DW Admin – Page 10 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Funded Partner Spotlight: Proyecto Desarrollo Humano

DW Admin on July 15, 2020

Miguel is a hard worker. Each morning, he gets up early to try and find some work for the day. He needs to earn enough money to support his wife, Martha, and their two children: Miguel Jr. and Magdalena. They live in a modest structure that can be generously described as a house, but they make it a home. Being together and seeing his family smile puts all the hardships of living in a colonia into perspective. Why does he travel down an unpaved, dirt road to find day work in a neighborhood that lacks potable water and other services and infrastructure people often take for granted? He does it for them. Luckily, he’s not alone. He has help in the form of friends and supportive organizations that exist to make his life, and that of his community better.

For over 25 years, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has dedicated its efforts to increasing access to care for people like Miguel—for the least served. With a service area covering 74 counties across South Texas, there is no shortage of places that need assistance, but none may be more in need than the coloniasalong the Texas-Mexico border. These unincorporated communities often lack the most basic living necessities such as potable water, drivable roads or sewage treatment. In the face of that glaring need, however, what you will find there in abundance is hope and communities filled with people that represent the best of our humanity.

To help Methodist Healthcare Ministries realize its vision in communities like these, it relies on an incredible network of partners who share our vision and commitment to caring for the least served. One such partner is Proyecto Desarrollo Humano (PDH), located in the Deep South Texas town of Pernitas.

In 2004, the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (ICM) and their Mission Partners, founded Proyecto Desarrollo Humano (PDH) to help meet the unanswered needs of Hispanic immigrants in western Hidalgo County, Texas. Their mission statement calls them to: “Help develop human and spiritual potential, strengthen family bonds, build communities of peace, love, justice, and satisfy the needs of the community” through a holistic approach that focuses on health, education and social services. Miguel and his family are emblematic of the type of person who rely on PDH to survive and to access programs and services needed to better their lives.

In the area of health, PDH offers a number of programs and services to the community surrounding it. The Clinica Maria Luisa provides limited medical and dental services for those without access to affordable care or insurance. The clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians and medical professionals at little or no cost.

Additionally, PDH offers a Women’s Wellness program offering Zumba Exercise classes, nutritional education materials, diabetic counseling and education, and mental health services.

The education offerings PDH makes available include English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults offered in the mornings and evenings and after school tutoring for children of all ages, as well as summer programming for kids.

Lastly, to provide the community with needed social services, PDH operates a thrift store where the community can find needed essentials, leadership & community-development programming, parenting classes, sewing groups, social work assistance, home and community improvement projects and the Organic Community Garden.

The Organic Community Garden includes hands-on instruction from experts at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and provides participants with information that’s required to help them maintain, plan and cultivate the garden. Participants can grow their own fresh, organic food in a safe space provided by PDH. The program is inspirational and empowering for the participants, who can then profit off the fruit of their own labor.

Miguel and his family are composite characters emblematic of the hundreds of the real people served by PDH. They are primarily new immigrants to the United States. They live in the surrounding colonias and the conditions are often substandard. The people make do with what they have and make the best out of their situation. They are living well below the federal poverty level and their housing consists of small trailers or bare structures which they work on to improve with the help of PDH. The men are often day laborers supporting young families. 54% of the population is under the age of 18 and attending public school. Their parents are doing their best to navigate through a language barrier and an unfamiliar new reality, but they are gracious and grateful for all the assistance provided by PDH.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been proud to support Proyecto Desarrollo Humano since 2014 by awarding $190,000 in funding for a number of their programs and offerings, such as supplies for the community garden, parenting programs, family support activities, clinical supplies, transportation assistance and funding for staffing. In addition to the funding, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ community-based counselor, Diana Garza Martinez, provides counseling services twice a week at PDH and Wesley Nurse Veronica Lee is on site three days a week to provide diabetic education and support to patients in need.

Sister Fatima Santiago, executive director of Proyecto Desarrollo Humano, stated that “Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ support and collaboration continue to be invaluable to us. Their financial assistance enables us to expand our service ability to our materially poor people. They also put us in contact with the broader community, enlightening us to contacts and activities. We greatly benefit from the moral support and advice given by our grant officer on her periodic visits.”

