Through the support of Washington Square Health Foundation, the Community Health Educator is able to conduct health information sessions to increase awareness and knowledge about key health practices and health resources among South Asians, Middle Easterners, and Bosnians (Hamdard Center’s target population).
The Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services is a social service, not-for-profit organization that primarily serves South Asians, Middle Easterners, and Bosnians. Hamdard Center’s programs and services are developed in accordance to the overwhelming needs of the community. The population Hamdard Center serves has unique cultural and linguistical barriers that prevent them from accessing other service providers. This has resulted in a significant service gap that continues to grow. While the agency provides direct health service, there was a need for preventative education. The need for distribution and linkages among the community about available resources was becoming more and more evident. Washington Square Health Foundation has recognized this need and funded a Health Education program which is helping to combat these issues. This program will increase health information among the target groups and create stronger relationships with local health providers to facilitate proper referrals and linkages.
Washington Square Health Foundation granted funds to Hamdard Center to hire a full-time Community Health Educator. This Health Educator reaches out to low income, uninsured and underinsured South Asians, Bosnians, and Muslims living in and around Hamdard’s target areas. The Health Educator provides health education, advocacy and promotes the health and well being of the target populations. This staff member serves as a liaison to local health providers and governmental health agencies, and works to strengthen Hamdard’s relationships with them.
The Community Health Educator promotes: a healthy lifestyle, general health and hygiene, women’s health information, and builds, strengthens, and creates new relationships with health care providers. Through informal marketing and notifying clients on existing service tracks, the response to this program being implemented has been excellent. Clients and the population at large are looking forward to accessing these services
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