OHD and Partners Celebrate Minority Health Month

OHD and many community partners marked Minority Health Month in Utah with exciting events.

Health screenings at Somali Community Self-Management Agency

OHD and Somali Community Self-Management Agency continued an ongoing commitment to link uninsured/underinsured individuals with primary care and medical homes.  This partnership, one of OHD’s funded efforts, provides monthly health screenings at the Somali Community offices and at the Olive Pharmacy.

“Screenings are a great way to find out what some of your risk factors are, and a lot of people that may not have gone to the doctor recently or may not have access to a doctor can actually come and get free screenings,” Jake Fitisemanu, OHD.

Ghulam Hasnain, an adviser for Somali Community Self-management Agency, also spoke about the value of that testing.  “If it’s found through testing that they do have those issues, sometimes people don’t know they have those issues, they then are referred to clinics that can help with this sort of financial profile,” he said.

Read more or watch a featured news story about the event on Fox 13 news at http://fox13now.com/2015/04/26/state-health-officials-offer-programs-to-help-minority-populations/

Breakfast hosted at Comunidades Unidas

ComunidadesUnidas also held an event, Utah Latino Health Breakfast, to discuss how to better serve the Latino community.  Discussions included how to collaborate with partners and building trust with clients.  CU organized this unique event in an effort to share and learn from shared challenges and successes.

OHD also presented at the annual Utah Public Health Association conference.  OHD showcased a new video, A Class About CLAS, which is an introduction to the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Service Standards or CLAS Standards.  OHD provided attendees with tools and information about how to personalize a program or practice. OHD has created practical tools to help health care workers provide the best services possible to Utah’s diverse communities.  A Class About CLAS and CLAS tools can be found on the OHD website. 

Project Success and Harambee Tobacco & Health Network continued their commitment to services targeting minorities in Northern Utah with a Senior Health Fair at Second Baptist Church in Ogden in celebration of Minority Health Month.  A wonderful day for African American seniors and others included health screenings, information tables, pedicures, door prizes, and lunch.