CACH Newsletter
October 2023
WHO WE ARE
WHAT WE DO
OUR TEAMS
OUR PROCESS & PROGRESS
The Chittenden Accountable Community for Health, or CACH, is a group of people in our community who have come together to make Chittenden County a healthy place for everyone to live, work, have fun, learn, and grow as individuals.
Through the development of a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), CACH addresses the top community health priorities identified by the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The 2022 assessment identified the following three top health priorities:
Cultural Humility and Inclusive Health Care
Housing
Mental Health and Wellbeing
MEET OUR TEAMS
Over 50 Community Members Involved
26 Community Organizations Represented
In November 2022, one team was formed for each of the top three health priorities. The University of Vermont Health Network’s Community Health Improvement department provides a facilitator and backbone staff for each of the teams.
Since November 2022, Health Priority Teams have been working together to research interventions and implement a CHIP. Together, they have created a plan to impact the needs highlighted in the assessment, engage community, and improve the conditions that promote health within Chittenden and Grand Isle County.
Teamwork summaries to date:
Mental Health and Well-being Team Update
Pilot Project – On-Site Youth Wellness Pod: One of the main challenges preventing students from accessing mental health services in school is the lack of private spaces. To improve access, CACH purchased a 'therapeutic pod' which was installed in the connecting corridor between Edmund’s Elementary and Middle School on September 11, 2023. This pod will offer a confidential space where providers and students can meet. Already, providers who could not meet with students on-site last year have reserved the pod to provide services in person. Additionally, CACH plans to introduce telehealth services in the pod in the coming months.
ENGAGED Project: The ENGAGED school online platform empowers meaningful connection between teachers and students. Students log into a secure platform and provide answers to questions shown to foster more meaningful engagement between a student and their advisor. Advisors then review the student responses and have follow-up conversations with each student. We are working together with the Champlain Valley School District to 1) improve their existing ENGAGED platform and 2) adapt the platform to serve students in grades K-4. We also plan to make the survey tool and training available to more school districts. This tool is one way that will allow schools to better understand the mental health needs of students and provide extra support.
Housing Team Update
Professional Development and Community Building: The team has funded a 9-Part Workshop Series consisting of nine drop-in series sessions for Housing and related support service providers. The series will begin in November and be led by Rhiannon M. Kim, Ed.D. A registration email will be shared broadly.
“Participants will experience grounding and centering practices, build an understanding of the impact of trauma exposure response on themselves and others, and gain insight into how they can bring this awareness and practices of compassion and slowing down to heal and mitigate the impact of collective trauma. There will be a blend of information sharing, time for reflection/journaling, small group discussions, and embodied practices.” - Rhiannon M. Kim
Tenant Rights and Responsibilities Training: The team has approved a $5,000 sub-grant which will be provided to the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) to support housing retention in the Winooski community.
Chittenden County Homeless Alliance (CCHA): Our team is eager to support the CCHA’s Strategic Plan implementation work. The CCHA Strategic Plan is set to be completed Fall 2023. Many of our Housing Team members also hold leadership roles within CCHA which will lead to enhanced collaboration, streamlined communication, alignment of objectives and more.
Cultural Humility and Inclusive Healthcare Team Update
Reflection Fridays Project: An inclusive gathering for healthcare professionals, social service providers, government staff, and community members to come together and talk about important health equity issues. Invitations for Reflection Fridays will be shared broadly across the community. All are welcome!
Cultural Resource Guide Project: A resource for both clinical and non-clinical staff, offering insights into how a patient's background can shape their individual experiences. Guides will offer practical advice on effective communication with patients, delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, and minimizing potential harm.
Workforce Development – Research is underway to better understand existing community-level work that focuses on diversifying the healthcare workforce. This includes better understanding barriers to licensure for new immigrants who were healthcare providers in their home country, lack of affordable housing, and racism and discrimination in hiring processes.
Health Literacy Wayfinding Project: Participation in navigation and wayfinding assessment of UVMMC through a health literacy lens. Results from the assessment will help inform ways the hospital can be more accessible and use language and icons that everyone can understand.
OUR CONTINUED PROGRESS
The 2019 CHNA identified Mental Health as a top community health priority.
CACH engaged in a systematic process led by the Jeffords Institute for Quality to identify a specific focus area (suicide prevention) and an overall team structure. The following teams were created to focus on three important aspects of suicide prevention in 2019:
· Screening and Intervention
· Reducing Stigma
· Social Connectedness
Below is a summary of the CACH Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Action Teams current initiatives and completed projects
Screening and Intervention Action Team
Screening and Intervention for Suicidality Initiative: The team provides comprehensive training and support to primary care practices and organizations, empowering them to embrace evidence-based tools to screen for suicidality. The team provides support to develop efficient workflows and compassionate care pathways, ensuring that individuals in need receive the crucial support they deserve.
Resident Training Project: Provide hands-on suicide prevention training for UVM Medical Center residents. The training includes role-play scenarios, video models on how to utilize evidence-based tools, pocket resources and more. We deeply appreciate Dr. Sara Roberts, Trevor Hanbridge, and Mark Margolis for their steadfast dedication and for conducting this ongoing training.
Participated in Round 1 and Round 2 of the “Suicide Safer Mini-Grant project for Designated Mental Health Agencies and Patient-Centered Medical Homes” funded by the Department of Mental Health (DMH).
Social Connectedness Action Team
Piloted a Values-Based intervention program to address loneliness amongst older adults. A values-based intervention focuses on supporting an individual to identify what would make them less lonely based on their values and to engage in those activities. The intervention was based on the research of Dr. Renee Peppin at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. The partnership included SASH (Support and Services at Home) and Health Coaches from UVM’s Integrative Health and Wellness program. Three Health Coaches worked one on one with six SASH participants each week over eight weeks. Overall, 66% of participants displayed a decrease in their UCLA loneliness scale score (I.e., participants felt less lonely) and positive feedback was received by coaches and participants.
Reducing Stigma Action Team
Created a Public Service Announcement focused on addressing mental health stigma. The PSA was broadcast across multiple radio stations and promoted local resources such as texting VT to 741741.
Distributed an evidence-based tool, the Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS) survey, to Chittenden County residents via Front Porch Forum. The survey aimed to measure current levels of suicide-related stigma in the community. A statistically significant sample was obtained which provides insight and direction for initiative development and implementation.
Suicide Prevention Initiative – Construction Industry: Informed by the data brief produced by the Vermont Department of Health (Industry and Occupation of Vermonters who Died by Suicide (healthvermont.gov) the team has targeted the Construction Industry for suicide prevention efforts. The team collaborated with the Center for Health and Learning and the Department of Health to support 150+ PC Construction Crew members at the Beta Technologies work site over the course of two weeks and two sessions.
Currently working with ReARCH Construction Company to develop a three part “Tool Box Talk” series which will include training/awareness sessions and resources for crew members.
The 2019 CACH Teams continue to look for opportunities to support the community. If you are interested in learning more or have ideas for initiatives, please contact Thomas Moore at thomas.moore@uvmhealth.org.