Health Education and Outreach
In addition to direct patient care, through Esperanza's Department of Community Health and Wellness the health center is partnering with others in the North Philadelphia community through a number of health education and outreach initiatives, including the following-
Community Health Promoter Program - Esperanza's Community Health Promoter (CHP) Program is an initiative train community leaders to promote health among their family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. The program consists of ten weeks of training by Esperanza staff members and associates on a variety of health topics including:
- High blood pressure - including training for how to take blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Prevention of cancer
- Sexually transmitted infections
- How to connect clients to other services in the community
- Dental health
- Smoking cessation
- Nutrition
- How to help individuals with addictions including alcohol, drugs, and tobacco
- Domestic Violence
- How to recognize a medical emergency
- and many other topics.
Candidates for the CHP program should be at least 18 years of age, someone who actively loves God and their neighbor, is interested in health topics, is willing to use their training to help others, and demonstrates evidence of improvement in their own health.
For additional information about the Community Health Promoter Program, please contact either Heather Bickel at hab@esperanzahealth.com or ChrisAnne Smith at casmith@esperanzahealth.com, or by phone at at (215) 302-1100, ext. 312.
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Nutrition Counseling - Under the direction of Esperanza's Dietitian and Diabetes Educator, Tabitha Miller, RD, LDN, the health center offers personal nutrition and diet counseling for its patients, working in tandem with the health
center's medical providers to help patients reach health goals. Specialized diabetes management and nutrition counseling are also integrated with medical care for patients with diabetes.
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Health Screenings and Health Education - In addition to current nutritional counseling services, Esperanza plans to expand health education efforts, through new diabetes education and health education classes for our patients and for the community.at a number of local community events, churches, and in conjunction with other local community organizations.
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Health Outreach - Throughout the year, Esperanza participates in numerous health outreach events across the community -
including both outdoor health fairs during summer months and indoor health outreach events in conjunction with other community organizations, churches and schools. Esperanza staff members conduct routine screenings and health questionnaires at many of these events, distribute educational literature on many health-related topics, and answer questions about the comprehensive services offered by the health center.
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HIV/AIDS Outreach - Members of the Esperanza HIV Care Team offer training courses to equip local churches to provide support to people who are affected by HIV/AIDS.