. By utilizing the YHSC students, providers can reach and serve greater numbers of vulnerable populations. Volunteer coordinators and human resource managers at area hospitals have cited huge �nancial savings from the utilization of volunteers.
Goals and Objectives
Vital Statistics for the Eastern Region
The goal of the YHSC is to mobilize high school students in order toprovide volunteer service while developing a national pipeline offuture health care practitioners prepared to serve classroom andvolunteer service hour requirements. The YHSC is managed by the Connecticut AHEC Statewide Health Careers Coordinator andDirector of the Northwestern AHEC Program, Ms. Patricia Harrity.
70 new high school students trained as volunteers
1000 hours of service throughout the eastern Connecticut region
Participating area high schools include Griswold High School, Killingly High School, the Norwich Free Academy and Plain�eld High School
Over 10 service learning sites
Above and below, YHSC students from NFA and PHS organized the 1st Annual Walk for Barnaba at the Norwich Free Academy, Spring 2009.
Ocean Beach Rocks
�e YHSC of Eastern AHEC would like to extend thanks to:
�e YHSC welcomed three new groups to the program in the Fall of 2009: Killingly High School, Griswold Youth Center and Griswold Alternative High School.
New London, CT Bike MS East Lyme, CT
Above, the students at “Ocean Beach Rocks” on October 8, 2009. Hosted by WNLC FM Radio at the Port and Starboard in New London, the evening featured a battle of the bands, a silent auction, and keynote speaker Frank Barnaba. The event was designed to raise awareness of modern day slavery and human tra�cking among the community. The YHSC promoted the event, helped sell tickets, worked the silent auction table and assisted in the set up and clean up.
Roy Wentworth and John Iovino, the Norwich Free Academy; Alexis Taylor-Litos and Frank Barnaba, The Barnaba Institute; Joseph Arcarese and Beth Turenne, Plain�eld High School; Ryan Aubin, Griswold Youth Services; Jennifer Johanssen, Griswold High School; Jodi Petrozak and Bob Brennan, Killingly High School; Dan Carmody, Survival Group of North Haven; Dan Blum, The March of Dimes; Geeta Pfau, Eastern CT State University; Janet Johnson and Cli� Butter�eld, Day Kimball Hospital—you are all appreciated! On behalf of Eastern AHEC, Inc. and the Youth Health Service Corps, thank you! Finally, to my amazing, wonderful, and talented students—you are so awesome! Your work and dedication to your community speaks volumes about the character of your generation.
Above left, a team of bikers poses for YHSC volunteer Lucia Lorenzo, September 2009. At right, Lorenzo and Natalia Santana help pin a number on the back of a participating rider. The volunteers provided First Aid services, refreshments, and team morale for the riders who participated in MoheganSun’s annual Bike MS.
Below, students provided monthly administrative support to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam.
Collegiate Health Service Corps (CHSC)
Program Outline
The Collegiate Health Service Corps started at the University of Connecticut in 2006 and expanded to Eastern CT State University in 2008 with a grant from the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund. In 2009 the CHSC received funding from the O�ce of Workforce Competitiveness and expanded to Southern CT State University and Central CT State University.
The Collegiate Health Service Corps is a training program and service learning experience for undergraduate students. A program coordinator and interactive peer learning groups guide all students. The program speci�cally targets freshmen, undecided students, and those interested in healthcare �elds in order to expose them to various health careers.
CurriculumCore Training (First Semester): Initial training session with presentations and activities that include topics such as Eliminating Health Disparities, Professionalism and Ethics, Health Promotion and Health Literacy.
Intermediate Training (Second Semester): Certi�cation in First Aid from the American Heart Association at no cost to the student.
Advanced Training (Third Semester): Certi�cation in CPR from the American Heart Association at no cost to the student.
Program CompletionAll trainings are followed by 25 hours of service learning (a minimum of 75 hours) and a certi�cate of completion.
Academic PartnersConnecticut Area Health Education Center ProgramUniversity of Connecticut Health Center University of Connecticut - O�ce of Community Outreach University of Connecticut - Health Professions SchoolsEastern Connecticut State University - O�ce of Community Engagement
Community PartnersBrick Row ApartmentsCovenant Soup Kitchen Even Start Family Literacy ProgramGenerations Family Health CenterPlanned Parenthood The Plant Group Prides Corner FarmWillimantic Housing AuthorityWindham HospitalWindham Public Schools
MissionTo expose undergraduate students to health careers through
service learning experiences that promote preventative health
care to underserved communities.
Service Learning projects are conducted at multiple area farms, soup kitchens, housing
developments and schools. College Health Service Corps students interested in health
professions from the University of Connecticut and Eastern CT State University develop
relevant health education topics for presentations based on interest surveys. These health
promotion initiatives occur in partnership with one or more Promotores or Community Health
Outreach Workers. In addition, students gain experience working with various health
profession students at the Covenant Soup Kitchen interdisciplinary clinics.
