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Making a difference through home visits
By Annika Carlson
In 2012, Eva, a resident of Bloomington, was pregnant, alone, and scared about her future. This was her first baby, and she felt as though she did not know the first thing about being a mother. An immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, Eva faced additional barriers while navigating the public health system. Hennepin County Medical Center connected Eva with Bloomington Public Health where she met Olga Leininger, Health Resource Specialist, and Tammi Cheever, a former Family Home Visiting nurse.
“The Family Home Visiting program was really good for her,” said Olga. In addition to prenatal and parenting resources, they taught Eva how to use public transportation. “If you know how to do that, you can go anywhere.”
When Olga and Tammi met Eva, she was severely depressed; she’d even thought about ending her own life. Olga and Tammi helped Eva find information in Spanish and connect with many resources: they enrolled her in the WIC program; Bridging, which provided furniture for her apartment; VEAP food shelf for food assistance; and during the pandemic they helped her family find COVID vaccines.
More than anything else, she said, they provided emotional support. Olga and Tammi helped her to reconnect with her child’s father, and they told her not to be afraid of motherhood.
“They gave me the strength to carry on,” Eva said about the people at Bloomington Public Health.
She continued, saying that the people who worked with her “focus on the person, not the job.” She could tell her life was going to change for the better as soon as she met them.
Ten years later, Eva now has two sons, Dylan (9) and Gabriel (5), and this last August she married the father of her children. She reached out to Olga recently to say, “I am such a happy mom and my kids are doing wonderful.”
In 2022, Public Health made 1,008 in-home visits to families across Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield. Health care providers and other individuals can refer patients or clients for public health nursing services through our website.
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Chelene joined the Public Health Division almost one year ago, in April 2022 – Happy Anniversary! Rebecca serves as the SHIP Community Liaison in the Population Health and Planning team. Read on to learn more about Rebecca!
What does our mission, engaging the community in promoting, protecting, and improving the health of all, mean to you?
To me this means we are constantly engaging in an on-going feedback loop with community groups and our data sources to ensure we’re doing our best to make it easy to be healthy. It includes intentionality in how we do our work in Public Health and as local government so that we are part of the solution and not the problem. When we do make mistakes, we try to repair authentically.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a CNA in a nursing home when I was 16.
What energizes you at work?
I’m energized when there is empathy between coworkers and we come up with ideas to make a meaningful impact. I also get energy from being in person with groups.
What advice would you give to a new staff member?
Feedback is a gift!
What’s your favorite TV show or one you’d never get tired of rewatching?
Gilmore Girls
Meet Rose
Rose Booth-Robertson joined the Division in September 2017 and serves as the Disease Prevention and Control Supervisor in the Community Health Services area. Read on to learn more about Rose!
What does our mission, engaging the community in promoting, protecting, and improving the health of all, mean to you?
De-centering myself as an expert, meeting clients and partners where they are at, remaining open and flexible, listening well, and having a good sense of humor.
What was your first job?
Soccer ref when I was 13.
Are you a dog person or a cat person (or neither)?
Dogs, but specifically pitties.
What’s your favorite place to eat around Bloomington, Edina or Richfield?
I am a Minneapolis resident and frequent Tacos Lupita.
Meet Selma
Selma Avdic joined our Division in October 2022 as the Contracts Coordinator. She also serves on the Division’s Management Team. Learn more about Selma below!
What does our mission, engaging the community in promoting, protecting, and improving the health of all, mean to you?
For me, it means empowering the community, listening to lived experiences, and working together to find equitable and sustainable solutions.
What’s one thing you’re learning now or learned recently?
I am remodeling a house and find myself having to learn new skills with every new project. From drywall, flooring and woodwork, YouTube has taught me a lot!
What advice would you give to a new staff member?
Give yourself time to get adjusted to the role and ask questions.
What’s your favorite TV show or one you’d never get tired of rewatching?
I’ve watched The Sopranos three times and catch on to new things every time. I even have a book that goes into detail about each episode to provide a greater understanding.
Public Health Shout Outs!
Here's the latest kudos from Public Health's Kudos Board:
Selma,
Thanks for your flexibility and can-do attitude as we navigate and document various grant and contract requirements. Much appreciated!
-Deb Finnegan
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MCH Team- What a year 2022 was! You changed to a new evidence based home visiting model (MESCH) and referral process, fully stepped back into in person home visiting (so many things to carry!), precepted nursing students (way to build the future workforce!), and actively participated in committee work plus so much more.
Wow! Cheers to you and I can't wait to see what 2023 brings!!!
-Molly Snuggerud
As always, use the City’s “Kudoz” board when you’d like to give a shout out to someone across the full City organization.
The purpose of Public Health Highlights is to increase staff’s pride in working for the Division through inspiring stories and to build connection among staff by highlighting individual staff members.
Do you have a story idea for this newsletter? Email Colleen for consideration.
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