Social Wellness Cluster

Prevention of Disease, Substance Abuse &
Pregnancy Among Youth

Youth will avoid or change behaviors that put them at high risk for pregnancy, HIV/STD, or tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse

Results in 2006:

Client Profile: A preteen girl was encouraged to join the OOPS program as a result of finding and returning a staff member’s lost ID badge. After a few days of contact with her, we found she was not attending school because her mother was having a difficult time contacting school officials. We intervened on behalf of the family, brought in a community resource person and got her enrolled into school. She now attends school regularly and has made new friends and participates in the OOPS program eagerly.

Highlights of 2006

• The ENABL program reached thousands of individuals/families through youth activities, newsletters, flyers and outreach cards
• Tobacco Cessation Classes helped educate youth who had received smoking citations from the court about the dangers of smoking

• 66 youth will be enrolled and served in the OOPS Program
• 33 youth will participate in 2 or more OOPS events
• 33 youth will develop OOPS presentations
• 60 youth age 12-14 will learn refusal skills through the ENABL Program’s Making a Difference Curriculum
• ENABL Program will stage 3 Facts of Life Curriculum trainings

Barriers to Success in 2007:

• Lack of transportation for youth for after-school and summer activities con- tinues to be a challenge
• Instability among current and potential funding sources

2007 Funding Source:  State of Minnesota

2007 Budget: $131,000

If you are interested in the program, please call (612) 302-3100.

Results in 2006:

• Hired and trained 15 peer advocates for HIV prevention
• Developed 4 role model stories for distribution
• Distributed 1222 role model stories and safer sex kits

Client Profile:  Ricky was referred to Minnesota Community Promise (MCP) by another African American man who has sex with men (AAMSM). Ricky wanted to become more involved in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the AAMSM community, so he interviewed with a MCP staff member to become a peer advocate. Next, Ricky completed the HIV/AIDS instructor training, administered by MCP. He is now ready to get out in the field and educate his peers about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted, the importance of using condoms, and other ways to protect against becoming infected.

Highlights of 2006:

• Submitted needs assessment and finalized strategic plan for HIV prevention targeted at Minnesota’s African-born population
• Participated in World AIDS Day and African American AIDS Awareness Day events
   

• Hire and train 30 peer advocates
• Create 4 role model stories
• Distribute 3000 role model stories and safer sex kits
• 100 African-born people will receive HIV prevention programming
• 30 African-born people will complete program survey

• Continued stigma surrounding HIV and testing in the African American and African-born communities
• Cultural barriers with African-born target population

2007 Budget: $1,074,407

If you are interested in the program, please call (612) 302-3150.

Participants will live a longer life of higher quality and their loved ones will develop a better understanding of the disease.

Results in 2006:

• 64 clients enrolled in HIV case management

Client Profile: Stanley, age 49, was diagnosed with HIV in 1986. Not sure how he acquired the virus, he had been living with his partner James, who also has AIDS, for the last 15 years. But after James's recent death, Sidney found himself facing eviction with no place to go. He turned to the Urban League’s HIV Case Management services for help. During his assessment meeting with his case manager, Sidney admitted to being addicted to crack. He was willing to try to overcome his addiction so his case manager enrolled him in a 30-day treatment center program His case manager also found Sidney a place to live in a sober housing apartment complex, where he has lived drug-free for over 90 days.

Highlights of 2006:

• Several collaborations ensured that clients, particularly African American and African-born, received comprehensive HIV case management and supportive services
• Added enhanced case management services that allow staff to help clients sign up for Medical Assistance or Minnesota Care, enabling clients to continue to receive the services they need

   

• 64 clients will enroll in case management

 

• Difficulties in navigating clients through all Medicare Part D requirements necessary to receive medication

2007 Funding Sources: State of Minnesota

2007 Budget: $118,800

If you are interested in the program, please call (612) 302-3150.

