Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI, kicks off video series for Mental Health Awareness month, by sharing her own journey to get support.
Improving mental health care for Black community members continues to be a priority for GRAAHI. We know that the stigma associated with seeking or utilizing mental health care services can be a barrier for some community members.
In light of Mental Health Awareness month, we will highlight community members and mental health clinicians sharing their perspective on navigating mental health challenges, the benefits of therapy, tips on connecting a therapist, finding a healthy balance with therapy and medication and more!
To kick off our series, check out our CEO, Vanessa Greene, highlighting GRAAHI’s focus on mental health and sharing a bit about her mental health care journey.
Grand Rapids, Mich. (April 20, 2022) – The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) is proud to announce that Mayor Rosalynn Bliss has declared Thursday, April 21, 2022 the first-ever “GRAAHI Healthcare Advocacy Day” in the city of Grand Rapids.
In the proclamation Mayor Bliss highlights GRAAHI’s advocacy work in the community and states, “the City of Grand Rapids is dedicated to eliminating healthcare inequity and supporting those organizations promoting healthcare equality.”
The proclamation comes as GRAAHI celebrates its 20th anniversary of advocating for health parity for African Americans in our community. The day will culminate with a virtual Gala where GRAAHI will recognize four prominent leaders in our community for their efforts in bringing greater health equity for all residents. The Equity Champion Awards will be presented to:
• Christina Keller, President/CEO, Cascade Engineering
• Christina (Tina) Freese Decker, President/CEO, Spectrum Health Systems
• Teresa Weatherall Neal, CEO, Lead 616
• Dr. Wanda Lipscomb, MSU College of Human Medicine
“We greatly appreciate the Mayor’s proclamation in support of our organization,” said Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI. “The City’s commitment along with the support of the healthcare community, volunteers and donors, is essential to us achieving our goal of health parity for all in Grand Rapids.”
The GRAAHI 2021 Health Equity Report highlights the societal factors that block access to healthcare for many minority residents in Grand Rapids, leading to higher rates of illness and death from COVID-19, heart disease, lung cancer, HIV, obesity, depression, diabetes and infant mortality. If you would like learn more about how to get involved with our organization or would like to make a donation, simply go to the GRAAHI.org website.
This year marks the fifth year anniversary of the Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) campaign. Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, BMHW is a week of awareness, activism, and community building. While we’ve long known about the racial disparities in childbirth here in West Michigan through our research into health equity, we shine a light on 5 main reasons that we need to advocate for better black maternal healthcare.
Black Women Are 3-4x more Likely to Die During Childbirth
The United States has some of the worst rates of maternal and infant health outcomes among high-income nations, despite spending an estimated $111 billion per year on maternal, prenatal, and newborn care. Nationally, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women.
Underlying Health Conditions make Pregnancy more Risky
Black women experience higher rates of many preventable diseases and chronic health conditions including higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Black women are also more likely to experience reproductive health disorders such as fibroids, and are three times more likely to have endometriosis.
Black infants in America are 2x as Likely to Die Before their 1st birthday as White Infants
With 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, the United States has a high infant mortality rate, and Black babies are in the gravest danger, with an infant mortality rate in 2018 of 10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to a rate of 4.6 White babies per 1,000 live births.
Black Women Receive Less Help For Postpartum Depression
Black women not only face a higher chance of developing perinatal mood disorders than white women, but they are also less likely to receive treatment due to factors such as fear of stigma, involvement of child welfare services and financial barriers.
Black women are More Likely to Quit, be Fired, or Return to Work Early
Compared to non-Hispanic white women, Black women are more likely to quit, be fired, or return to work before they are healthy after giving birth due to inadequate leave policies. Furthermore, nearly three in ten charges of pregnancy discrimination were filed by Black women.
Black women need the resources, opportunities, and support that will enable them to protect their human right to health and life and to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Maternal health disparities have many causes, but disparate social conditions, lack of access to quality prenatal care, and substandard maternal and reproductive health care are often key factors.
Job Title: Independent Contractor – Community Health Navigator (Full-Time, Onsite and Remote- Hybrid) Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Description: The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving healthcare equity in the African American Community through advocacy, education, and research. We have a rich history of contributing to social justice and racial equity policy, programming, and interventions. We seek to employ talented and success-oriented individuals, committed to supporting and advocating for the well-being of vulnerable populations. We believe in a synergistic, collaborative work environment in which every staff member feels a sense of belonging and valued.
We are looking for a dynamic and experienced leader with a proven history of planning, implementing, and executing programs and managing budgets. This independent contractor position reports directly to the Community Navigator Lead.