It’s incredible to find partners like Proyecto Desarrollo Humano who are dedicated and embedded into the fabric of the communities Methodist Healthcare Ministries serves. By working together, we can address the needs of an area and population that is often overlooked and under-resourced. Being there to lend a helping hand to the Miguels, Marthas and Miguel Jrs. and Magdalenas of the world, helps these organizations build stronger, more resilient families and thriving communities full of opportunity and hope.

To learn more about Proyecto Desarrollo Humano and to find out how you can help, visit www.proyectodhumano.org

Since 1995, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has provided over $1.06 billion to improve the wellness of the least served through our direct care services, strategic grantmaking and community partnerships. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to partnerwith organizations that share our mission and organizational objectives of increasing access to care to the least served across South Texas.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries awards $32 million in annual health care grants

DW Admin on July 1, 2020

San Antonio (July 1, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.– a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured – has awarded $32 million in community grant funding to 92 nonprofit agencies across its 74-county service area. This grant funding is part of the organization’s $108.8 million 2020 investment used to support the community through direct services provided through clinical operations and regional staff, as well as the development of community partnerships. View 2020 funded partners.

Given annually, these grants are rooted in partnerships that support access to care, integrated delivery systems and patient-centered models. In partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), safety-net clinics, counseling services and regional community projects, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' goal is to create measurable impact at the community and regional levels to further establish health care networks. Awards are aligned with one of the organization’s strategic objectives: High Functioning Primary Care, Clinical-Community Connections, Access to Health, Families of Solution, Community-Church Hubs and Strategic Cross-Sector Collaboration.

Since April, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has also awarded $1.5 million in emergency funding to support COVID-19 relief efforts by 46 agencies and organizations across South Texas.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries endeavors to fulfill its mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God’ and our 2020 funding is targeted towards building health equity across South Texas to help the least served obtain access to quality health care,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “The strategic partners we have engaged will further our efforts to support the growth of resilient families and the creation of thriving communities throughout our service region, leading to increasing access to quality care for the least served.”

Funding is allocated to approximately 129 grant programs to deepen collaborative efforts, incentivize quality health outcomes, leverage and strengthen health care delivery systems and promote sustainable systems change.

The single largest area of giving this year is to High Functioning Primary Care, with more than $12.8 million awarded to support community-centered primary care health homes that address physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of patients & engage in improving community health & wellbeing. Funding Access to Care is the second largest area with awards totaling $6.5 million to support improving access to health care for those in need in medically underserved areas.

San Antonio-based CommuniCare Health Centers received two grants totaling just over $2 million in 2020. One grant provides primary and preventive care services in Bexar County, with an emphasis on integrated and preventive care. The second grant supports dental services for the uninsured and to assess the impact it has on outcomes for medical and behavioral health patients. CommuniCare has been a funded partner of Methodist Healthcare Ministries since 1996 and has received over $34.5 million in grant funding over the years.

“CommuniCare Health Centers is proud to be a Methodist Healthcare Ministries grant recipient,” said Paul Nguyen, President & CEO of CommuniCare Health Centers. “Over the past several years, our partnership has allowed us to improve the health of thousands who are less fortunate, and this has helped us achieve a measurably impact on the health and wellness of the communities we serve. The funding that CommuniCare receives gives patients access to the Integrated Health Improvement & Prevention Program, which allows uninsured patients with chronic conditions to utilize our medical and dental services. Our patients are very appreciative of this program and have access to continuity and quality care in Bexar county. As a grantee, CommuniCare is able to improve patient health outcomes and successfully educate the community on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks partnerships that align with its mission and services and support its objectives. Methodist Healthcare Ministries' board of directors oversees the selection of funded partners and requests are considered on an annual basis by invitation only; unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

The largest award for 2020 is $4.7 million for the South Texas Regional Advisory Council’s (STRAC) South Texas Crisis Collaborative (STCC)’s operations, infrastructure and programming. STCC is a unique and unprecedented partnership between local health systems, mental health care providers, public safety agencies and philanthropy that is improving the continuum of care for the most vulnerable residents – unfunded and underfunded patients experiencing mental illness, homelessness and/or chronic illness.

Since inception, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has invested more than $356 million in grant-making to improve community health care in its 74-county service area – which makes up 29 percent of Texas counties.

