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Mother’s Appreciate Support Group
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 09:58
On Thursday December 22, 2011 the REACH/Alcance Program’s Mother Support Group held their Annual Christmas party. The mothers were presented with many gifts sponsored by Manage Health Services, Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and HealthVisions Midwest. Each Mother learned about “Stress Management” by Nurse and Health Educator Maria Zendejas of Healthy Start in East Chicago. The Mothers enjoyed a potluck lunch and also received a lesson in Zumba to help with stress management.
Black Student Union (BSU)of Calumet College
Wednesday, 15 February 2012 14:16
The Black Student Union (BSU)of Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, IN chose HealthVisions Midwest (HVM) for their community service project. They collected newborn baby items throughout the month of December for HVM’s Maternal Child Health programs in East Chicago and Gary. We and the many women we serve are so grateful for their generosity.
Pictured: (Left to right) BSU President, Krystal Williams, Mrs. Angela Wells, and Dr Jessica Madden present the donated items to Sr. Annemarie Kampwerth of HealthVisions
Food Justice In Local Low-Income Neighborhoods
Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:26
Upping the access to healthy foods in low-income areas, that's LaDonna Redmond's challenge to all.
"Health disparities impact the community at higher rates and generally those chronic diet-related diseases are hypertension and some forms of cancer" says Redmond, Senior Program Associate for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
Diaper Bank space and volunteers needed!
Friday, 16 December 2011 09:54
A healthy change of diapers costs at least $100 per month. Approximately 2,700 babies are born into poverty every day in America.Let’s get to the bottom of this!
Diaper Bank space and volunteers needed!
Those living in poverty and crisis share a basic, primary need – DIAPERS. This is a critical issue for vulnerable newborns and infants who are unable to help themselves.
The impoverished mother who could only afford to change her baby’s diaper twice a day had to resort to emptying and using the same diaper again.
Designate your church, temple, place of worship, or organization as a resource for diapers that are collected, stored and distributed – not directly to individuals, but to charitable, partnering agencies that have already identified and processed the people in need.
To learn how you can volunteer and be a site for the diaper bank in Northwest Indiana, contact Sr. Annemarie Kampwerth, PHJC, at HealthVisions: (219) 844-2698 or
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Thank you.
Free breast, cervical exams available, but many don't show up
Sunday, 25 September 2011 00:00
Story by Kathleen Quilligan
HAMMOND | Quinnesia Bell realizes women who use Indiana Breast & Cervical Cancer Program services have a lot on their minds, and their health may take a back seat.
But they won't get the comfort early detection could provide if they don't show up to their appointments.
Bell, regional coordinator for the program run by HealthVisions Midwest, said women not showing up for the free exams has been a problem since she started with the program about 10 years ago.
Read more: Free breast, cervical exams available, but many don't show up
Healthy in any language
Friday, 08 July 2011 09:31
Story by Times Staff
Participating in a recent course to train professional English/Spanish medical interpreters are, front row from left, instructor Maria Schwieter; Susana Jimenez, of Hammond; Jessica Starkey, of Hammond; Isabel Reyes, of Porter County; Mary Ellen Castello, of Gary; Maria Anaya, of East Chicago; Noemi Orellana, of Hammond; Carmen Vazquez, of East Chicago; Lillian Torres, of Hammond; back row, Brenda Osoria, of Valparaiso; Jose Valtierra, of Merrillville; Bilke Rode, of East Chicago; Sylvia Morrisroe, of Lake County, and Maria Watkins, of East Chicago.CROWN POINT | The REACH/Alcance Program, in partnership with Area Health Education Center and HealthVisions Midwest, held a five-week medical interpreter course this spring at the Purdue University Learning Center.
A total of 13 area health care workers and medical technicians from agencies ranging from Moms Taking Charge in Lake County to Healthlinc in Porter County were trained in medical terminology for the purpose of providing medical interpreting for their prospective agencies in Spanish and sustainability of language availability.