Roles and Responsibilities ● Actively develops and engages with key stakeholders. ● Builds collaborative relationships with community partners. ● Knowledgeable in organization’s history, programs, mission, and vision. ● Organize COVID and health related clinics, including marketing, canvassing and various forms of social media. ● Work closely with community partners. ● Assist in surveys, focus groups, data collection, and monthly reports. ● Assist with other duties as assigned.
Requirements ● Commitment to GRAAHI’s mission and values. ● Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or work experience equivalent to 2 years plus. ● Proven history of working with a wide range of cultural backgrounds. ● Analytical thinking and ability to analyze data. ● Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. ● Proficient and flexible in MS Office Word/Excel and Google documents. ● Detailed oriented, excellent organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks, ability to meet deadlines and excellent time management skills. ● Initiative-taker and independent.
Why GRAAHI? ● You will get the chance to form relationships with motivated staff members, a phenomenal community, and stakeholders who genuinely care about the organization and improving the health of the community. ● You will see the impact of the work that you do and meet the people that are transformed by the programs of the organization. ● This is the perfect opportunity to support the community while addressing healthcare issues.
To Apply: Please send your resume, cover letter, two letters of recommendations, and three references to info@graahi.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
To download the job description as a PDF, click here.
GRAAHI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Online Discussion Shines a Light on Equity and Support During the Pandemic – Jan 27th at 10am
Four women leaders share best practices they have learned from their staff and community
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) will bring together four local female executives for a virtual Community Roundtable event titled, “COVID and the Workplace” on Thursday, January 27th at 10:00 a.m.
From healthcare, education and the private sector, the panelists will discuss how COVID has impacted their teams and our community, and how they’ve navigated the shifting landscape to ensure that new policies are equitable, safe and sustainable for all. The panelists scheduled to participate are:
Christina Keller, President/CEO, Cascade Engineering
Christina (Tina) Freese Decker, President/CEO, Spectrum Health Systems
Teresa Weatherall Neal, CEO, Lead 616
Dr. Wanda Lipscomb, MSU College of Human Medicine
Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI, will serve as moderator.
“The tragic impact of COVID-19, especially among the African American population, has rocked our community,” said Greene. “We are blessed to have these dynamic leaders in our region who are willing to share their insights and provide guidance to others during this important roundtable discussion.”
Click here to learn more about the Community Roundtable. The Roundtable will be LIVE-streamed to our social channels. Here is a link to Watch it on Zoom
Four Grand Rapids organizations are joining forces on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to deliver free COVID-19 vaccinations to residents in our community.
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI), an organization devoted to achieving healthcare parity for African Americans, is leading the coordination and public awareness efforts for this event. Health care professionals from University of Michigan Health-West will provide vaccination services. Brown-Hutcherson Ministries has generously provided space to host the clinic. The Grand Rapids MLK Community Worship Celebration Committee is providing marketing support.
The goal of this event is to increase the vaccination rate among African Americans in our community, while building greater awareness about the positive impact of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Residents five (5) years old and up can receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the event. To pre-register online click this link – or simply walk in and register on-site the day of the event.
COVID safety protocols will be enforced including mask mandates and social distancing.
When:
Monday, January 17, 2022 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where:
Brown-Hutcherson Ministries,618 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503
Who: Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, in collaboration with University of Michigan Health-West, Brown-Hutcherson Ministries and the Grand Rapids MLK Community Worship Celebration Committee.
GRAAHI’s Wellness Adventure is a fun and exciting way for kids ages 8-13 to learn about their health and overall well-being. This program will provide activities, recipes, and more to help instill healthy habits that the participants will be able to implement for the rest of their lives!
GRAAHI’s Youth Wellness and Mental Health Program for Kent County will provide activities, training, and educational resources to 100-150 school-aged African-American children (8-13) and their families to help build a physically and mentally stronger community.
Consisting of two cohorts of 50-75 students, each 5-month (A: January-May and B: July-November) cohort will have three critical mental health foci: (1) exercise, (2) nutrition, and (3) positive behavioral development.
Goals
Promote health lifestyle habits through exercise and nutrition education.
Improve mental wellness of African American youth in Kent County.
Encourage family engagement in nutritional and physical activities.
Provide coping strategies for mental struggles (such as anxiety and depression).
Benefits
Opportunity for African American youth to improve their mental health coping skills.
Family bonding and healthy lifestyle changes through physical activity and nutrition.
Creation of a safe space for African American youth to express their feelings and receive culturally-competent mental health guidance.
We’d love to have your child join us on this Wellness Adventure!