To increase the number of African Americans in the Twin Cities who access mental health services

Results in 2006:

• 33 people were directed to seek professional help for mental health issues for the first time
• 28 clients received the mental health services they needed
• 22 clients improved their mental health
• Provided 224 hours of free counseling services to clients
• After free counseling, 15 clients reported that their mental health had improved
• Facilitated 290 hours of mental health research with partner mental health professional

Client Profile: April was a successful African American woman who worked as a registered nurse in Louisiana. But in August of 2005 her life was turned upside down when she lost everything after Hurricane Katrina. She moved to Minneapolis to begin the healing and rebuilding process.   When she arrived here, the stress of starting over began to effect her entire family. Her young boys started having behavior problems at school. Her husband became distant and started drinking heavily. April even slipped into a mode of depression that slowed down her drive to find employment and take care of her family.   April’s sister introduced her to the Urban League’s mental health program, and she and her family were able to meet with the on-site clinical psychologist.  They immediately began to feel better about their future.  April and her husband are currently employed and the children’s behavior has improved considerably.

Highlights of 2006:

• Program was able to help several clients deal with the mental aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina
• Added enhanced case management services that allow staff to help clients sign up for Medical Assistance or Minnesota Care, enabling clients to continue to receive the services they need
   

Anticipated Outcomes for 2007:

• 26 people will seek help for a mental health issue for the first time
• 26 clients will receive the mental health services they need
• 21 clients will improve their mental health
• Program will provide 144 hours of free counseling services to clients
• 20 clients will report that their mental health has improved after free
  counseling
   

Barriers to Success in 2007:

• An influx of clients dealing with lost family members due to violence, requiring long-term, comprehensive treatment
• Lack of culturally competent therapists to deal with the specialized problems of inner-city clients

 

2007 Budget: $54,743

If you are interested in the program, please call (612) 302-3146.

Broaden the community conversation on issues impacting African Americans by developing skills in utilizing public policy processes and influencing systems that have a disproportionate impact on people of color.

Results in 2006:

• 978 people completed community surveys
• 907 people participated in identifying an issue of concern to their community or increased their knowledge, understanding, or ability to influence an issue of concern
• 408 people registered to vote
• Program hosted 13 focus groups on issues concerning the community
• 3 government services, the Minneapolis Police Department, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections, demonstrated progress in changing their responses to culturally isolated or marginalized people in promotion practices, enrollment policies, and arrest and incarceration guidelines
• 900+ individuals attended Minnesota Pipeline or other MUL sponsored community events to learn about important community issues
• 210 new voters registered

Client Profile: On November 7, 2006 (Election Day), students from the Minneapolis Urban League Academy Schools participated in the GOTV efforts of Policy Advocacy to encourage everyone to vote. The students stood along Penn Avenue and Plymouth Avenue in North Minneapolis, holding up signs and cheering drivers and pedestrians as they approached the poling location. Students were extremely excited by those who would honk or wave at them.   This initiative was designed not only to encourage registered voters to take the time to cast their ballot, but to teach youth about the importance of voting and civic engagement. Many of the youth spoke of how they could not wait until they turned 18, so they could vote as well. Some of the smaller children even said they did not want to wait and asked if they could vote now. All of the activities of the Policy Advocacy arm of the Minneapolis Urban League aim to invite and excite members of the community around making their own impact and change in the public policy arena.

Highlights of 2006 :

• Hosted focus groups targeting young adults from communities of color, an age group often neglected or overlooked in terms of civic engagement
• Collaborated with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the African American Men Project for the 3rd Annual College Explosion Workshop
• MUL President/CEO Clarence Hightower was elected Vice Chair of the MnSCU Board of Trustees

Anticipated Outcomes for 2007:

• 900 people will participate in identifying issues of concern to their community
•  3 government services will continue to demonstrate progress in changing their responses to culturally isolated or marginalized people
• Host 5 Brown Power Base Pipelines on School Desegregation
• Facilitate 4 small groups of grassroots organizers on School Desegregation

Anticipated Barriers to Success in 2007:

• Apathy among community members continues to challenge our efforts to engage individuals in the public policy and advocacy processHealth and Human Services budget cuts

2007 Funding Sources: United Way, The Dream Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation

2007 Budget: $118,000

If you are interested in the program, please call (612) 302-3125.