Let’s Improve Community Immunity!
Welcome to the first edition of our newly formatted HER newsletter. The shared goal of our center and our many community partnerships is to enhance widespread community immunity. We approach this goal by first listening to the community and identifying their health needs. We then work together to build on this knowledge to both enhance and provide quality care, while at the same time empowering individuals to better manage aspects of their health that are within their control.
Read Dr. Kim’s Welcome Letter here >
Introducing HER’s Community Health Worker Institute
For 50 years, the American Public Health Association has been the driving force in highlighting the vital role of the community health worker (CHW) in underserved communities. CHWs are trained, non-medical professionals who live in the communities they serve—they are experts in their respective languages, cultures, values, and perceptions of interacting with health care personnel. They also assist community members in navigating our complex health care system, making medical information understandable, and advocating for vulnerable populations who do not have a voice of their own…
Virtual Group Hug
Poor social support during pregnancy and early motherhood is a risk factor for postpartum depression. Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW), a community organization that facilitates access to quality and culturally appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for women of color in Austin and Travis County teamed up with HER to provide maternal justice programming, and is now heeding the call with programs that provide virtual kinship and conversation during COVID and beyond…
Faculty Spotlight
What is the Influence of the Indoor Environment on Children’s Health?
This question is being answered by a transdisciplinary team of researchers from engineering, nursing, medicine, and biological sciences. While the past year has been unusual, even in “normal times” most human beings spend between 70% – 90% of their day inside built environments, thus making their homes, offices/workplaces, and schools the most common source of environmental exposures to allergens, dust, viruses, bacteria and molds. Because of their smaller physical size and less mature pulmonary systems, young children are particularly vulnerable to pollution in the air they breathe…
AMEN Program Q&A
Keeping the Faith, Reverend Daryl Horton
D.Min., Reverend Horton and his wife, Shalonda are an integral part of the AMEN team. D.Min. Reverend Horton has served as assistant pastor and youth ministry director and is currently transitioning to become the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist church, while Shalonda Horton, PhD, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and co-investigator of the AMEN program serves as the health ministry leader at Mt. Zion Baptist church, and both have joined forces to increase mental health awareness and services to their congregants. D.Min. reverend Horton believes that civic engagement and community advocacy are a vital part of his role as a leader in his church and community. For the past 11 years, has been the commissioner of the City of Austin’s African American Resource Advisory Commission (AARAC). He is also on the board of Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT), an organization dedicated to charity, social justice, and building consensus and understanding among Austin’s faith communities. We asked Reverend Horton to share his insight about the vital role faith communities play in supporting physical, mental, and spiritual health in times of crisis…
Summer 2021 SonStar Recipient The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing
The SoNStar for the Summer 2021 session is Angela Bigham, Community Health Network Leader, The Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas. Angela received several nominations. She has a contagious sweet spirit, is outgoing, caring, ready to jump in and support others in any way they can at all times, and serves with a genuine heart. She takes the time to communicate ideas and opportunities to UTSON faculty/staff on how to engage with the community to ensure that individuals being served are supported based on their needs. She follows up with people in need, ensures that the solutions provided are maintained, and works to offer practical, sustainable solutions when more support is needed.