In East Chicago, Moms Are Taking Charge
Tuesday, 24 May 2011 00:00
(From left) Jimies Hagan talks with Moms Taking Charge Family Support Specialist Stephanie Parr about her program aimed at supporting single mothersStory by Damian Rico
EAST CHICAGO | A mother's job is extremely difficult. They must be disciplinarians, leaders and role models to their children and some are forced to do it alone.
But in East Chicago, Moms Are Taking Charge.
Moms Are Taking Charge, 100 W. Chicago Avenue, is a new initiative designed to assist single moms with young children and women who are pregnant, locate and access the support they need to build independent and healthy families.
REACH/Alcance Program partner with agencies to create new medical interpreter course
Thursday, 19 May 2011 00:00
From left to right front row: Maria Schwieter, Susana Jimenez, Jessica Starkey, Isabel Reyes, Mary Ellen Castello, Maria Anaya, Noemi Orellana, Carmen Vazquez, Lillian Torres ; From left to right back row: Brenda Osoria, Jose Valtierra, Bilke Rode, Sylvia Morrisroe, Maria WatkinsContributed by Lillian Torres REACH/Alcance Program and Coalition;
HAMMOND | On March 18, the REACH/Alcance Program in partnership with AHEC (Area Health Education Center) and HealthVisions Midwest held a 5-week Medical Interpreter course at the Purdue University Learning Center in Crown Point, IN.
Thirteen area Healthcare Workers & Medical Technicians were trained in Medical Terminology for the purpose of providing Medical Interpreting for their prospective agencies in the Spanish and sustainability of language availability.
Read more: REACH/Alcance Program partner with agencies to create new medical interpreter course
Prenatal Helpline
Monday, 04 April 2011 13:31
by Lillian Torres; REACH/Alcance Program & Coalition
This is one of our many stories of empowerment. A phone call came in to the Prenatal Helpline that the Alcance program hosts as a service that assists pregnant women in accessing healthcare and provide community resource information in efforts to facilitate systems navigation. The mom called to inquire on interpreting services and transportation information. When she was asked if she was pregnant she said no. When she was asked if she had minor children at home she said "Yes I do, I have a 2 year old, a 3 year, a 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, and 11 year old." Whew! She was then advised to call the number on the back of her Medicaid card which provides a line for Spanish speaking individuals and request assistance with transportation. When she called back she said she was able to obtain the transportation she needed. Also she said she didn’t know that the line existed and was very happy with the services provided. It is the goal of the REACH/Alcance program to empower our community members.
Volunteer Spotlight
Monday, 21 March 2011 09:36
Ms. Johnnie Conrad has been a volunteer for the Faith in Action to Serve and Transform (FAST) Ministry more than four years. FAST assigned Ms. Conrad to a senior who is now 96 years old in October 2006 for friendly visits. They quickly became friends after their first meeting. Soon after Ms. Conrad was assigned to the senior she had to go out of town. FAST called the senior to see if she wanted another volunteer to visit her. She quickly said no and told us that she would wait for “Conrad.”Ms. Conrad visits the senior each week and they sit and talk or do whatever the senior wants to do. When Ms. Conrad goes out of town and is unable to make the visits, she calls the senior to check on her. Sometimes the senior wants to get out of the house so Ms. Conrad will take her for a ride or they may go out to lunch to eat. Whatever the senior wants to do, Ms. Conrad is there for her. Ms. Conrad is committed to making a difference in the life of her friend who is old enough to be her mother. The love Ms. Conrad shows to the senior is shared by the senior. The senior no longer feels isolated and lonely and she knows that somebody cares including God through the ministry of Ms. Conrad. This is the love and compassion that Christ expects us to show and we all can learn from the example of Ms. Conrad. FAST and the senior are so blessed to have Ms. Conrad as a volunteer. Mrs. Conrad is a member of St. Augustine of HIPPO Catholic Church. She seeks not only to help the FAST seniors but others in the community that she can help make a difference in their lives. To that end, FAST would like to commend and spotlight Johnnie Conrad as our volunteer.
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