Although all 20 National Health Corps Chicago members are serving in different organizations and in different roles, we come together as a group once a month. When we meet as a team, we can discuss problems we're struggling with at our host sites and work together to develop solutions. We act as a support group for one another as we try to figure out our roles at our host sites and how we can better help our organizations. When you have the support of a team, lofty goals begin to come into reach.
At Heartland Health Centers, we offer wellness classes that aim to foster that same sense of community for our patients. At the Devon location, we currently offer a walking group and a nutrition class. These classes connect patients who are making similar lifestyle changes. They provide a space where patients can discuss the barriers that are preventing them from embracing these changes. Trying to incorporate exercise or healthy eating habits into your lifestyle can be extremely overwhelming. But when you have a friend with whom you can go out walking or try new healthy recipes, making changes can seem a bit more realistic. As a Health Educator at Heartland Health Centers, I meet with patients to discuss how nutrition and exercise can prevent chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol from developing or worsening. I refer patients to our wellness classes so that they can have the support they need when trying to make healthy choices. I strive to foster the same sense of community that we have in National Health Corps in the classes that I co-facilitate.
This blog post was written by NHC Chicago 2016-17 member Cara Kraus-Perrotta.
At Heartland Health Centers, we offer wellness classes that aim to foster that same sense of community for our patients. At the Devon location, we currently offer a walking group and a nutrition class. These classes connect patients who are making similar lifestyle changes. They provide a space where patients can discuss the barriers that are preventing them from embracing these changes. Trying to incorporate exercise or healthy eating habits into your lifestyle can be extremely overwhelming. But when you have a friend with whom you can go out walking or try new healthy recipes, making changes can seem a bit more realistic. As a Health Educator at Heartland Health Centers, I meet with patients to discuss how nutrition and exercise can prevent chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol from developing or worsening. I refer patients to our wellness classes so that they can have the support they need when trying to make healthy choices. I strive to foster the same sense of community that we have in National Health Corps in the classes that I co-facilitate.