CHSC students prepare health education materials, handouts, utilize demonstration models,
and develop interactive activities that are language and literacy level appropriate. Students
request small donations to provide consumers with health products related to the topics
presented (e.g. hygiene products, hats and gloves, socks, �rst aid kits, etc).
CHSC students also arrange and facilitate health screenings such as blood pressure, blood
glucose, cholesterol, HIV, and TB with other local agencies such as Planned Parenthood and
Generations Family Health Center. Clients are referred for follow-up care to community health
care clinics, hospitals and social service agencies. Students create and distribute
post-education assessments to gauge the consumers’ attitudes and behavior related to
presented health topics.
Improved understanding of how poverty impacts health.100% Strongly Agreed or Agreed
More willing to work with this population in the future.95% Strongly Agreed or Agreed
Ability to make a di�erence in the lives of those served.95% Strongly Agreed or Agreed
Increased understanding of the particular ethnic or cultural group84% Strongly Agreed or Agreed
Increased ability to modify my communication skills based on healthy literacy and/or English pro�ciency89% Strongly Agreed or Agreed
Service Learning: Health Promotion Initiatives
Vital Statistics for the Eastern Region
Soneeka Jackson providing nutrition education at Covenant Soup Kitchen
115 Students trained
Over 3,000 hours of Service Learning
16 Service Learning placement sites
(Data includes ECSU and UConn, Storrs)
Above, CHSC Students from the University of Connecticut
Presenting the CHSC to Congressman Joe Courtney
What the CHSC Students are Saying:
Collegiate Health Service Corps 2009 Statistics
“CHSC has opened my eyes to the lives of others, and has allowed me to grow and learn as an individual. I feel like the connections I’ve made with the clients are something like the connections I’ll always cherish and I can’t wait to go back next semester.”
“My goal is to open up a practice targeted towards serving underrepresented populations, and being a part of the CHSC has helped me to better understand the people I want to help. It has also made me want to continue my goal of becoming a doctor.”
“It made me better able to talk to others and communicate in ways I had not thought possible.”
“Having worked with a similar population over the summer in a clinical setting doing health education was a very di�erent experience. It has certainly increased my desire to continue in the �eld of public health especially health promotion.”
For more information:Victoria LoweStatewide CHSC Coordinator(860) [email protected]
Promotores de Salude Class of 2008
For more information:Rosie LazaroLead Promotora de [email protected]
Promotores’ ProjectsMujer a Mujer
Men’s Health Project with Planned Parenthood
Woman to Woman Home Health Parties promote discussion and healthy behavior to enhance pre-conceptual and inter-conceptual health among Latina women to improve birth outcomes. Promotores recruit hostesses, coordinate parties, and provide any follow-up to health care that is recommended by the speaker. Latino men are reached through work sites and recreational activities. The Mujer a Mujer works in collaboration with Eastern CT AHEC and Windham Community Memorial Hospital.
Eastern AHEC Promotores and Planned Parenthood of CT collaborated on a men’s health initiative focusing on providing Latinos in the Windham community with sexual health education and HIV testing. Promotores made weekly visits to farm sites at Prides Corner and Plant Group Farms to supply men and women with preventative education and condoms. At the end of the summer, the 2nd Annual Community Conversation was held at Fiesta 5 de Mayo to bring health care providers and Latinos together to address health care needs and services. Trained medical interpreters were on site to support the group.
Building Bright Futures in Connecticut (BBFCT) is a healthy child and adolescent social-emotional development training and education program based on the principles of Bright Futures in Practice: Mental Health. Bright Futures in Practice is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative that uses a developmentally based approach to address children’s physical and psychosocial needs within the family and community context. Launched by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Human Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) in 1990, the Bright Futures Initiative is focused at the American Pediatric Association and is a collaboration of other federally and state-funded Bright Futures Projects.
In October 2007 the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) was awarded a grant from
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to form a partnership to promote child and
adolescent mental health. DPH contracted Eastern AHEC for the development of the
curriculum, implementation of the training program, and other project components. A
partnership/workgroup consisting of representatives from state agencies, other state
government entities and parent organizations was established for project feedback and
oversight. The purpose of this partnership was to create and implement a training program
based on the principles of Bright Futures, targeting state government employees who have
limited or no formal mental health training, that serve Connecticut’s children, adolescents and
their families. Since the program began in October 2007 over 350 individuals have been
trained. Approximately 70 individuals were trained as Trainers who will sustain the
program in the upcoming years.
For more information:Emily JensenCoordinator of Building Bright Futures in CTEastern AHEC, Inc.Email: [email protected]: 203-217-2644
Building Bright Futures in Connecticut
How BBFCT got started
A Program of the Connecticut Area Health Education Center and Eastern AHEC, Inc.
