According to SAVI from the Polis Center at IUPUI, in 2013, the average income in the Martindale Brightwood area was $23,825 compared to $41,361 for all of Marion County. Additionally, the community had 25% less employer-based health coverage, 10% more deaths by accident, and 9% more persons with a disability across all age ranges, indicating a need for greater access to health prevention and early intervention resources.
In acknowledgement of the social determinants of health that impact members of the Martindale Brightwood community, Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing students Lindsey May and Emily Wolf, faculty member Dr. Wanda Thruston, and IUPUI Office of Community Engagement staff member Mary Studley identified key stakeholders in the community.
“Our approach was to look at the assets that are currently available in the community and to build on what was already there,” said Studley. “This event is an effort to build relationships between the residents and community-serving agencies so they better serve the community. It’s about building engagement so it’s not a one-time thing.”
The community resource fair will provide access to multiple health prevention and early intervention resources with an emphasis on pediatrics and geriatrics in response to the needs of the community. Proposed direct services include immunizations for kids, booster immunizations for middle school students as well as podiatry checks and neurology checks for senior citizens. Additional services that will be provided will include services hosted by IUPUI student outreach programs. “Good foot care for senior citizens is a front line of defense to prevent falls and to improved health,” said Studley.
This event will not only provide direct services to the community, but will also serve to increase visibility of resources and help lay the foundation for partnerships among resources to better serve their constituents.
“From a university standpoint, my hope is to create a storyboard that can be presented to other faculty to spark ideas to become more involved in the community,” said Thruston.
Thruston is working to establish an ongoing relationship with the Martindale Brightwood area to address health disparities and to conduct focused research.
“Community members are confirming the need for the health fair. They have expressed to me that they are really glad that it’s happening,” said Studley.
For more information on the fair, please contact Lindsey May at ljmay@iupui.edu or Emily Wolf at estorkma@iu.edu.