Nonprofit organization offers community support for women

Claudia S. Haltom is president and CEO of A Step Ahead Foundation, a new nonprofit organization that offers women free, long-term, reversible contraceptives in hopes of helping high-risk youth get ‘a step ahead’ in their life choices.

Medical assistant Lucia Acosta (left) and family nurse practicioner Carmetra Avery attend to patient Shiela Phelps at the Memphis Health Center.

Dr. Vanessa Givens (left); Dr. Barry-Lewis Harris, chief medical officer; CEO Willeen Hastings; and Claudia S. Haltom, president and CEO, discuss health care at the Memphis Health Center.

Claudia Haltom noticed an entry-level pattern in the youth she encountered during her career as a judge at Memphis Shelby County Juvenile Court for 17 years, and in mediation, where she served after retirement. This pattern was that most juvenile offenders were young parents or parents of multiple, unplanned children. Haltom felt the young offenders could have better life options by being able to plan and be in control of their future through contraception. The use of contraception would put these high-risk youth “a step ahead.”

Thus, in August 2011, Haltom formed A Step Ahead Foundation with a mission to provide free, long-term, reversible birth control to women who wouldn’t otherwise have access. But the planning for this foundation started long before August 2011. Haltom found resources to distribute information and access to the program through partnerships with Le Bonheur home nursing program, the Exchange Club, Agape, Porter Leath, Department of Human Services and the St. Jude HIV clinic. Additionally, Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital, Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women and the Regional Medical Center at Memphis provide information to new mothers regarding spacing children through one-on-one consultation with a health care professional.

Partnering with health care clinics that could perform and prescribe the necessary birth control methods also was crucial. Haltom found willing participants within the Memphis Health Center and Christ Community Health Services.

Haltom found that common barriers to effective use of contraception are access and ease of dispensation. For example, TennCare contraceptive participants must first see a health care professional, get a prescription for the Depo-Provera shot, take the prescription to the pharmacy to be dispensed, and bring the contraceptive back to the clinic to be administered. Birth control pills are also a popular method of contraceptive with TennCare. Both methods require multiple steps — steps that often fall by the wayside at some point, providing ineffective results.

The A Step Ahead Foundation provides a physical, pap smear, pregnancy test and a long term contraceptive instrument. Depending on the chosen method, “long-term” can mean up to 10 years.

Haltom quotes her motto, “Being abstinent is the best method, unless you are not. And if you are not, we’re here to help.”

This motto is followed closely by, “Plan your life (career), your family (choosing a father for your children — one that deserves you), and then plan your babies.”

A Step Ahead Foundation is funded solely through the generous support of people in Shelby County. For more information, to make an appointment or donation, call (901) 320-7837 or go to a step ahead.me.

© 2012 Memphis Commercial Appeal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in three deaths result from heart disease or stroke, accounting for more than 2,200 deaths per day.

On February 14, 2012 Memphis Health Center, Inc. will host “Love Yourself, Take Care Yourself” in its Crump Clinic lobby. Social and health service agencies will be on hand to provide valuable health information and social service resources to support healthier lifestyle choices.

The following agencies will be present in MHC’s Crump Clinic lobby from 9 am – 12 pm February 14th, 2012 to educate patients on local community assistance programs and to provide important health education information:

1. Shelby County Community Services Agency – Provides rental and utility assistance
2. American Cancer Society – Provides support and resources on Cancer prevention/treatment
3. Memphis City Schools HIV Prevention Program – Provides preventive information and resources on HIV and other sexual health issues
4. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee – Health management organization that promotes health and wellness
5. Shelby County TennDer Care Program – Promotes and enrolls eligible children for insurance coverage and promotes Early, Periodic, & Diagnostic Screenings & Immunizations for Children

We invite you to participate in a group interview about your opinions of HPV, Pap screening, and cervical cancer

Participants will receive a gift card worth $25!

Who can participate:
African American mothers, fathers, and daughters (ages 16-18)

To participate or for more information, please contact:
Community Networks Program Center
Memphis Health Center
901-261-2007

Contact:

Marilyn Burress,

Manager Grants & Community Outreach

Office: (901) 261-2003

Email: mburress@mphshc.org

SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT STROKE THIS MAY

National Stroke Awareness Month Announced at Memphis Health Center, Inc.

Memphis, TN (May 23^rd, 2011) – About 795,000 Americans will suffer a stroke this year, yet most people in the U.S. cannot identify stroke warning signs or risk factors. Many strokes – some studies indicate that up to 80 percent – can be prevented through risk factor management.

