HEART Program
The HEART (Healthy Eating/Active Living/Reduce Stress/Test your Numbers) Program promotes making healthy lifestyle changes, self-monitoring blood pressure, and weight to improve cardiovascular health. Community Health Workers provide a variety of education topics aimed at increasing the program participants’ knowledge of cardiovascular health. Participants are encouraged to practice multiple self-management skills such as increasing the number of fruits and vegetables consumed per day, increasing the amount of physical activity per week, practicing stress management three or more times per week, and keeping track of their blood pressure and weight.
Community Health Workers offer an Eating Smart, Being Active (ESBA) 6-week course at no cost to participants that includes the topics of: Get Moving!, Plan, Shop, $ave, Fruit & Veggies: Half Your Plate, Make Half Your Grains Whole, Go Lean with Protein, Build Strong Bones, and Make A Change.
Community Health Workers serve as health coaches with program participants in developing an individualized care plan to implement the healthy lifestyle changes.
Primary funding for the HEART program is provided by a grant from the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation’s Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM Next Generation program.
Community Health Worker Training
Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) training prepares dedicated individuals to serve as community advocates with health organizations and/or social services systems. Training consists of a 45-hour hybrid online self-study and virtual facilitator-led curriculum that focuses on roles, skills, and competencies of a successful Community Health Worker. Participants learn to assess individual and community health care needs, make referrals to appropriate service providers and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve both individual and community health. Upon completion of classroom training, participants can receive State certification from Indiana Community Health Workers Association (INCHWA) after passing the certification exam.
Staff Healthways Alliance Lake County
Janet Joseph
Community Health Worker Program Manager
Natali Alvarez
Health Program Coordinator
Winoska Medina
Community Outreach Coordinator
Ariana Muniz
Community Health Worker
Luis Martinez
Program Assistant
Maritza Concepcion
Community Health Worker
LaQuita Hampton
Transporter
Allen County Health Disparity Coalition
The coalition is a vital part of our local service community. Former Healthways Alliance director Renetta Williams founded the group in 2003, as the result of Healthways Alliance’ partnership with the Indiana Minority Health Coalition. Today, more than 80 members and affiliates connect through the coalition, which meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Our partners represent health care and government agencies, social service organizations, and local advocates. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has met virtually. Selected presenters share information. Participants ask questions and network. For information about membership, contact our office.
Health Education Sessions
*All courses are facilitated by trained Community Health Workers and may be offered in English or Spanish.
Hour-long Presentations
Hour-long Presentations Healthways Alliance specializes in health education workshops and classes that help residents manage or prevent chronic conditions, which disproportionately affect people of color. Sessions lasting 45 minutes to an hour are available for the following topics:
- Diabetes
- Obesity/Nutrition
- Mental Health: Anxiety, Depression
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP)
The Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) is a six-session course designed to reduce complications related to diabetes and diabetes mortality. People who have diabetes will gain tools to manage the disease, increase their health potential, and the gain the support of others battling similar issues.
Bienvenido
Bienvenido is a prevention intervention program that increases access to mental health services, improves mental health and quality of life for Latino immigrants. It provides a caring and supportive environment where individuals can achieve their full potential, give and receive respect, develop personal responsibility and self-determination. The program strives to: 1) reduce alcohol and drug use, 2) improve access to mental health services, and 3) encourage a sense of belonging and participation in the community.
Latino Outreach Program
Interpretation & Translation
Healthways Alliance provides outreach to residents in the Latino community, including providing health education to Spanish-speaking residents. (See class options above.) Also, we provide interpretation and translation for medical appointments and other practical situations where residents need assistance to navigate life in a predominantly English-speaking society. This may include help scheduling a COVID-19 test, online school registrations for children, and other needs. Healthways Alliance also provides ongoing interpretation for patients at Clinica Madre de Dios, 2120 S. Harrison Street in Fort Wayne.
Nutrition Education and Access Program (NEAP)
Healthways Alliance offers three types of incentives for participants who enroll in NEAP, which consists of ongoing health education sessions. People who participate in two or more sessions are eligible for the following:
Grocery store gift cards: These cards help participants afford the healthy foods discussed during education sessions.
Food vouchers: These vouchers for 25-pound or 50-pound food packages at Community Harvest Food Bank help supplement residents’ food supply.
Transportation: Healthways Alliance provides transportation services for Allen County residents to go to local grocery stores and to medical appointments when scheduled at least one week in advance.
Certified Community Health Worker Training
Community Health Worker (CHW) training prepares dedicated individuals to serve as constituent/community advocates with health organizations and/or social services systems. Healthways Alliance provides a 45-hour classroom curriculum that focuses on roles, skills and competencies of a successful Community Health Worker.
Staff Healthways Alliance of Fort Wayne
Peggy Hayes
Senior Community Health Worker and CHW Trainer
Cassius OA Stallings
Community Outreach Coordinator
Laura Burger
Executive Assistant
Genia Freeman
Community Health Worker
Aaron Arechar
Bi-lingual Community Health Worker