A core group of dedicated organizations have come together to support families in the near eastside and Martindale Brightwood communities of Indianapolis – and the collaboration has proven successful in unexpected ways.
The IndyEast Promise Neighborhood was created through federal funding awarded to John Boner Neighborhood Centers and Edna Martin Christian Center, with the vision of creating a vibrant neighborhood with thriving children and resilient families. The program focuses on four key areas: early learning, academic proficiency, college and career readiness and community stability.
HealthNet, a network of centers providing health care and support services regardless of financial ability, joined the collaboration and the three organizations came together to create aligned projects under the Early Years Initiative to expand home visiting services throughout the IndyEast Promise Neighborhood.
HealthNet’s extensive experience in the home visiting field through its Healthy Families program proved to be incredibly helpful as Edna Martin Christian Center launched their first home visiting program, Parents as Teachers.
“It’s a really great collaboration,” said Angielena Williams, EMCC director of early childhood special initiatives. “As a new program, to be able to partner along with a program that’s already been in existence, to learn from their model and to be able to share successes and challenges – it’s been incredibly helpful for our team.”
The HealthNet and EMCC teams meet regularly to discuss challenges, share resources and offer support and encouragement. “We have these really helpful conversations about what’s going well, what things may need some growth or change and what events are coming up,” said Williams.
Williams has found the partnership particularly helpful as the sole supervisor for EMCC’s Parents and Teachers program, one of only a few affiliates in the state. “It’s been so nice to partner and talk to the HealthNet supervisors – What does a day look like for you? What types of things do you plan for your team? How are you supporting your team’s mental health? Having their perspective on those questions has been so valuable as we build our program.”
Williams’ team shadowed experienced HealthNet staff during home visits as part of their initial training, an experience that provided valuable insight for the new team members and formed lasting relationships between the two teams. Outside of the regular meetings, team members can connect on challenging issues or reach out for support. The two groups often work on reporting together, sharing best practices and collaborating on ways to make the process more efficient.
For Brianne Biancardi, HealthNet program manager, the collaboration has been unexpected but appreciated. “I didn’t necessarily anticipate when we were going into this that we’d develop such close relationships with our partners in the community, but it’s been really nice,” she said. “We can support each other in meeting each family’s needs, but we also help each other out as a staff. We’ve partnered to do events, we share resources and have monthly meetings.”
Close connection among the organizations also makes it easier to place families in the right programs. For example, HealthNet’s engagement specialist focuses on community outreach and connecting with families at resource events, health fairs and job fairs. “Her role is to be out in the community meeting families. During the initial intake, we may realize a family could benefit from different programs at John Boner or Edna Martin, so we can give those referrals and make sure they’re connected,” Biancardi said.
Families and staff members alike continue to benefit from the open, positive and supportive relationships among community organizations. In the community health space, resources and capacity can often be limited. By working together to combine resources, share expertise, and leverage referral networks, these organizations are making great strides in turning the vision of the IndyEast Promise Neighborhood into a reality.
No comment yet, add your voice below!