A parent’s greatest responsibility is to care, nurture, teach, and keep a child safe until they reach an age that they can care for themselves. Being a parent in the middle of a pandemic is one that stretches a parent’s role. Parents may question the following: how do I keep my child safe, am I making the right decision to join an activity, or what information do I trust related to COVID-19 vaccinations? We as parents do not want to make a mistake in our child’s health.
The best information to reference is on Center for Disease and Prevention which indicates the following:
Children 12 years and up can receive the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Children can contract COVID-19, can get sick with COVID-19, can be hospitalized with COVID-19, and spread COVID-19 to others.
As a parent, you may be concerned with the COVID-19 vaccination and the CDC addresses this by the following:
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
COVID-19 vaccines have been studied in adolescents.
COVID-19 vaccine like adults is administrated in two doses for adolescents 3 weeks apart from each other.
There is no weight requirement for the COVID-19 vaccination, for adolescent the dosage is the same as adults.
COVID-19 vaccinations are safe to give with other vaccinations. There is no need to wait in between vaccinations.Most importantly, your child can not get COVID-19 from the COVID-19 vaccinations.
What are the side effects from COVID-19? CDC explains the side effects are the following:
From the shot as with any other shot, your child may have pain, redness, or swelling.
From the COVID-19 vaccination, your child may have tiredness, headache muscle pain, chills, fever, or nausea. These are all normal and are signs that your child’s body is activating the protection it needs to fight against COVID-19 virus.
The side effects may last for a few days, or your child may not have any side effect.
The best advice for parents is to look at trusted sources such as the CDC, WHO, local hospitals, healthcare centers, and health department like the Kent County Health Department, University of Michigan West, Cherry Street Health, Spectrum, Mercy and/or talk to their provider about COVID-19 vaccinations. After reviewing these resources, then make a decision that is best for your child’s health and well-being.
As for parents who have children 4 years old and under and no approval in sight, let us continue to keep our children safe following the guidelines of COVID-19 prevention to help keep our little ones safe.
NOTE: Information about COVID, vaccines and exposure risks are always changing as we learn more. Please refer to your local health departments, your personal physicians and the CDC for the most recent information.
by Vanessa Greene, CEO, Grand Rapids African American Health Institute
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2019 due to an outbreak of respiratory illness cases in China. The first case in the United States was reported on January 20, 2020 and a few months later COVID- 19 was declared a global pandemic. It has consumed our daily lives and thoughts and has been the topic of conversation in every household and at every work and social gathering for two years. I know we are all experiencing COVID fatigue. We are tired of talking about it, watching everything we do and taking precautions every place we go. We are desperate to resume our normal lives free of masks and COVID protocols. However, there is hope. If we all do our part to mitigate this virus that has claimed the lives of over 750,000 Americans, we can beat this pandemic- we really can. There is a lot of controversy about the vaccine, but scientific and medical evidence shows that people who are fully vaccinated are less likely to become infected and develop symptoms and are at substantially reduced risk from severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people.
According to a recent report, published by the Mayo Clinic staff, below is the effectiveness of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines:
Pfizer
● 91% effective at preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms in people age 16 and older
● Greater than 89% effective in preventing people with health conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, from developing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms
● 100% effective at preventing the COVID-19 virus in children ages 12 through 15 ● Appears to protect against severe COVID-19 due to COVID-19 variants
Moderna
● 94% effective at preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms
● Greater than 90% effective in preventing people with health conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, from developing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms
● Appears to protect against severe COVID-19 due to COVID-19 variants
Johnson & Johnson
● 66% effective at preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms
● 85% effective at preventing the COVID-19 virus with severe illness
● Appears to protect against severe COVID-19 due to COVID-19 variants
As I think about the 750,000 deaths, it is more than numerical data, these numbers represent real people: husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. Additionally, many people are suffering long term illnesses as a result of COVID, which impacts their entire family. I urge you to use your fatigue towards the fight to end this pandemic. The best scientific and medical defenses on mitigating this pandemic are getting the vaccine, wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands and using hand sanitizer. Yes, we are tired, scared and frustrated, but we must fight a little while longer to end this pandemic.
Corp! Magazine has recognized businesses, organizations and leaders who champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and achievements within their organization or the community. Corp! is thrilled to honor its 14th Annual Salute to Diversity winners.
As the new CEO of Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, Vanessa Greene is expanding on GRAAHI’s mission as a leader for health equity in West Michigan, helping to identify and eliminate barriers to health for blacks, latinx and all people of color. TheGrand Rapids African American Health Institute is a leading national organization devoted to achieving healthcare parity for African Americans through advocacy, education, and research.
