April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month. As such, cardboard kids sightings are occurring all over San Antonio—grocery stores, churches, schools, and there are 300 at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center (WHWC). Each cardboard kid has a name. Each cardboard kid tells a story. Each cardboard kid represents one of the 5,846 child victims that was abused or neglected in Bexar County in 2013.

The cardboard kids campaign by ChildSafe, an MHM funded partner, is designed to promote awareness of child abuse and neglect. The organization hopes to encourage conversations about how the community can work together to protect our children.

“I was happy to bring cardboard kids to WHWC. It provides a great learning opportunity for our clients and team members. Education and awareness make a difference!” shared Teresa Alejandro, Family Wellness Programs Coordinator.

Over 80 locations around the city are hosting cardboard kids. Please visit WHWC throughout the month of April to learn the stories of these children.

To learn more about the ChildSafe Cardboard Kids campaign, visit www.childsafe-sa.org/cardboardkidsSA/.

The TAPPestry Conference is an annual event comprised of teachers, school administrators, parents and professionals who work with special needs children. The conference provides an opportunity for awareness, education, networking and collaboration among attendees to support families with special needs children. In addition to keynote speakers and break out sessions, the conference offers an exhibit area where attendees can interact one-on-one with community partners.

Lisa Gutierrez and Aida Ortiz with MHM’s Parenting Programs, participated as exhibitors at the 2014 TAPPestry Conference. They recruited parents from the event for their Meld Special Parenting Support Groups by sharing the benefits with the parents and their children. In addition, Lisa and Aida networked with over 40 area agencies that provide similar support to special needs families. “The highlight of the event was the networking with other agencies because we are able to bring the information we learned at the conference back to the parents in our groups,” shared Lisa.

VITA San Antonio is a collaboration of public and private entities dedicated to family and individual financial self-sufficiency. The focal point for this effort is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.

The volunteer-based program is comprised of a coalition of local institutions and non-profit organizations who support the program in its mission. The primary goal of VITA is to increase the financial stability of working individuals and families in San Antonio and Bexar county.

VITA’s mobile unit made a two-day appearance at MHM’s Wesley Health & Wellness Center to provide free income tax assistance to taxpayers who make $60,000 or less annually. In addition to free tax assistance, VITA volunteers help ensure taxpayers claim important credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.

Studies have shown that resources that enhance the quality of life can have a significant influence on health outcomes. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services also cites language/literacy and access to educational, economical, and job opportunities as examples of social determinates of health. “That is why this collaboration with VITA San Antonio makes so much sense for MHM” shares Erinn Copeland-Whitby, Interim Manager of Family Wellness at MHM. Through this partnership, MHM is able to provide a venue in which residents may receive financial education and awareness which, in turn, can have a significant impact on their overall health.

Myra Medrano, LBSW, was recently named the recipient of the 2014 Lisa P. Nisbet Social Work Leadership Award given by Methodist Healthcare System and Methodist Healthcare Ministries during National Social Work Appreciation Month.  Sincerity, compassion and strong spiritual values are just a few characteristics used to describe Myra by those who work alongside her each day. She counsels and provides community resources to the clients she sees each day. Myra never gives up looking for options to help her clients succeed. She provides hope for her clients while inspiring them to be accountable for their goals. In addition, she lovingly supports them during each step of their personal journey. “Myra embodies a work ethic that truly represents the heart of social work as well as the Core Values of MHM. We are blessed to have her on our team!” explains Jorge Luna, Social Work Supervisor at MHM.

Myra has served at MHM for more than three years as a Social Worker Case Manager at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center, but her clients know her by much more than her job description—to them, she is a teacher, a mentor and a friend. Myra worked with one mother who was broken in spirit, in need of medical attention and the means to support her three children. A Hurricane Katrina evacuee, life had been hard for this young woman. Myra swept this client up into her loving care and began the diligent process of helping her gain access to resources necessary to change her life. Today, this mother is a college student and has been promoted to manager in her full-time position at a local restaurant.

