Center for Wellness Newsletter, Fall 2023

Corewell Health Center for Wellness Formerly Center for Better Health & Wellness

Sean Hubert

Benton Harbor Resident

“I was able to get the health and legal support I was looking for.”

Corewell Health Center for Wellness • 269.408.2258 • shlcenterforbetterhealth.org • 100 W. Main St. • Tue. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

A message from Willie E. Lawrence, MD Most of our health is determined by what happens outside of the doctor’s office. We call these the social determinants of health.

To transform our community’s culture of health, we must move beyond traditional models of health care. It has been said “when the ‘i’ in illness is replaced with ‘we,’ the resultant word is “wellness.”

Investments we make in our health today and early on, determine the life we will have tomorrow. These observations and beliefs guide us as we develop community programs through Corewell Health Center for Wellness, including the Center’s comprehensive medical management program. Learn more about our upcoming programs below.

Culinary medicine Culinary medicine explores the connection between food and health. The new home of the Center, gifted from Whirlpool Corporation, will include a teaching kitchen. The culinary medicine program will apply the foundations of nutrition science and cooking skills to the art of medicine. Not to mention increasing your skill level while you enjoy some delicious food.

Integrative medicine Our physical, mental and spiritual needs are often intertwined and can impact one another. To address a variety of needs, the integrative medicine program uses a combination of therapies and activities including, but not limited to, medical massage, acupuncture, yoga therapy and meditation. These modalities are intended to be beneficial for those dealing with chronic conditions such as pain, hypertension, digestive, sleep and stress-related issues. The program aims to provide educational, skill-building, and social cohesion opportunities, all while improving the level of self-empowerment and overall health of community members. This is an exciting time for Corewell Health Center for Wellness. We look forward to beginning this journey with you.

Sincerely,

Willie E. Lawrence, MD Cardiologist and Medical Director of Health Equity Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan Medical Director, Corewell Health Center for Wellness Medical Director, City of Benton Harbor

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Corewell Health Center for Wellness services • COVID-19 vaccines • Emergency clothing assistance • Flu vaccines • Food assistance • Housing assistance • Legal aid (present the first, third and fifth Tuesday of each month) • Mental wellness workshops • Preventive health screenings ° Blood pressure ° Blood sugar ° Cholesterol

Standing together for better health Sean Hubert, 45, will never forget the face of the person who gave him a helping hand when he needed it most. Sean met community health specialist Margaret Clayborn at a meeting she hosted at his apartment complex in Benton Harbor. He connected immediately with Margaret who has served the community for more than 40 years improving health, instilling humanity and inspiring hope.

“Margaret is someone who will always connect me to the right person or support that I need,” Sean said.

Sean visited Margaret at the Corewell Health Center for Wellness when it opened in November 2020 to learn about getting his public record expunged. but, the COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a halt. Sean had to wait a year before submitting his paperwork.

The pandemic worsened health outcomes for people who lived in Sean’s building. It was difficult for them to isolate when they had to deal with mold and insect infestations—including bed bugs and cockroaches—in their home.

In addition to poor housing conditions and the threat of a contagious virus, residents were then faced with a water crisis caused by elevated levels of lead found in the city’s waterlines.

Over time, lead exposure can cause damage to brain development, the nervous system and kidney function.

Sean recognized a connection between inadequate housing and poor health.

“Many people were either being diagnosed with cancer, passing away from COVID-19 or developing high blood pressure. I could see how our environment contributed to health issues,” Sean said.

With worsening housing conditions and the stress of caring for family, Sean found it difficult to properly manage his Type 1 diabetes., “When I needed help getting my physical health back on track, I reached out to Margaret with what my needs were. She guided me to free health screenings and health coaching at Corewell Health Center for Wellness,” Sean said.

By July 2022, Sean had lowered his blood pressure and got his record expunged. Thanks to Margaret’s persistence in helping Sean, he received the health and legal support that he needed.

“I wish more people had trust in the health system because there are people like Margaret who care about your well-being and will fight for you,” Sean said.

Read more at spectrumhealthlakeland.org/hubert Corewell Health Center for Wellness 3

Mental health in our community According to the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition the number of calls to the National Suicide Hotline from Berrien County has risen from 266 in 2020 to 536 in 2021 and 541 in 2022.

People in our communities are worried about how they are going to afford food and pay bills while enduring stress related to violence, a decrease in quality housing and more. These thoughts can lead to stress and hopelessness.

In the Black community, we know that mental health is not a topic many want to discuss because there are labels associated with it. At 30 years old, I believe it is important to remove these labels that say talking about mental health makes you weak or soft. How do we break those labels in our race? We talk about them.

Medication has never helped me with the depression I was battling. It was always the thoughtfulness of a person or prayer that helped me through my challenges. As most young people are, I was seeking my purpose and destiny on this earth.

We need to make sure teens and adults are getting the right help they need and deserve. In most cases, patients are prescribed medication, but when it comes to helping someone heal, I think there are additional measures a person should consider if they desire long-term results., Many of us just want to know why we are here on this earth and want to learn what our callings are so that we can fulfill them.

I found out that a better me starts with me.

I matter and so does every other young person in our community. They need resources that come from the heart, quality services and help, regardless of the type of medical insurance they have. Mental health is a crisis that cannot wait.

I feel like it’s my purpose to help others going through dark moments in their life and to let them know that someone cares. The more we engage as a community, the more people will talk and get the help they need. As brothers, uncles and community leaders, we need to hold ourselves accountable for reaching out to our friends and family members to check in on their mental health.

