Author: Sarah Mills

PRESS RELEASE: HCAN Annual Report shares important data for 2019 and 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Health Care Access Now (HCAN) has released its Annual Report, which includes data about how its model and Community Health Workers (CHWs) have improved health outcomes for clients in Hamilton County in both 2019 and 2020. Despite pandemic limitations, support for clients increased between 2019 and 2020, with a 20% uptick in…

The opioid epidemic: Black community disproportionately affected
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The opioid epidemic: Black community disproportionately affected

The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated many existing societal problems, including addiction. Over the last year, “Deaths attributed to synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, increased 38 percent nationwide”. The Ohio death rate from opioid overdose was at its highest in 10 years during the second quarter of 2020. Three waves At the onset of the opioid crisis,…

Dr. Kamaria Tyehimba: Dismantling racial bias in addiction services
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Dr. Kamaria Tyehimba: Dismantling racial bias in addiction services

When the topic of addiction comes up, the opioid epidemic is currently top of mind for most people. How do you think about those who are addicted to prescription pain relievers, heroin, or fentanyl? Does race affect whether you label the addict as a victim or a villain? It shouldn’t. Dr. Kamaria Tyehimba, who oversees…

Larry Lindeman: Touching hundreds of lives
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Larry Lindeman: Touching hundreds of lives

Larry Lindeman trained as a child and family therapist. Realizing his aptitude for process engineering, he moved into a management role and has been able to increase financially sustainable programming at outpatient offices for Talbert House as the Director of Outpatient Behavior Health Services in Hamilton County. “In my initial work, I was helping an…

PRESS RELEASE: Health Care Access Now awarded two grants to support Community Health Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Health Care Access Now (HCAN) has received two grants that will further its mission to decrease health care inequities by identifying and patching gaps in the system and bolster its Community Health Worker (CHW) programs. The Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation provided a grant of $9,230 to be used as…

Two phrases that show implicit bias in mental health services
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Two phrases that show implicit bias in mental health services

Everyone – even those with the best intentions – holds implicit biases towards others. This happens because your brain takes shortcuts and makes snap judgments based on what’s familiar to you, particularly when you’re in high-stakes situations. A lot of mental health providers have considered their own implicit biases and moved toward correcting them. But…

PRESS RELEASE: Health Care Access Now requesting proposals for Hub partner agencies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Health Care Access Now (HCAN) seeks partner organizations to apply to become Care Coordination Agencies (CCA). CCAs will be part of the Pathways Community HUB (Hub) network, for which HCAN acts as the director for the Cincinnati region. CCAs will work within the framework provided by the Hub, deploying Community Health Workers…

Dominique Johnson: Relating to clients and making a difference
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Dominique Johnson: Relating to clients and making a difference

Dominique Johnson spent 12 years working as a nurse before she trained as a Community Health Worker for Health Care Access Now.  “When you’re a nurse, you’re more hands-on [during health issues], but as a Community Health Worker, you can see the problems on the back end,” she says. That allows her to remedy the…