DW Admin – Page 6 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

2022 Fiesta Medal Announced

DW Admin on March 29, 2022

If you live in San Antonio, then you know Fiesta is right around the corner – it kicks off March 31 through April 10. This means, it’s time to unveil another beautiful Methodist Healthcare Ministries Fiesta medal.

Our 2022 Fiesta medal design highlights our commitment to supporting resilient families and thriving communities by advancing health equity across South Texas. As you turn the dial on your Fiesta medal, you’ll see through a heart-shaped window which beautifully illustrates our passion for serving our communities. Inside the heart-shaped window, you’ll see different icons symbolizing our services and programs, including:

The Stethoscope: Providing high-quality clinical care services for patients
The Community: Contributing to overall health and well-being of communities through long-term collaboration
The Church: Building relationships with churches and faith communities of all denominations to advance health and well-being
The Handshake: Partnering with others to lead efforts to improve community health and well-being
The Plant: Strengthening underserved communities through strategic grant-making
The Family: Supporting resilient individuals and families

Giveaway Alert

As a special treat, we are giving one of medals away to a lucky follower through a social media giveaway!

The rules to enter are:

Like our posts on Facebook and Instagram
Follow @MHMSTX on Facebook and Instagram
Tag a fiesta-loving friend (each tag is one entry)

The giveaway will end on Friday, April 1 at 11:59 PM. We will announce the winner on Monday, April 4 via the comments section on the post on Facebook and Instagram!

We’re excited to celebrate Fiesta 2022! Stay safe, everyone!

¡Viva Fiesta!

Methodist Healthcare Ministries and the Rio Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church announce new appointment of Director position

DW Admin on March 15, 2022

March 15, 2022 (San Antonio, TX): Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas , Inc. and the Rio Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church announces the appointment of Rev. Dr. Aaron A. Gonzalez to the role of director of church connections and spiritual care at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. The appointment comes after the current director Rev. Mickey McCandless—who served in the position for over a decade—announced his plans to retire later this June.

“We celebrate Rev. McCandless for the faithful service he has provided to both the Rio Texas Conference and Methodist Healthcare Ministries. His leadership within both institutions has been instrumental,” said Bishop Robert Schnase. “Rev. McCandless has paved a solid foundation for Rev. Gonzalez to embark upon as he steps into this new role. We look forward to continuing the good works Mickey was so pivotal in shaping with the Rio Texas Conference with Aaron.”

Rev. Gonzalez currently serves as Pastor at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. He joined the organization in 2015 under Rev. McCandless’ leadership. In his current role, Rev. Gonzalez provides pastoral care and counseling for all team members and to patients and clients served at Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ primary care clinics. As Director, Rev. Gonzalez will serve as a member of the organization’s executive team and primary liaison to Rio Texas Conference. Prior to joining Methodist Healthcare Ministries, Rev. Gonzalez served as Pastor at Resurrection United Methodist Church and Shepherd’s Gate Community Church in San Antonio.

“We at MHM have been incredibly blessed to have had Rev. McCandless’ counsel and fellowship for the last ten years,” stated Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ CEO Jaime Wesolowski. “The work he has done to strengthen our organizational culture and the connections we have to the faith community across all denominations in South Texas has been invaluable, and we feel incredibly fortunate that Rev. Gonzalez will step into this role and continue building up our ministries in all the communities we serve.”

According to Wesolowski, the director of church connections & spiritual care position is distinct within the organization as it is appointed by the Bishop of the Rio Texas Conference.

“The collaboration with the Bishop is exceptional and underscores the importance of our connection to the church,” stated Wesolowski.

For 27 years Methodist Healthcare Ministries has created access to care for the underserved in South Texas through direct services, public policy analysis and research, strategic grantmaking and community partnerships. Its history goes back much further to 1955 when the former Southwest Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church established a charter creating the Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital—that hospital would eventually become Methodist Hospital. Later in 1995 the Methodist Hospital’s Board of Trustees formed a 50-50 partnership between HCA Healthcare which created the Methodist Healthcare System. The hospital’s board of trustees also transformed into the Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ board of directors which continues to operate under the first charter issued by the former Southwest Texas Conference [now known as the Rio Texas Conference], as amended.

Bishop Schnase underscored the importance of the relationship. “The ministries which have been made possible for the least served in communities across South Texas through the pastors and churches within the Rio Texas Conference that work alongside Methodist Healthcare Ministries is a tribute to the promise John Wesley asked us as faithful followers of Christ to make. Truly through our shared history and connection, we are doing all the good we can in all the ways we can. I know Rev. Gonzalez has a servant leader’s heart and through his leadership within the Conference—and certainly in his new role at Methodist Healthcare Ministries—will be marked by grace and love for Christ at the center of his work.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries 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.

Maverick County Broadband Committee Hosts Kickoff Event for Broadband Initiative & Study

DW Admin on March 14, 2022

Eagle Pass, Texas (March 14, 2022) The Maverick County Broadband Committee hosted a special kickoff event on Tuesday, March 8, to launch Connect Maverick, a community initiative focused on improving broadband access, adoption, and use throughout Maverick County. Members of the Committee shared information with local stakeholders and community residents about internet access in the county and explained how a broadband assessment facilitated by Connected Nation Texas will help.