In addition to grant-making, Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to increase access to health care through advocacy and direct services. Methodist Healthcare Ministries operates two San Antonio-based primary health care clinics: Wesley Health & Wellness Center and Dixon Health & Wellness Center, and two School Based Health Centers: School Based Health Center at Krueger Elementary and School Based Health Center at Schertz Elementary. The clinics address the needs of low-income families and the uninsured by providing services at no cost or on a sliding fee scale. The health care services Methodist Healthcare Ministries provides are a cornerstone of its charitable purpose of creating access to care.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries' mission also includes its one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System—the largest healthcare system in South Texas. This creates a unique avenue to ensure the Methodist Healthcare System continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all, and revenue to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for its programs and services.

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Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $22,662 in emergency grant funding to UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry

DW Admin on June 25, 2020

San Antonio, TX (June 25, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.—a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has approved an emergency grant for $22,662 to the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. The School of Dentistry provides dental care to the homeless population at Haven for Hope and COVID-19 has impacted its ability to continue those services.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to supporting partners across South Texas that are on the front lines, providing care to vulnerable populations in need,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “Through this additional support, we are ensuring that our trusted partner, UT Health San Antonio School Of Dentistry can access the critical resources and personal protective equipment they need to care for dental patients at Haven for Hope. In these tough times, we are proud to do all we can to bring more smiles to the world.”

As healthcare organizations continue to provide needed health and dental care to patients in this challenging environment, the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to ensuring the health and safety of both patients and providers. As dental care is delivered in close proximity to patients, COVID-19 clinical guidelines for dentistry include several new protocols to prevent exposure and limit the spread of the virus during dental procedures. This funding will augment the dental engineering and work practice controls needed to prevent cross-contamination from COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the services provided to the homeless residents of Haven for Hope by limiting these assistances to only emergency care,” said Juanita Lozano-Pineda, DDS, MPH, associate dean for external affairs with the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. “Thanks to funds provided by Methodist Healthcare Ministries, the infection-control personal protective items and additional equipment that controls aerosol generation during procedures will all help protect our patients, dental students, residents and faculty from the highly contagious virus. This will allow students and residents to better understand some of the engineering controls needed to practice dentistry safely, as we expand to resume comprehensive care services to a vulnerable population that is in great need of oral health care.”

This award is in addition to the $753,228 grant funding Methodist Healthcare Ministries already provided to the School of Dentistry in 2020. The School of Dentistry has been a funded partner of Methodist Healthcare Ministries since 2002 and has received $8,468,521 to fund a number of its programs. Of that funding, nearly $2.5 million has been awarded specifically for work the School of Dentistry performs at Haven for Hope, including dental equipment, PPE and urgent care.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has awarded over $1.5 million in COVID-19 emergency grant funding to nonprofits and faith-based organizations since the pandemic began. Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to providing safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic. Additionally, staff across the organization’s 74-county service area—including Wesley Nurses and community based counseling staff—continue to provide virtual care and resource assistance to the most vulnerable.

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Virtual Camp Wesley

DW Admin on June 19, 2020

Due to the ongoing need to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Methodist Healthcare Ministries will not be offering its usual Camp Wesley summer program. However, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Recreation & Enrichment team has developed a new free 'virtual' camp experience that children can participate from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Each class will be unique and designed so campers can participate with materials typically already available in their homes. Join us for fun and learning starting June 22. See the details below.

Virtual Camp Wesley (60 minutes)
- Classes run Monday, June 22 thru Friday, August 14 beginning at 1 p.m every weekday
- Classes are free to the public, but registration is required
- K-8th kids can participate in activities with just a little bit of supplies.
- Activities can be altered to be completed with whatever supplies campers have available.
- Campers can log on from a laptop, cell phone or tablet
- Register in advance for the class through this link: https://mhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlce2tqzksHNyafkGaCCfvyM3-no0v4YKr

Follow the links above to register and you will receive a confirmation email containing information needed to join the class. Attendees register once and can attend any of the occurrences.

Our team remains available to help you find ways to stay active and healthy. Have a great summer!

Statement from Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. on Racial Injustice

DW Admin on June 6, 2020

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.’s long standing mission is “Serving Humanity to Honor God” and our vision is “To be the leader for improving wellness of the least served.” We believe that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out our mission we must recognize the inequities inherent in our communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Inequities revolving around maternal and infant health, chronic stress, trauma, education, food security, safe housing and financial wealth have resulted in vast differences in life expectancy and quality of life for people living in the 74 counties we serve.

