Newsletter, Summer 2008
This is available in alternative format-please contact WowDHEC staff (see below)
WowDHEC Contacts
To be added to the email list, offer to volunteer, or to find more general information about WowDHEC, call: Marcia Muench, 503.494.2685 or email at: muenchm@ohsu.edu
Community Ed/Outreach Workgroup:
Kathy Coleman, 503-238-0723, kafia2008@yahoo.com
Provider & Policy Workgroups (Breast Health, Community Health Worker Training, Video Remote Interpreting Project)
Sara Beth Weiner, 503.494.2685, weiners@ohsu.edu
Director: Marjorie McGee, 503.494.2685, mcgeem@ohsu.edu
WowDHEC – Who we are
WowDHEC is a coalition consisting of women with disabilities representing the diverse disability community at large, as well as organizations serving people with disabilities. WowDHEC was founded in 2006, though a seed grant from the Johnson and Johnson Foundation, in response to a need in our community for a coalition dedicated to decreasing health disparities among women with disabilities.
WowDHEC’s mission to improve the health of women with disabilities, and serve as a force for social change though community building, leadership development, and education.
Interested in joining WowDHEC or getting on the emailing list? Please email or call any one of us (see below) and let us know what you are interested in!
Updates!
In the News:
Culturally Specific Emergency Communications Plan for the Disability Community
WowDHEC received funding from the Multnomah County Health Department to implement a project to assess the level of emergency preparedness in the disability community, through the use of an online survey tool, as well as focus group discussion. There were 6 focus groups conducted in July and August with members of the disability community. Data from the focus groups and online survey is currently being analyzed.
Community Health Workers Training
WowDHEC’s mission is to decrease health disparities among women with disabilities by improving access to health promotion activities and preventative services such as mammography. Holding to this mission, we have a project that is funded by a grant from the Oregon and SW Washington chapter of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation for developing a pool of Community Health Workers (CHWs) from the disability community. One of the CHWs goals is to increase breast screening among women with disabilities in the Portland metropolitan area. A Community Health Worker also helps to bring the gap closer between community members and providers by promoting breast health in her community within the next 9 months.
We know that women with physical disabilities are less likely to get a mammogram; hence, they are more likely to find breast cancer at later stages which leads to poorer outcomes. With this project, we aim to prevent cancer by promoting healthy lifestyles and to improve outcomes for those with cancer, by promoting early detection through the use of mammograms and the latest breast self exam techniques.
WowDHEC is excited to have a pool of 7 Community Health Workers to do this great work. They completed their four-day training at OHSU Center of Women’s Health in late August. Be on the lookout in the next newsletter for more information on how the training goes including testimonials from WowDHEC CHWs.
More Ways to Make a Difference . . .
· Would you like to help assure that people who need extra assistance in an emergency can get that assistance?
· Is it important to you that 911 responders have the information they need to respond appropriately to ALL people?
If so, then:
Join the Voluntary Emergency Registry (VER)
Citizen Advisory Committee!
The VER was created in 2007 by the City of Portland and Multnomah County. For the VER Citizen Advisory Committee, they are seeking people with diverse disabilities as well as others who would need assistance in the event of an emergency. Members of the Advisory Committee will serve as links and bridges, sharing information about community needs with the City and County, and sharing information about the VER with community members. It will meet quarterly.
If you are interested, come to this informational meeting to learn more about the Citizen Advisory Committee.
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Place: Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne-Basement/EOC Portland, OR 97214
Light refreshments will be provided. If you have any questions or need accommodations, please contact Pam Hiller at the Multnomah County Health Department: (503) 988-6250, x25043/ pamela.j.ballentine@co.multnomah.or.us.