Students perform better when they show up for class healthy and ready to learn. The School-Based Health Alliance also reports adolescents who received counseling services in a school-based health center significantly decreased their absenteeism and tardiness.

The School-Based Health Alliance named the month of February National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month. MHM joined the national celebration by hosting an Open House Event at our Schertz Elementary School Based Health Center (SBHC) location.

“SBHCs lead the way in providing preventive healthcare services for children and adolescents. In communities such as Schertz and Marion these centers are imperative to the health of our youth. The lack of healthcare centers in this rural area is troubling. Our hope, with our two SBHCs, is to fill that void,” explains Marilyn Stanton-White, Director of Clinics and Behavioral Health Services at MHM.

On February 20^th, the SBHC at Schertz Elementary opened its doors for an Open House. The Open House provided a chance for SBHC team members to come together to celebrate National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month while meeting with community members to discuss the services provided through the two MHM owned and operated SBHCs. 

Danna Dyess, RN
Wesley Nurse, First United Methodist Church
Seguin, Texas

Did you know, according to the American Diabetes Association^®, every seventeen seconds someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes? United States Hispanics are almost two times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently projected that one in three adults could have diabetes by 2050 if current trends continue. 

I believe education is fundamental in the prevention and treatment of diabetes in our communities. Knowledge about preventive health measures and how to manage individual needs is an important component to a person’s overall wellbeing. This is why I’m excited to continue my partnership with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Guadalupe County through an upcoming educational series. Along with the Institute for Public Health and Education Research, we will offer Schertz area residents a free five-week class called 'Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes'. 

The educational sessions are open to anyone living with Type 2 diabetes or caring for some who has diabetes. Attendees will learn how to better manage their Type 2 diabetes and how to reduce possible complications. Classes will cover many pertinent topics, including: nutrition; diabetes and exercise; managing glucose; and medications.

Classes will be held at the Schertz United Methodist Church on Mondays starting on March 3, 2014 and will continue until March 31, 2014.

My hope is that participants leave with a better understanding of the disease and, in turn, pass that knowledge on into the community.

Learn more at http://guadalupe.agrilife.org/guadalupe-county-do-well-be-well-with-diabetes/.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.8 million people, or 8.3 percent of the population, have diabetes. More startling, San Antonio’s diabetic population stands at 14 percent!

Beyond MHM’s direct healthcare services, MHM has taken an active role in supporting the American Diabetes Association®’s goal of ending the devastating toll diabetes takes on the lives of the millions of individuals and families across our nation.

Step Out Walk to STOP Diabetes was launched by the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) in 1991 and is the Association’s largest signature fundraising event.

MHM has been a proud sponsor of the event since 2008, including participating in the walk alongside clients of MHM’s health education program. Last year, Juan Gonzalez, clinic manager, led the team—dubbed “MHM Challengers”—which is comprised of MHM staff, clients and community members. On Saturday, November 2, 2013, the MHM Challengers took to the track at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas in support of the stopping diabetes. Collectively, the 116-member team raised $1,498.50. This paired with MHM’s promise to match all funds raised by the team, brought the MHM Challengers fundraising total to $2,997.00.

“MHM’s sponsorship of the ADA Step Out Walk to STOP Diabetes signifies our commitment to improving the overall health of the communities we serve,” explains Jessica Muñoz-Sherfey, Director of Communications at MHM. 

MHM is proud to be a bronze sponsor of the American Lung Association (ALA) Fight For Air 5K Run/Walk being held at SeaWorld in San Antonio on Saturday, April 26, 2014. 

The ALA saves lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. Asthma is a lung disease that makes breathing difficult for millions of people, children and adults alike. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed and treated. According to the ALA, in 2011 it was estimated that 25.9 million Americans had asthma, including 7.1 million children under the age of 18. What’s more, San Antonio has twice the national average for teens that start smoking!