We believe that by nurturing resilient families—regardless of one’s spirituality, income, race, gender, or sexual orientation—we help communities to thrive. And, only when everyone has access to quality healthcare, a good education, meaningful job opportunities, as well as safe and just living environments, can communities truly thrive.

The disenfranchisement of people of color in our community through policies and practices contributing to systemic racial oppression, including the suppression of opportunities to reach one’s full potential for health and life, does harm to all families and prevents every community from thriving.

As an organization rooted in the traditions of the Methodist faith, we proclaim, with the 2017-2020 Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, recognition of racism as sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons. We rejoice in the gifts that every racial group and culture bring to our total life and stand with our partners, patients, clients, and the communities we serve in rejecting all expressions of racism and policies and practices that erode inclusion and diminish health equity for all.

A Letter to Our Wesley Nurses

DW Admin on May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020

Dear Wesley Nurses:

This week, this month, this year—the spotlight is on you. 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale—pioneer of modern nursing—and has been designated the “Year of the Nurse” by the World Health Organization. More importantly, we are shining a light on you now because of the invaluable role you continue to play in providing compassionate care to the least served during the coronavirus pandemic.

As a young pastor, I served on staff at a church that received one of the very first Wesley Nurses. Since that time, I have observed and worked with Wesley Nurses from a variety of positions. I have seen lives saved through health assessments and prescription assistance. Pastors and other leaders have learned the wisdom of asset-based community assessment. I witnessed a whole congregation as it flipped from dying to thriving, through a nurse’s community connections. I have served alongside Wesley Nurses with gratitude and pride.

Now as a board member for Methodist Healthcare Ministries, I rejoice to see the collective scope and impact of your work. Across the 74 counties within the Rio Texas Conference, your work is nimble, creative, and contextual. All the nurses I have known personally have relished the working environment that allows them to bring themselves fully to the work of healing bodies and spirits, fulfilling the MHM mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God.” The following reflection, written by a friend of the program, is a rendering of that labor of love.

A Wesley Nurse offers:

healing in the face of hurting,
compassion in the midst of chaos,
faith that lifts others out of fear,
perseverance despite the presence of obstacles,
hope in the place of despair,
peace that allows for progress,
confidence to change circumstances,
and, most importantly, hands and feet that faithfully follow God’s leading.

We shine a light of celebration and honor on you, Wesley Nurses, because your light shines so brightly amidst our church and communities. Thank you for your faithfulness and your service, which I know at times only God fully sees, and which has blessed us immeasurably. May God inspire and strengthen you, shining the true light from which all goodness comes, reflecting through you always as beacons of divine mercy and love.

Grace and peace,

Laura Merrill

Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Clergy Excellence

“Thank You” to Nurses – National Nurses Week 2020

DW Admin on May 9, 2020

If you stop and think about it for a second, all of us have been touched by the caring hands of a nurse. From our earliest moments after birth, through our years in school, to any time we’ve had to visit a medical office, hospital or clinic to seek treatment for something that ails us—it’s in these moments a nurse is always there to care for us and lift our spirits.

This week is recognized as National Nurses Week, but 2020 is also the Year of the Nurse—apropos for a year defined by a pandemic—but also the year which marks 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale, who pioneered modern nursing. Now more than ever, it’s a time to recognize and give thanks to all the nurses who serve and work in our communities to care for us and provide us with healing comfort.

At Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., we are blessed to have almost a quarter of our workforce comprised of nurses—100+ caring servants whose skillful hands and caring hearts deliver healing and hope to the most vulnerable among us.

At our four clinical locations in and around San Antonio, we have nearly 20 nurses treating patients who traditionally lack access to quality health care. When our patients and clients visit one of our clinics, it’s the face of one of our nurses who provide the most care and attention as they navigate through the programs and services we offer. Many of the patients we serve in those clinics often have complex healthcare needs on top of struggling with poverty, food scarcity and other issues that make prioritizing their health nearly impossible. Our clinical nurses have to be the shoulders for patients to lean on, hands to hold them steady when they are overwhelmed or scared, a confidant for life’s challenges and cheerleaders to encourage them in making sometimes hard choices to get healthy.

Moving outside our clinics and into our 74-county service area, we are fortunate to have 87 Wesley Nurses rooted in communities large and small across South Texas. The Wesley Nurse program was one of the first initiatives that Methodist Healthcare Ministries launched over 20 years ago and it is our largest geographic outreach program. Wesley Nurses are Registered Nurses who practice faith-based, community nursing and are located in churches and communities. Wesley Nurses are trained to treat the mind, body and spirit of patients they encounter and they are embedded into the fabric of the communities they serve.

