DCHS Cultivating Connections Blog
The VSHSL currently funds 11 community partners delivering a mix of evidence-based programs and community-identified senior health promotion programs that have been tested through scientific research or were selected or designed to align with specific community needs and cultural contexts. In addition, one program support partner provides technical support and assistance around program implementation.
One VSHSL-funded organization, Neighborhood House, successfully launched several evidence-based and community-identified programs serving a broad range of linguistic and cultural groups. Their health promotion programs include the Aging Mastery Program, Bingocize, Matter of Balance, PEARLS, and Zumba Gold.
Since, Neighborhood House has grown and received additional funding from other local funders, enabling them to further expand their health promotion programming and serve more communities. Most recently, Neighborhood House became a paid PEARLS provider for Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP) participants. PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives), is an evidence-based program that provides in-home counseling to reduce depression and improve the quality of life for older adults. Medicaid reimburses Neighborhood House on a “fee for service” basis for MTP participants enrolled in PEARLS. Insurance reimbursing evidence-based preventative health program enrollment creates sustainable funding for Neighborhood House to continue supporting older adults with minor depression and the increased health risks that come with it.
The VSHSL funding strengthened the human services network by supporting Neighborhood House in creating a strong foundation for senior health promotion programming which they then could expand upon, ultimately serving more of King County’s seniors.
“I had an amazing experience facilitating the Bingocize workshop this quarter with the older women I work with. The Bingocize sessions kept participants mentally stimulated by requiring them to actively listen, process information, and quickly identify numbers and letters on their boards. This cognitive engagement, combined with movement, created a fun and dynamic environment that challenged both the body and the mind. It was inspiring to see how focused, energized, and engaged the women became during each session… I am grateful they enjoyed the activity, but even more grateful to see the confidence, stimulation, and joy it brought to their lives,” shared Winta Yohanes, a Resource Navigator at Neighborhood House.