This consistent communication will give people hope, decrease suicide rates and help to remove the labels that so badly need to be forgotten.

– Shaquille Turner Corewell Health Center for Wellness Advisory Board member

Deseamos incorporar más voces de la comunidad hispanohablante a nuestro trabajo. Para obtener más información sobre las oportunidades de participación, visite shlcenterforbetterhealth.org o envíe un correo electrónico a centerforbetterhealth@spectrumhealth.org.

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Art is a form of healing

Findings of the last two Community Health Needs Assessments, conducted by Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan, revealed that the most urgent community-identified health need was support for mental health, including support for mental illness, substance misuse, and the underlying stress and trauma. To address this need, Corewell Health developed the “Pop-Up Art & Wellness Center: Pop into Resilience” project in collaboration with community partner Krasl Art Center.

The goal of the project was to provide youth in Berrien County an educational, skill-building and participatory experience that uses the arts to convey Community Resiliency Model® (CRM) based knowledge and skills. The activities and art are also intended to help youth learn how to heal from their experiences. Over three years, the collaboration ignited a traveling art exhibit and six permanent art installations at local sites. Learn more and view all artwork and contributing artists at spectrumhealthlakeland.org/art-and-wellness

“I never thought of art as a form of healing, but it has been for me. Through the pandemic, I’ve learned to appreciate the power of art to express myself and connect with others.”

– Nathan Margoni director of education, KAC

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How we are supporting our community Data and evaluation Corewell Health Center for Wellness continues to meet clients where they are, build trust, and serve as a positive presence in Benton Harbor and the surrounding community. An example of an equitable place for all county residents, the Center’s staff and advisory board members strive to grow partnerships and funding to help educate and navigate community members to various health, legal, mental and social services.

Visits to Corewell Health Center for Wellness (Jan. 1, 2023 to July 1, 2023)

497 Cardiac visits

21

Legal navigations

118

Health screenings

60 Virtual visits

Help shape the next Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) As a health system, we recognize that the health of a community is not just about responding to illness but creating a space for wellness. Every three years, we ask community members for their feedback about community needs and aspirations. This feedback will provide Corewell Health and other community stakeholders a deeper understanding of the drivers of health and how we all play a role in creating a community where optimal health is achievable for everyone.

Scan the QR code to take the CHNA survey or visit spectrumhealthlakeland.org/chna.

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Increasing health equity and health care access through an expansion In 2020, the Center for Better Health and Wellness opened its doors as a response to the health disparities made evident by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the Center has grown into a full-service location where Berrien County residents can go for legal, mental, physical and social support services. The Center’s services and programs were created in response to the priorities and desires shared by the community. Community feedback has been captured through community health needs assessment and patient surveys, focus groups and interviews, advisory bodies including the Center’s advisory board and through conversations with community members and partner organizations.

What has changed? The name­—We are Corewell Health Center for Wellness Health care focuses primarily on treating those who are already sick and while this type of care remains important, we must also focus on preventing health issues and creating opportunities that will allow community members to achieve their highest level of health. This includes meeting people where they are with resources and helping them fight the social, legal, mental and physical battles they are faced with.

Having access to a center focused on reaching “wellness” will be beneficial to our patients and the community. Through education, services and programming, Corewell Health Center for Wellness will be a hub where community members can find assistance and resources for various needs. The name change is also part of a significant shift toward understanding health equity.

Location, services and programs Between the fall of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, the Center will relocate to 133 W. Main St. in Benton Harbor from its current address, 100 W. Main St. Services and programs will include comprehensive hypertension management, social navigation, specialty healthcare, mental health therapy, cooking and nutrition classes, exercise classes, health education and skill building on topics like emotional regulation, resilience, mindfulness, sleep habits and more. The community will also start to see more services that support maternal and infant health and families with young children.

The goal of the new Center is to improve health equity by increasing access to health care while addressing community and policy conditions that contribute to differences in health outcomes or health inequities.

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Learn more about the Center 1. Visit us at 100 W. Main Street in Benton Harbor, Tuesday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

2. Visit shlcenterforbetterhealth.org for updates about the new services, timing of the relocation and more.

3. Call to schedule an appointment or ask questions at 269.408.2258.

4. Groups such as service clubs, churches, organizations and others can request a presentation from our staff by emailing centerforbetterhealth@spectrumhealth.org.

5. Join us for the grand opening of the new Center at 133 W. Main Street in January 2024.

6. Sign up for email updates about the Center’s expansion at spectrumhealthlakeland.org/center-expansion.

“I am most excited to see programming and services designed with Benton Harbor in mind, but with a level of quality and innovation that will also benefit and be a framework for people living in other communities.” ­– Nicki Britten

director of population health, Corewell Health Southwest Michigan

Meet the Corewell Health Center for Wellness advisory board The advisory board provides input to the direction and operations of Corewell Health Center for Wellness. They ensure that community engagement and voice are present, and help foster a deeper relationship between Corewell Health and the community.

Bertha Carson-King

Ethel Clark-Griffin

Lee Reed

James Stokes

Shaquille Turner

The people who instill hope and inspire humanity Margaret Clayborn

Erich Lichtenwalter

“I love the work I do because I am able to work directly in my community. I can connect with the people who need a helping hand to help get their necessities met.

I am grateful for the opportunity.”

“On the surface, I connect community members to resources, but I also enjoy being able to provide a safe space for our clients to talk so that I can gain a deeper understanding of their needs.”

Community health specialist

Community health worker

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