Our nursing team embodies our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” on a daily basis by going above and beyond to provide quality, compassionate care – especially now. In these difficult times, they have become catalysts for creative care that reaches past the physical distance caused by this pandemic. From the onset of the coronavirus, our clinical nursing team quickly pivoted to HIPAA-compliant virtual care solutions to ensure our patients and clients didn’t miss the care they need to stay healthy. At a time when operations at most businesses and medical practices have been affected, our Wesley Nurses sprang into action to organize community relief efforts necessary for people to survive amid this COVID-19 reality. From volunteering with food banks and organizing food distributions to spending hours driving through their communities delivering needed supplies such as medicines or diapers to those with transportation challenges—they are working diligently to protect and improve the mental, physical and spiritual health of the uninsured across South Texas.

Across our city and around the world, you can find a nurse hard at work in hospitals, medical offices, urgent care centers, schools, nursing homes, behavioral health centers and more. Nurses are part of the engine that keep our health care system moving forward. They are smart, creative, resourceful, compassionate, caring and wise. We often encounter them when we are not feeling our best, yet they strive tirelessly to help us through every situation.

I had a job as a nursing assistant through college, which allowed me the chance to appreciate firsthand the work nurses give to their patients and I saw how much how much compassion the job requires. The scale of the impact they have on patients and families is incredible and I’ve been inspired by all the nurses I’ve worked with throughout my career in the health care industry and now, as President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries.

During National Nurses Week and throughout 2020, I’d like to ask you to reach out to the nurses in your life and say, “thank you!” Whether it’s someone in your family or someone you encounter while accessing the health care system, please let them know how much they are appreciated. It’s the nurses in the world who are truly leading the way toward our recovery with their care and compassion.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $1.1 million as part of COVID-19 Relief Efforts

DW Admin on April 27, 2020

San Antonio, TX (April 27, 2020)– Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.–a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has awarded $1,151,443 million in emergency grant funding to 46 nonprofit, health and social service agencies in its 74-county service area for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

“During these unprecedented times, Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to increasing access to care for the least served across South Texas,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “This investment ensures that our partners have additional support in continuing to provide critical physical and mental health care and essential resources for our friends and neighbors impacted by this pandemic. We are proud to stand with our communities who are hurting and need a little extra help today. We know that they are resilient and that by working together, we can ensure that everyone has access to the care and support they need.”

While $433,409 was awarded to agencies in and around Bexar County, special consideration was given to underserved communities that do not have the same degree of philanthropic support as San Antonio. To ensure there is equity in the accessibility to response and recovery resources in Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area, $718,034 is being awarded to agencies that primarily serve outside Bexar County.

Grants will cover a three-month period beginning April 1 through June 30. Some of the organizations receiving this funding include:

Central Texas Food Bank (multiple counties), $50,000 for food assistance
Christian Assistance Ministries (San Antonio), $35,500 to supply handwashing stations, showers and hygiene supplies for homeless people
Coastal Bend Food Bank (multiple counties), $100,000 for food assistance
Concho Valley Regional Food Bank (multiple counties), $25,000 for food assistance
Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (multiple counties), $50,000 for food assistance
Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (multiple counties), $100,000 for food assistance
Fuerza Unida (San Antonio), $7,425 for an emergency food pantry
I Care San Antonio, $33,435 to continue operations during the crisis
Jewish Family Service (San Antonio), $32,529 to support a collaborative six-agency mental health response to low-income students and families sheltering in place, through telehealth/mobile mental health resources.
Mission 911 (Corpus Christi), $25,000to help isolate and care for homeless individuals who need to “shelter in place”
Phoenix Center (multiple counties in Marble Falls area), $10,000 for telehealth services to provide trauma-informed care to underserved rural children and families
San Antonio Food Bank (multiple counties), $200,000 for food assistance
South Texas Food Bank (multiple counties), $75,000 for food assistance
Texas Diaper Bank (multiple counties), $50,000 for families in need of diapers and other hygiene supplies
The Children’s Shelter (San Antonio), $15,000 to meet increased demand and additional costs due to sheltering in place

Through this funding, Methodist Healthcare Ministries granted $600,000 to the seven Food Banks covering the 74-county service area, as a strategic emergency response, and $342,554 to 31 churches and church agencies to help respond to basic needs in urban and rural communities throughout South Texas.

