FCI’s Game Changer Grant Awardee for February is Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Wellness Center!

February 26, 2019

 

The Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Wellness Center is a neighborhood center with the purpose of promoting health and wellness of the mind, body and spirit of people living in the Allied, Belmar, Dunn’s Marsh neighborhoods in Madison. 

The Center was established in 2004 to serve what is now an area population of 4,480, of which 63% is nonwhite. The Center, a holistic ministry, promotes health with the help of a community health liaison along with volunteer health professionals who average 100 contacts per month. Services offered by the Center include health education about hypertension, diet and diabetes; direct assistance with medication copays; bus fares and gas cards for transportation to medical visits, support for people with addiction as well as referrals for a myriad other health concerns.

When called for, the community health liaison and volunteers will attend medical appointments and act as a medical advocate for residents.  Sina Davis, former board member of the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Wellness Center states, “There is nothing like a familiar face going with them to appointments to be that bridge between the doctor or nurse and resident.”

People at the Center believe that having adequate access to health care is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right for every member in the community. 

Game Changer grant proceeds will be used to train nine residents to become Community Health Workers (CHW) in the neighborhood. CWH trainees receive stipends to attend classes and to assist fellow residents by defining individual health need.
 

Congratulations! Keep up this important work!