Teresa Haatvedt, health care career and outreach director at HRMC, oversees three CHWs and the community liaison program at HRMC. “This pilot project comes at an opportune time for us, with four individuals already trained as lay leaders for Better Choices, Better Health SD Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, including all three of our community liaisons,” remarked Haatvedt. “We’ve identified diabetes as a high-ranking priority for our area, so this cross-training will serve our community well.”
The community liaison program strives to build relationships and connect patients to local services, bridge the gaps to accessing healthcare, and help the community reach optimal health. HRMC community liaisons represent and have specific connections to the diverse cultures in Huron.
Sau-Mei Ramos, community liaison for HRMC, recently facilitated a Better Choices, Better Health® SD workshop series for Chronic Disease Self-Management, all in Spanish, which is a first for the community. Now, with the grant funding, HRMC can train another culturally diverse leader to further expand access to diabetes prevention and education across cultures.
As the project progresses, community members interested in becoming more educated about self-management of diabetes to improve their health will be able to enroll in the free program, which is typically comprised of a 6-week-long series of workshops. For more information or to express interest in joining the program, contact the HRMC community liaisons at 605-353-6516. You can learn more about Better Choices, Better Health® SD here.