This funding opportunity is in addition to the $32 million granted this year to over 90 agencies across South Texas which supports access to care, integrated delivery systems, patient-centered health models and other programs and services aimed at addressing the Social Determinants of Health that disproportionately impact the least served.” Details of this announcement to be released publicly soon.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to provide safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic. The organization also still offers services to its Parenting Program clients via Zoom classes and will begin to offer recreation & enrichment program offerings via Zoom to patients and clients looking for ways to stay active and healthy in these times where social distancing prevents in person services. Additionally, regional staff, including Wesley Nurses and community based counseling staff continues to provide services throughout the 74-county service area.

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Recreation & Enrichment Virtual Class Schedule

DW Admin on April 24, 2020

Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Recreation & Enrichment team remains available to help you find ways to stay active and healthy. Our team is offering a variety of recreation & enrichment classes via Zoom that you can participate in from the comfort of your own home. The classes being offered include:

Stretching and Meditation (30 minutes)
- This calm stretching relaxation will guide you to relax with a brief stretching routine. Listen to your body throughout this exercise.
- Register in advance for the 'Stretching and Meditation' class through this link: https://mhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUrcu6vqTIpH9RcABhiOSYrrC3whngiqvH3

Cardio (60 minutes)
- Looking for a challenge? Join this fast-paced workout and get your heart pumping! Cardio packs all your favorite cardio styles plus some new into one hour workout.
- Register in advance for the 'Cardio' class through this link: https://mhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEkf-qprToiHdP0ymlvrlwgqNSpMfsJebBq

Baila 2 Fitness (60 minutes) / Express Baila 2 Fitness (30 minutes)
- Get ready to move in this class designed for all levels of fitness! Workouts set to Latin, Hip Hop and Country music help burn calories and increase muscle strength through a blend of dance moves and simple exercises.
- Register in advance for the 'Baila 2 Fitness' class through this link: https://mhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/uJwrdu6tpz4pRgWsDM5PqDKZULk2-61Law
- Register in advance for the 'Express Baila 2 Fitness' class through this link: https://mhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUldeuoqTkiGdI4eR47e4zb3cE5TraEAREa

Daily Burn (30 minutes)
- You're sure to feel the burn! This 30-minute class incorporates weight/strength training that divides sessions by body regions or muscle groups.
- Register in advance for the 'Daily Burn' class through this link: https://mhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtd–tpjsjGNQ09YCYY9COl6o3Xf0e_8xt

Follow the links above to register and you will receive a confirmation email containing information needed to join the class.

‘How To Guide’ for RingCentral Meeting

DW Admin on April 24, 2020

How to Install RingCentral Meetings App and Join Meetings

Step-by-step guide for iPhones:

Click here to view a 'How to' video on YouTube
Click here to view a guide in English for Apple

Step-by-step guide for Android:

Click here to view a 'How to' video on YouTube
Click here to download a guide in English for Android

Step-by-step guide for Computer:

Click here to view a 'How to' video on YouTube
Click here to download a guide in English for PC users

Cómo Instalar la Aplicación RingCentral Meetings y Unirse a Reuniones

Guía paso-por-paso para los que usan Apple:

Haz clic aqui para ver un video instruccional en YouTube
Haz clic aqui para ver un guia en español para Apple

Guía paso-por-paso para los que usan Android:

Haz clic aqui para ver un video instruccional en YouTube
Haz clic aqui para ver un guia en español para Android

Guía paso-por-paso para los que usan una computadora:

Haz clic aqui para ver un video instruccional en YouTube
Haz clic aqui para ver un guia en español para la computadora

Coping Tips for Parents Staying at Home with Children

DW Admin on April 8, 2020

If you’re one of the millions of parents staying home with your children during this challenging season in our world, there are things you can do to help ease tension and stress, as you try juggling work and family.

Normally, working parents are used to waking up early, getting themselves and their children ready for the day which includes preparing breakfast, driving them to school, then heading to the office to tackle their work day.

But for the past few days, parents are having to switch gears by no longer having to drive kids to and from school – their homes have now been transformed into classrooms and workspaces. This new set-up can become overwhelming for parents who need to work and now are faced with serving as temporary educators for their school-aged kids.