MHM’s team, Bulldogs for Better Breathing, will be participating in the Fight For Air 5K Run/Walk for the fifth consecutive year. In 2013, the 56-member team won the award for top fundraising school with over $1,000 collected. The Bulldogs are eager to meet the challenge again with a fundraising goal of $1,200 for 2014. “The event provides an opportunity for the families of MHM’s School Based Health Centers, serving the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, to gather for a time of fellowship while giving back to their community,” explains team captain Wanda Thiele.

Participants may run or walk 3.1 miles throughout the SeaWorld park grounds during the event. In addition, a health fair will be available to provide additional information about the ALA and asthma on the day of the event.

The ALA believes healthy lungs and healthy air are worth fighting for—so do we! Will you join us in the Fight For Air? To register for the team or to donate to the Bulldogs, click here.

For more information about the ALA, visit: www.lung.org.

Sandi McKinney, RN
Wesley Nurse, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
San Antonio, Texas

As an MHM Wesley nurse, I develop and lead programs designed to make lasting change in the lives of the people I serve at St. Paul United Methodist Church in San Antonio. I frequently create programs for parents and children to help improve their physical and mental health. Recently, I conducted a special class about fire safety.

I enjoy giving the children in my programs a takeaway when they complete the safety class, but I didn’t have any educational items to facilitate this particular class. As I spoke with my downstairs neighbor Carmen De Luna-Jones, the director of the Alamo Colleges GED program, about this dilemma, an interesting thing happened – fate stepped in. Carmen had a friend, Jody Orozco, who founded, Rudy’s Angels, an organization in memory of Rudy Alejos, a six-year old boy who died in a 2011 San Antonio apartment fire. Jody was looking for a group of children that could benefit from the hope and love of Rudy’s Angels. The Holy Spirit has a way of making these connections, especially when we least expect them.

With the generous support of Rudy’s Angels, 60 children were surprised to receive bike safety helmets after completing the safety program. The generosity didn’t end there. A survey of the group was done to determine which children owned a bike of their own. Then, Rudy’s Angels blessed the children again by purchasing 23 bicycles for those in need. The bicycle giveaway occurred at St. Paul’s and was attended by Jody Orozco, Carmen De Luna-Jones and MHM Community Health Worker, Rosa Ovalle. The team was thrilled to see the joy of the children; a mission accomplished.

“Miss, miss, I’ve never had a bicycle,” one girl excitedly told me as she received her new bike. I recall another five-year old boy was overwhelmed with tears upon receipt of a brand new bicycle. The bicycle giveaway was one of the best things that I’ve been a part of here at MHM. We are blessed to teach, reach and embrace so many wonderful people. The children and adults were humbled by the gifts, left in memory of a small boy named Rudy.

About Rudy’s Angels:

The memory of six-year old Rudy Alejos lives on through Rudy’s Angels, an organization designed to honor the child who died in a 2011 San Antonio apartment fire that displaced more than 70 residents. The group brings hope and love to other local children through donations and special events. 

In coordination with Methodist Healthcare, MHM hosted a HeartCheck® Health Fair at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Methodist Healthcare provided free screenings to include a complete lipid profile, blood pressure check, glucose check, body mass index (BMI) assessment, diabetes and nutrition education, and an ‘Ask a Registered Nurse’ booth.

Members of MHM’s Family Wellness Programs provided a hands-on demonstration of exercise classes available at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center while other team members hosted resource tables to inform fair-goers of programs and services available through MHM.

A total of 70 participants were screened as part of the two-hour health fair. Of those 70, over half were shown to have a cholesterol reading higher than 200, a BMI above the recommend 18.5-25 and a blood pressure reading above the recommended 120/80.

“The results of the day clearly illustrate how important these fairs are to residents of the community. Once community members have a better understanding of their current health condition they are better able to take control of their individual health and that of their family. It is our goal at MHM to offer our clients and the communities in which we serve, opportunities to improve their health and create access to care when needed,” explains Jessica Muñoz-Sherfey, Director of Communications at MHM.

All event staff volunteered their time to take part in the HealthCheck® Health Fair at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center.