Newly opened Community Wellness Collaborative aims to address health disparities in north Omaha
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine partnered to create a new, unique space in the heart of North Omaha. The Community Wellness Collaborative is a place to provide support and resources to people living in the area.
"We wanted a space where we can intentionally address some of the health disparities and health equity that we know is lacking within this community," said Shanda Ross, director of engagement outreach and belonging for Nebraska Medicine.
Throughout the building, the familiar UNMC/Nebraska Medicine logo can be seen, but the new addition to North Omaha's Highlander neighborhood is not actually a clinic.
"Having a space here for those programs that offer services on campus to be here to do education, have awareness and be able to teach about emotional health and preventative health and help connect them to a primary care doctor if necessary," Ross said.
A big part of the work that will be done involves helping people navigate what Community Health Navigator Chris Halfmoon calls "social drivers."
"It can be anything from transportation: Can I get to a doctor's office, can I get to whatever provider that I need to? It can be childcare. It can be safe and affordable housing," Halfmoon said.
"For Nebraska Medicine, our intention is to come here to create better access to health care as well as build our health careers and build career pathways," Ross said.
For Ross, it's a project that hits so close to home.
"I grew up on the Hilltop projects that once stood there, so this is like coming home for me to be able to help a community that I know has been underserved, but also bring my employer that has created a lot of opportunities for me to the community," Ross said.