Dayanara Santiago, a coordinator for Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Parenting Program, said once she implemented a daily schedule for her children, it added structure to their day. She has four children, ages 18, 12, 13, and 8, at home. She said she and her husband work together to keep their children on track with school work.

Amanda Greer, supervisor for Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Parenting Program, agrees. She said it’s important to have a game plan for each day. While her children are not school-age yet, they require plenty of attention throughout the day. She and her husband collaborate with each other so they can focus on work, while caring for their two little ones, ages three and 18-months.

The following is a list of tips, prepared by Amanda and Dayanara that can help others, as parents across our community and world learn how to adapt to a “new normal” way of life:

Implementing a daily or weekly schedule/routine and stick to it.
Preparing healthy meals and snacks. Try preparing meals the night before so you save time during the day.
Scheduling nap and/or quiet time.
Staying connected with other parents for support and ideas. Find out what’s working for them and share what’s working for you.
Staying connected with your child’s teachers and school districts for important school work updates.
Going outdoors for recreation time – basketball, volleyball, etc.
Coordinating weekly Bible studies for the family and allowing time for children to express their feelings about the current situation.
Creating movie nights, watching reruns of your favorite shows and letting children participate in selecting movies and shows.
Playing board games or trying new online games for the whole family.
Challenging children to read books and rewarding them for the number of books read each week – check with your local school for free online books available to students.
Engaging children with fun hobbies like painting, coloring, or creating a garden and planting seeds. There are a variety of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ideas and guides available online.
Set aside time during your day for a daily devotional.
Utilize YouTube videos for ideas on Bible topics for kids.
Encourage children to write letters or create greeting cards for sending to their grandparents, as well as seniors who are living in a nursing home.
Assign children to help with housecleaning, especially in their rooms (making their beds every day).
If you have pets, ask your children to help bathe and feed them.
Go for walks with your children or get your bikes out and go riding.
Communicating with your spouse or others helping you at home is key in staying on track with daily tasks. By communicating, you’ll be able to tackle your work projects and attend virtual meetings, as needed to get your work done.

“My husband and I find that it’s extremely important to keep the communication line open between us so that we are on the same page,” explained Amanda. “Talking with each other about what’s on our minds, whether its frustration or anything else, will help prevent miscommunication or arguments from occurring.”

Dayanara said it’s important to talk to your kids about what’s happening in our world. Being honest and open is best. “I take time to listen to my kids and their concerns. If they ask me about the virus and how it is impacting our world, I will try to explain as best I can. By doing this, it will help ease their fears and worries.”

She also said that if your child needs help with a school assignment, allow yourself to stop working and go help them. “If my child needs help, I’ll go and help them. If I see that it’s going to take longer, we will skip it and come back to it later.”

Amanda said, “You have to become strategic in how you manage your day. Do your best to stay on track but also be realistic. Don’t’ be hard on yourself.”

“It’s getting easier as the days pass. We are coming along as a family. On the positive side, I love that we are together and dedicating more time with each other and I’m saving gas since I don’t have to drive anywhere, except for necessary items. I know that God is with us through this time,” said Dayanara.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Adjusts Operations After First COVID-19 Positive Exposure

DW Admin on April 6, 2020

San Antonio, TX (April 5, 2020) – On Saturday, April 4, 2020, leaders from Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. were informed that a team member who was working at its Wesley Health & Wellness Center during the week of March 23-27 has tested positive for community-acquired COVID-19.

Risk of patient exposure is very low as the infected individual had no patient contact, nor are they part of the facility’s medical operations. Additionally, all patient care had already been adjusted drastically to reduce direct contact in observance of social distancing guidelines. Those adjustments shifted care to virtual visits when possible, and drive-up care when necessary by medical professionals in full personal protective equipment.

The team member has not come in contact with any Methodist Healthcare Ministries team members or entered any of its facilities since experiencing symptoms. All potentially affected team members have been notified and are taking proper precautionary measures.

To mitigate any risk for further infection, the Wesley Health & Wellness Center will be closed during the week of April 5-12 for thorough disinfection cleaning. All patient care will be conducted exclusively through virtual visits until Monday, April 13. The only disruption to patient care will be the rescheduling of medical lab appointments.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries had already closed operations and instituted work-from-home measures for employees at its two School Based Health Centers, Corporate Office and Dixon Health & Wellness Center. The organization continues to provide safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic.

About Methodist HealthcareMinistries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.

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