Health and Quality of Life Empowerment Programs

In 2003, the Indianapolis Urban League began a new, stronger focus on health issues, prevention and health education. In particular, the movement is addressing some of the most pressing healthcare concerns facing African-Americans today. The National Urban League’s State of Black America 2004 reports that Blacks are impacted by higher rates of obesity, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and diabetes.

Not only is the African-American community more susceptible and less likely to recover from certain illnesses than other groups, there is an alarming lack of affordable healthcare available to help them do so.

To overcome these hurdles, the Indianapolis Urban League offers the following programs:

Health and Quality of Life Empowerment

Working to build healthy and safe communities to eliminate health disparities through prevention, healthy eating, fitness, as well as ensuring access to affordable healthcare for all people and continuing our local efforts with Mental Health, Aging & HIV/AIDS initiatives and services.

• Provide affordable healthcare for those Americans who are uninsured
  
• Accessible healthcare for all
  
• Provide on-going opportunities for community awareness

Remarkable Women

This program’s purpose is to educate the “family protector” about chronic disease prevention and treatment options, primarily focusing on those that have a major impact on minority communities diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The goal is to empower the family protector to take chare of their health and their family’s health, to understand health markers in order to improve the family’s health and to prevent the onset of these diseases and to understand how to manage them.

Special Populations and Support Services – HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health

The Indianapolis Urban League, in collaboration with the Indiana State Department of Health, Project Renew, Prisoner’s Reform United, Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation and Community Centers of Indianapolis (CCI) provides mental health and/or substance abuse treatment services for residents of Indianapolis and Marion County. The program Positive Directions, is a substance abuse program targeted at individuals who may be dually or triply diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder, HIV/AIDS and/or mental disorders.

Indiana Minority Health Coalition

The IUL supports and participates in a number of endeavors with the Coalition. The IUL is a member of the Coalition’s CEO Roundtable. IUL’s President and CEO serves as co-chairman of the coalition’s mental health sub committee.

Community Forums

The Indianapolis Urban League conducts public forums in the areas of mental health, aging diabetes and Medicaid. The forums are held to disseminate information to the community and to learn of community concerns that can be used to affect community policies and legislation.

INYLHUM (I Need You to Listen, Hear and Understand Me)

Youth Empowerment HIV/STI Tour – (promoting healthy sexual choices & responsibility)

The INYLHUM Tour is an edutainment model funded by Indiana State Department of Health, Marion County Health Department, the Indianapolis Urban League and the Indiana AIDS fund. We also have ten community partners that aid in resources and referrals to students.

The tour is virtually free to all schools, faith based organizations and community based organizations. We make every effort to bring quality programming to students in Marion, and surrounding counties, with little to no cost to school budgets. However within this partnership we do need technical support to ensure that the tour flows seamlessly at each location we present at.

FEATURES:

• Peer to Peer Education Model
• 55 minute assembly style education
• Marketed to Youth
• Middle Schools, High Schools, Church Groups
• HIV Peer Education Certification Available
• HIV Positive Speakers (youth testimony)
• Q & A
• POETRY / MUSIC /VIDEOS
• Male and Female Youth appropriate emcees
• INCENTIVES(Pre & Post Surveys)
• YOUTH FOCUS GROUP INVOLVEMENT
• REFERRALS for HIV/STI Testing

For information contact: Deidra Coleman, Health & Wellness Coordinator: 317-693-7644