WED-095 - Reinventing the Wheel and Busting Healthcare Myths in Public Housing

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn how Upstate Medical University partnered with Syracuse Housing Authority on a successful 10+ year program that has proven to change behavior among the residents who live there. Gain first hand knowledge on how to engage with community members in hard to reach populations in a fun way that leads to an increase in education for breast cancer screening, colon cancer screening, mental health first aid, and chronic disease management. Hear how implementing fun educational games such as trivia and "myth or fact" spin the wheel have changed the way residents respond to health care recommendations. Upstate Medical University librarians have also provided a list of credible resources on where to find credible information for the residents to take home with them after educational sessions.

Detailed abstract description: Many residents of Syracuse public housing have significant health challenges. To help address these, in 2011, the Healthy Neighbors Partnership (HNP) was established, which is a joint effort between an academic medical center, Upstate Medical University and Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA). The HNP community outreach team consists of coordinators, and 9 community health workers (CHW), who live in public housing. Medical direction as needed is provided by physicians. The HNP is unique in that it uses expertise from an academic medical university translated into grassroots efforts to reach populations with little trust for the health care system. Upstate professionals work with CHWs in 4 areas: breast cancer, colon cancer, mental health, and chronic disease. The CHWs then educate their peers and facilitate navigation to cancer screening, mental health first aid courses, chronic disease classes, and more. Each CHW receives a monthly stipend for their work. CHWs make these programs successful.

Each CHW is an identified leader within their community and live in SHA. CHWs receive a general health training and a robust training in breast and colon cancer education by the program coordinator. CHWs are trained through PowerPoint, quiz questions, and role playing with the other CHWs. Many of the CHWs skills and knowledge develops during the job as they put their knowledge to work and come back to the coordinator and their peers with questions. Program health topics are determined based on feedback from needs assessments from residents who live in SHA.
This unique partnership has proved beneficial to the public housing community with the following significant outcomes: Each year, a minimum of 14 educational sessions are conducted by CHWs in the SHA community rooms within 10 different housing units. Since 2014, over 1,100 mammograms have been completed, with 10 cancers found and treated. Since 2016, 14 colonoscopies were completed, including the removal of 4 polyps, and 119 at home stool kits have been completed. Since 2021, four 6-week chronic disease courses have been completed by a total of 42 residents. Lastly, the newest program for mental health began in 2023 and has certified 34 residents in mental health first aid thus far.