Welcome to the monthly Health Equity Highlights newsletter! We are excited to share what we have been working on. | |
Expanding Diversity Career Fair | |
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Share the news with your community! Hennepin Healthcare’s upcoming Expanding Diversity Career Fair welcomes our community to explore careers with our team—whether you’re just starting, exploring, or seasoned.
Our career fair invites the community to learn about available jobs, get help with your resume and interview skills, and even interview on the spot for select positions.
Please mark your calendar for Saturday, April 27, and join us from 10 am to 1 pm.
All are welcome! Register on the Hennepin Healthcare Career Fair webpage.
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Hennepin Healthcare Health Equity Compass Program | |
My Compass: Isaac Owens
When our Hennepin Healthcare team comes to work, they bring their personal stories, the communities that shaped them, and the values they hold close—the “compass” guiding their life at work and outside it.
As we continue to become an anti-racist organization, we share a new video series inspired by the Hennepin Healthcare Health Equity Compass Program – a year-long health equity curriculum required for all Hennepin Healthcare team members.
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Whether it’s at work or volunteering, Food Services Manager Isaac Owens’ is a conductor, working with his team to create a symphony as his compass points towards inclusion.
“A conductor always has his back to the crowd, facing the musicians, and that’s true for me. My team are the real musicians. We all have a role to play if we want to create something meaningful, something beautiful. And when we do, the music starts.”
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American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes: Empowering youth in healthcare | |
Last Saturday, April 13, the Talent Garden hosted its 11th Youth Summit, American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes. With a new record of 114 American Indian youth in attendance with Stethoscopes, it was a fantastic day! | |
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Over the last three school years, we've welcomed over 800 young people to these events. Generous support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), Delta Dental, and Best Buy Health makes these events possible every year!
An additional thank you to all the volunteers from Hennepin Healthcare, University of Minnesota Medical School, St. Catherine University, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN.
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American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes was the last Youth Summit of the school year. Mark your calendar to join us for the Youth Summits in the 2024-2025 school year:
Visit the Talent Garden site to learn more. Contact talentgarden@hcmed.org with questions.
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Black Maternal Health Week | |
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Led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), Black Maternal Health Week is recognized annually during National Minority Health Month to spread awareness and promote change to improve maternal health outcomes among Black women.
Hundreds of people die during pregnancy or shortly after, and thousands more experience unexpected outcomes every year. Unfortunately, Black women are 3-4 times more likely to experience these outcomes.
Spreading knowledge and awareness of this issue is a critical step to building community support and promoting the empowerment of Black women in maternity care. Everyone can play a role in supporting Black maternal health and decreasing pregnancy-related complications and fatalities.
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Our team members joined in the global movement to promote optimal birth outcomes for all with events throughout the week with treats, education, and resources for our team members. For our prenatal and postpartum patients of color: flowers, treats, and a free massage to experience healing and physical well-being. | |
“No other place has cared for me as well as here” — how East Lake Clinic is addressing health disparities, one phone call at a time
What would happen to a group of pregnant patients if every pregnant person—regardless of their race, ethnicity, or income—were asked about the support and resources they needed to get ready for their birth? At Hennepin Healthcare’s East Lake Clinic, we’re finding out.
With support from Hennepin County under the Maternal Health Initiative, Hennepin Healthcare’s East Lake Clinic is checking in with every patient who comes to the clinic for prenatal care to offer resources, support, and continued care coordination.
“Just letting people know it’s for everybody – it can take away a little bit of a barrier in people accessing help or getting help.” says Social Worker Kristen Breuer who is making calls with Community Health Worker Cassandra Brouillette.
The check-ins allow patients to share other factors that affect their lives and overall well-being, deepening trust between patients and their care teams.
Read more on the Here for Life blog.
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Doctors at Hennepin Healthcare making strides to address mental health access and health equity | |
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Psychologist Dr. Talee Vang and psychiatrist Dr. Dionne Hart are stepping up to make a difference in mental health by serving on the boards of directors at the national level for their respective fields.
“The American Psychological Association is committed to health equity and has a focus on population health, which aligns with my values,” explains Dr. Vang, the first Hmong psychologist on the Board of the American Psychological Association. “I want to do my part to ensure mental health services are not only accessible but also evolving with technological advancements.”
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Dr. Hart was recently elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Psychiatric Association.
“While Minnesota is a beacon of hope for those with serious health issues, many individuals are unable to access mental health care in a timely matter due to social determinants of health, including transportation, health insurance, and a shortage of mental health professionals, particularly in underrepresented and rural communities,” she said.
Read more on the Here for Life blog.
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