WowDHEC represented at CWH Photo shoot
WOW! This is so great. I can now transfer onto an exam table without any help because it is adjustable. Independence is so important to me and I was so impressed with the accessibility of OSHU's Center in Women's Health (CWH). Marjorie, Sara Beth and I were asked to participate in a photo shot at the Center's clinic area as models for their brochures that they are developing. It meant a lot to me that they wanted to include women with disabilities on their brochures. As a clinic, this is one of the most accessible facilities that I have visited for people with physical disabilities. Some of the accessible equipment, included a scale where you can can roll up on in your wheelchair and get weighed and exam tables that can turn you and are adjustable in height. We also talked to staff about including accessibility and listing their accessible equipment in their brochures. We all had a wonderful time and thank you to the CWH for including people with disabilities and designing your brochures and facility to be truly inclusive of all women. – Jan Campbell, WowDHEC member
Workgroup Updates
Provider Education Workgroup
· The Fall Providers Training 2008 is shaping up! Both WowDHEC and its partner MCHD have met with Multnomah County Physician Dr. Peter Hatcher on a bi-weekly basis to discuss objectives and finalize the training agenda. There was a meeting with Dr. Peter Hatcher and the Provider Education workgroup on Wednesday, July 23rd.
Further information on this will be shared at the next Provider Education Workgroup meeting on September 24th at OHSU’s Center for Health and Healing, Room: CHH 6052.
Policy Workgroup
· There were two Policy Workgroup meetings held in July and August to determine the application to the Northwest Health Foundation CBPR grant.
Please come to the meeting and provide any knowledge or experience you may have. The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 23rd at the Regional Research Institute, which is on the 9th floor (Suite 900) at 1600 SW 4th, (corner of Market St.), Portland.
· Also, the VRI subcommittee meeting will occur in late September. More information to come.
Community Education and Outreach Workgroup
The Community Education and Outreach Workgroup is gearing up for a WowDHEC open house that will occur at the end of October. We will be celebrating the accomplishments of WowDHEC and recruiting new membership for our future non-profit. We are also collaborating with the Multnomah County Health Department and the HEAL program to offer inclusive and accessible exercise classes in North Portland. So....We can all get ready to move and take care of our bodies through the winter.
Come join us for our next meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 16th from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the GSSW PSU.
Recent Events . . .
· OHSU’s March Wellness free Accessible Yoga Class was a big success! 7 women participated and we saw lots of new faces from the OHSU community. A number of women expressed a strong desire to keep the momentum going. For those interested in ongoing exercise classes that are accessible please contact Kathy Coleman at 503-238-0723 or kafia2008@yahoo.com. Many thanks to March Wellness for donating the space, instructor time and class costs!
· The Disability Pride Art and Cultural Festival, back in May, was an exciting time. DACP graciously offered WowDHEC table space to increase its visibility and outreach, at both their visual art exhibit at the YWCA and at their awesome performance night! The performance night was filled with great performances by the nationally known Dr. Petra Kuppers, Art Honeyman, our very own Kathy Coleman and many more. We hope to partner with DACP again soon! A big thanks to all the folks at DACP for letting us be a part.
· Thanks to all those who participated in this year’s WOMAN Challenge, an exercise challenge which started on Mother’s Day. WowDHEC formed a strong team, the WowDHEC Warriors, which battled it out to the very end! J As an added bonus, this year the folks at the Challenge created a brand new program to help you stay active all year long: The WOMAN Activity Tracker! Anyone can start any time! 2008 WOMAN Challenge participants do not need to re-register for the WOMAN Activity Tracker! You will be able to use your same log-in information for the new program.
· Log into the WOMAN Activity Tracker now!
http://www.womenshealth.gov/activity
Upcoming Events/Mtgs (also see calendar at www.WowDHEC.org for details on time/place)
· 9/16-Community Ed. Mtg-5:30-7pm at the GSSW PSU.
· 9/18-VERS Citizen Advisory Committee Open House-1:30-3:30pm, Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne-Basement/EOC, Portland
· 9/23-Policy Mtg-RRI, 5-6:15pm, 9th floor (Ste 900), Conference Rm 927, at 1600 SW 4th, (corner of Market St.), Portland.
· 9/24-Provider Ed Mtg-1-2:30pm, OHSU’s Center for Health and Healing, Rm: CHH 6052.