Connected Nation’s Connected Community Engagement Program is being provided at no cost to Maverick County residents thanks to a $51,000 grant from Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

A livestream of the event is available on Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Facebook page for anyone to view:

https://www.facebook.com/mhmstx/videos/1316396555531083

The Maverick County Broadband Committee is comprised of Maverick County Judge David Saucedo; Eagle Pass Mayor, Rolando Salinas; Eagle Pass Maverick County Economic Development Alliance Executive Director, Judith Canales; Eagle Pass Economic Development Director, Arturo Marquez; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Director of Information Technology, Sonny Snyder; Eagle Pass ISD Chief Technology Officer, Jose Munoz Jr., Juan Garza from Sul Ross University Office of Information Technology; Oscar Galindo, Maverick County Ag Extension Agent; Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber; Eagle Pass Library Director, Cristina Olivas; Brenda Hoffman, AHEC Eagle Pass: Claudia Wright, SHAC Chairperson Eagle Pass ISD; Pastor Javier Leyva, Pastor FUMC Eagle Pass; Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.’s Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Christine Yanas, Wesley Nurse, Juliet Martinez, and Wesley Nurse District Manager Patricia Villarreal.

A central key to the kickoff was the launch of the Maverick County Community Broadband Survey for county residents and organizations. The survey results will be critical to developing an assessment of local broadband availabilty and related needs.

Connect Maverick Community Champion, Judy Canales, Executive Director of the Eagle Pass Maverick County Economic Development Alliance said, “The survey is a great opportunity for Maverick County residents, businesses, and institutions to voice their opinions and to help build solutions for improved internet services to benefit the entire community.”

The survey will be accessible through April 30. The Maverick County Broadband Committee’s goal is to engage at least 1,630 households in the survey to ensure adequate representation from the community. Survey results will assist the committee in identifying the unique challenges and opportunities that exist for expanding high-speed internet in Maverick County so that every family, business, and community organization can access the critical resources needed to be connected. The Maverick County Broadband Committee will then work with CN Texas and Methodist Healthcare Ministries to develop recommendations to help close the Digital Divide within the community. To access and complete the short survey, visit: https://www.myconnectedcommunity.org/maverick-county

Methodist Healthcare Ministries is a faith-based, nonprofit organization focused on improving the health and wellness of the least served. In Maverick County, Methodist Healthcare Ministries offers free health and wellness services through its Wesley Nurse program, located at the Eagle Pass First United Methodist Church.

“Closing the digital divide in rural communities will play a critical role in our efforts to support resilient families and build thriving communities across South Texas,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “The long-term impact of having strong access to broadband technology on the health, education and other social determinants of health for Maverick County residents makes this partnership a priority for our organization.”

Once the survey has been completed by the community, a Technology Action Plan will be developed for the county by leveraging Connected Nation’s Connected Community Engagement Program and will be shaped by the information provided by local stakeholders. For that reason, it’s important to include as much information as possible so that no area is left out of this plan.

The Connected Program has been used in nearly 650 communities across the country to develop county or regional Technology Action Plans that offer both short-term and long-term broadband solutions.

For more information or if you have questions, email info@connectednation.org or head to connectednation.org/texas.

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About Connected Nation Texas: CN Texas is the statewide subsidiary of the national nonprofit Connected Nation. Our mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.

Connected Nation works with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers, and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: connectednation.org and follow Connected Nation on Facebook and Twitter.

Inclement Weather Notice: Feb. 3, 2022

DW Admin on February 3, 2022

UPDATED February 3, 2022 at 4:00 pm (San Antonio, Texas): Due to inclement weather, all Methodist Healthcare Ministries operations will close at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 3.

All San Antonio clinic operations and programming will delay opening until 10:00 a.m on Friday, February 4 for uninterrupted service to our patients. The corporate office building will be closed but team members will continue operations virtually observing routine business operating hours. Operations outside of the San Antonio area will follow their local school districts to determine needed operational adjustments or closures. Community members are instructed to call their local Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ contact regarding guidance on programs and services via our social media channels and website.

We will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions. If road closures or conditions become unsafe for travel we will send additional guidance on operational adjustments. The safety of our patients, clients and team members is of utmost importance. Visit mhm.org for the latest updates.

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February 3, 2022 (San Antonio, Texas): Due to inclement weather, all Methodist Healthcare Ministries San Antonio area locations will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2022. This includes: Wesley Health & Wellness Center; Dixon Health & Wellness Center; George Ricks School Based Health Center at Krueger Elementary; George Ricks School Based Health Center at Schertz Elementary, Wesley Nurse sites and our Corporate Office.

Clinic operations on Friday, February 4 will resume as normal, but we will monitor local weather for changes.

Operations outside of the San Antonio area will follow the guidelines of local school districts. Please call your local Methodist Healthcare Ministries contact for guidance on programs and services.