There is no doubt that more education about stroke is needed. Public awareness of stroke warning signs and risk factors has not improved during the past five years, but May is a time to change this startling statistic. National Stroke Awareness Month takes place in May every year. In honor of this special time, National Stroke Association encourages everyone to help raise awareness in some way, including community awareness events or activities.

To honor National Stroke Awareness Month, Memphis Health Center, Inc. is taking a lead from National Stroke Association and striving to educate Americans to learn about risk factor management and how to recognize and respond to warning signs by acting FAST.

National Stroke Association offers a free Stroke Awareness Resource Center with downloadable stroke educational information, graphics and ways to get involved in raising awareness. Learn more at www.stroke.org/awareness.

Did You Know?

• Stroke kills two times more women annually than breast cancer.
• Stroke is largely preventable. It helps to manage risk factors, including high blood pressure, weight, alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes and more. Get a free risk factor scorecard at www.stroke.org/risk and discuss the results with a healthcare professional.

STROKE FACT SHEET

• Stroke is an emergency and a brain attack, cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain.
• In the United States, stroke is a leading cause of death, killing over 133,000 people each year, and a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability.
• There are an estimated 7,000,000 stroke survivors in the U.S. over age 20.
• Approximately 795,000 strokes will occur this year, one occurring every 40 seconds, and taking a life approximately every four minutes.
• Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex or age.
• From 1997 to 2007, the annual stroke death rate fell approximately 34 percent, and the actual number of deaths fell by 18 percent.
• Approximately 55,000 more women than men have a stroke each year.
• African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke compared with whites.
• Types of Stroke:
  • Ischemic stroke occurs when arteries are blocked by blood clots or by the gradual build-up of plaque and other fatty deposits. About 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain breaks leaking blood into the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes account for thirteen percent of all strokes, yet are responsible for more than thirty percent of all stroke deaths.
• Two million brain cells die every minute during stroke, increasing risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. Recognizing symptoms and acting FAST to get medical attention can save a life and limit disabilities.
• The prevalence of transient ischemic attacks (TIA – “mini strokes”) increases with age. Up to 40 percent of all people who suffer a TIA will go on to experience a stroke.
• The estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke in the United States in 2010 is $73.7 billion.
• Stroke is an emergency! It’s important to learn stroke warning signs and how to respond to them. Emergency treatment may be available if a stroke is recognized FAST and 9-1-1 is called. Use the FAST test to remember warning signs:

For more information on Stroke Warning Signs, please contact us at (901) 261-2000 or by email at helpdesk@mphshc.org.

Memphis Health Center Open House & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Seeing Memphis Health Center through New Lenses

On Thursday, April 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Memphis Health Center, Inc. (MHC) welcomed members of the local community, including its patients, Board of Directors, staff members, & business partners as well as local government & business leaders along with media representatives to attend an event held at its headquarters at 360 E.H. Crump Boulevard to learn more about their clinic, to meet new members of the executive team, and to see the unveiling of the newly renovated pharmacy. The pharmacy renovation was made possible by a grant from the Plough Foundation.  Memphis Health Center, incorporated in 1973, is the oldest federally qualified health center in Memphis. MHC  provides comprehensive primary and preventative healthcare services to members of all socioeconomic groups regardless of their ability to pay.

“The Plough Foundation believes in quality care for both the insured and uninsured citizens in our community,” said Scott McCormick, Plough Foundation Executive Director.  “We are impressed with the number of clients Memphis Health Center serves and know that the renovated pharmacy will be an extra benefit for them.”  Mrs. Willeen Hastings, Memphis Health Center CEO said “We are very fortunate to have the support of one of the leading foundations in Memphis.  I am confident that we will continue to positively serve our clients through our mission of providing safe, quality, affordable, effective and comprehensive health services to the citizens of Shelby and Fayette counties.”

Over 100 guests were in attendance for the event, including representatives of Mayor Mark Luttrell’s office, State Senator Reginald Tate, and featured speakers Mayor A.C Wharton, Plough Foundation Board Chair Diane Rudner, Pastor Jesse Briggs, CEO Willeen Hastings, Board Chair Lois Stockton, and Patient Representative Sheila Jenkins.

The Memphis Health Center, Inc. was founded in 1973 as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit federally qualified health center with the goal of increasing access to comprehensive primary and preventative healthcare and reducing health disparities in medically underserved areas. The Memphis Health Center will continue to focus on its core values and mission, while adapting to the ever changing technological landscape. The focus will remain, as always, on the patient first and patient centered care provider.

We welcome patients of TennCare, Medicare, Medicaid, private or discount insurance plans alike. What is important to us is your health and well-being, not your insurance coverage.

We have been here since 1973 providing the quality care you need, close to home.