Interpreting in Health and Community Settings Certi�cate
Medical Interpreter Training 2009 Program Highlights
Testimonials
The Connecticut Area Health Education Centers o�cially launched the program in January 2008, taking the initiative to conduct statewide trainings. The program’s overall mission are to increase the capacity of professionally trained, quali�ed native, heritage, and second language speakers to e�ectively facilitate communication between people with limited English pro�ciency and their health care providers.
Since the program’s inception there are currently 110 interpreters trained across the state. This year trainings were conducted in the Fair�eld and Hartford Counties. In total there we have conducted 26 language pro�ciency screenings to determine pro�ciency in their target language.
To date the Health Center has eight medical interpreters with other quali�ed employees waiting for training opportunity as funding allows in the near future. The trained interpreters now at our Health Center have also enhanced our patient’s likelihood of accessing recommended resources and referrals.Wendy Madore, O�ce Manager, Norwalk Community Health Center
As I sat and began to learn the proper way of interpreting I kept saying to myself “Oh my God, what have I been doing all my life?” No one should be interpreting without the proper training. Receiving the training from AHEC has been a blessing.Elizabeth Rosa, Sta� Organizer, Waterbury
The Connecticut AHEC Program customized the basic training program to meet the needs of the hospital and its sta�. The dates and time of the training were also arranged to accommodate the schedule that was most convenient for the majority of the trainees. A graduation celebration took place the last day of class with the Bridgeport Hospital’s leadership and the supervisors recognizing and supporting the new medical interpreters. The support and follow-up evaluation o�ered by the Connecticut AHEC Program sets them apart from other medical interpreting training programs available.Lynn Charbonneau, Director, Patient Relations Bridgeport Hospital
Through this training I found that I am not only an interpreter but also a bridge for patients and providers to communicate and “understand” each other. I truly encourage everyone who speaks a second language take this course; it will only help our L.E.P community be more informed and involved to make better health choices.Marlene Ruiz, Outreach Worker/Program Coordinator, Bridgeport
Tips for Working with a Medical Interpreter• Prior to Seeing the Patient • Give background & set goals to “get on the same page” before entering the room. • Encourage clarification
• Etiquette • Address the patient, not the interpreter, and maintain primary eye contact with your patient. • Don’t “think out loud”. Patients wonder what is NOT being interpreted and sometimes understand more than they can speak.
Willimantic Welcome Center
For more information:Maritza RosadoDirector, Medical Interpreter ProgramIMIA Connecticut State RepresentativePhone: (203) [email protected]
Call or stop322 Prospect St., Willimantic, CTPhone: 860.465.2630
Welcome Center is an inter-agency collaboration to provide referrals, education, recreational, and cultural events that bring a sense of community to Willimantic.
Popular presentation topics have included Tax Talk and Immigration Issues. Conversational English and certi�cation in CPR and First Aid are also popular activities that have been o�ered at The Welcome Center.
Tips for Working with a Medical Interpreter (continued...)• The Dialogue • Keep a comfortable pace that will allow time for interpretation. • Avoid medical jargon and idiomatic expressions to make the encounter less complicated. • Listen before redirecting. • Give full information on diagnosis, tests, and treatment. • Confirm understanding and agreement with patient to ensure compliance. • Encourage interpreter to clarify terms with you.
Connecticut Multicultural Health Partnership
The Connecticut Multicultural Health Partnership (CMHP) was
launched in July 2008, through the Connecticut Department
of Public Health O�ce of Multicultural Health (DPH-OMH).
The Partnership was established to draw together expertise,
resources, and programming to eliminate health disparities in
Connecticut. In 2009, the CMHP Strategic Plan was developed
in addition to the Faces of Disparities panel presentation and
training video. Eastern AHEC, Inc is a primary partner in the
project and was awarded a mini-grant from Region 1 O�ce of
Minority Health to produce a report on Cultural
Competency Training Recommendations & Resource
Guide for Health Care Professionals. Available at:
www.easternctahec.org
CONNECTICUTMulticultural Health
Partnership
To join, contactEmily Jensen, CMHP [email protected]
To obtain a copy of the toolkit & resource guide contact:Catherine Russell, EdDEastern AHEC, IncOne Sylvandale RoadJewett City, CT [email protected]
Eastern AHEC, Inc was contracted by the State
Department of Public Health on behalf of the
Connecticut Sexual Violence Prevention Planning
Committee to facilitate the development a
comprehensive seven-year strategic plan. The Sexual
Violence Prevention Toolkit & Resource Guide was
also developed and included an educational
awareness video (with English and Spanish subtitles)
and a training development manual.
EASTERN AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER, INC.ONE SYLVANDALE RD.
JEWETT CITY, CT 06351
PHONE: (860) 705-4423FAX: (860) 760-6230
EMAIL: [email protected]