The safety of our patients, clients and team members is of utmost importance. Visit mhm.org for the latest updates.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries 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.

Advancing Health Equity: Changing Health Outcomes

DW Admin on January 31, 2022

Sometimes, changing health outcomes begins with changing your perspective. Dr. Michael Lane, Board of Directors Chair for Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., remembers a story from several years ago where a team was treating a San Antonio resident who kept returning to the hospital for pneumonia. After the physician and the medical team dug deeper into their patient’s life, they found this woman, a senior citizen, lived in poor housing conditions filled with mold. Mold that was contributing to her frequent trips to the hospital.

Once social services intervened, she was able to improve her living conditions and stay out of the emergency room. This story helped change Dr. Lane’s perspective on healthcare. Rather than looking only at traditional healthcare and health behaviors for solutions to a person’s health, it’s critical to examine people’s social and environmental needs, and ultimately the vital conditions that contribute to an entire community’s health and well-being.

This perspective is important because clinical care and individual health behaviors make up only about 50 percent of the factors that can be altered to improve the length and quality of life of individuals within a community^[1]. This means that, even after receiving quality healthcare services through Methodist Healthcare Ministries or another provider and creating healthy habits, such as regularly exercising, there are other social, economic, and physical environmental factors that can negatively or positively impact the health of individuals and entire communities.
These different health factors also often interact with each other. If some factors are impaired, such as living conditions plagued with mold, then other factors, such as the ability to work and attend school, may also be negatively affected. This in-turn may affect family income from one generation to the next, and a chain of other outcomes for generations of families. Because of the many possible interactions among the various health factors, it’s important to not only address individual needs, patient-by-patient and family-by-family, but also be even more proactive by addressing needs from a higher, community-level approach to make a broader impact.
One broader approach is to address the vital community conditions and social determinants of health (SDOH). These can be thought of as the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect health and quality-of-life^[2]. The emphasis is on looking at the economic, educational, healthcare, neighborhood, physical, social, and community conditions, place-by-place and community-by-community. When a community’s employment opportunities, water sources, transportation, and other systems adequately serve community members, this increases the entire community’s opportunity to thrive. Unfortunately, the reverse is also possible: If a neighboring community’s systems, infrastructure, processes, or policies do not create the necessary conditions for the community to thrive, the entire community’s health and well-being may suffer. This indicates inequities in health and well-being outcomes across places and groups of people. However, communities have the power to address the factors that contribute to these inequities and organizations like Methodist Healthcare Ministries can come alongside to support them.

“The focus has sharpened to more intentionally advance health equity. We are now working with our communities at a deeper level to focus on social determinants, or gaps that are necessary to overcome to help their communities to thrive.”

Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO | Methodist Healthcare Ministries

It is with a deeper understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health and community conditions that Methodist Healthcare Ministries is building upon its 25-year legacy of increasing access to care for the least served. Their new strategic direction is focused on a commitment to advancing health equity which begins with recognizing the inequities inherent in its communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Health Equity is Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ framework of thought and action that strives to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities and create fair and just opportunities for every person to reach their full potential for health and life and contribute to that of others.

Building Upon our Strengths
Methodist Healthcare Ministries cannot rely on one approach alone to expand its positive impact across South Texas. It must build upon its legacy of high-quality care and services. Ensuring access to care, enhancing community conditions, partnering with communities, and addressing systemic inequities are all essential to advancing health and well-being across communities.
Dr. Lane added, “We have to get everybody to recognize that healthcare is a shared value. We should want everyone to be healthy. How do we get there? We have to collaborate, listen and work together with our communities.”
This has led Methodist Healthcare Ministries to embrace a transformational journey that will go beyond a primary emphasis on access to healthcare services. The shift requires a greater focus on trying to change the community conditions that contribute to disproportionate levels of trauma, sickness, and early death. This work includes identifying root causes and historical legacies that contribute to cycles of intergenerational poverty. Most importantly, it requires building upon the assets that already exist within communities and recognizing community members as the greatest assets among them.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ President & CEO, Jaime Wesolowski, said access to care has been and will always be a priority for Methodist Healthcare Ministries, but its new strategic direction will take it even further in serving the community.
“The focus has sharpened to more intentionally advance health equity. We are now working with our communities at a deeper level to focus on social determinants, or gaps that are necessary to overcome to help their communities to thrive,” Wesolowski added.
The new strategic direction will encompass three focus areas: Transforming Internal Processes and Culture, Strengthening Communities, and Impacting Systemic Changes. This provides Methodist Healthcare Ministries with a roadmap of where it wants to go and how it can get there, as it co-creates solutions with patients, clients, and community members.
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Learn more about what Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is doing on its transformative journey through the Advancing Health Equity blog series, which will appear on mhm.org. If you have any questions, please email us at info@mhm.org.

[1] As described by Healthy County Rankings model.
[2] Healthy People 2030 Definition—expands upon the MHM/WHO definition by adding “worship” to the list

DREAMWEEK: The Future of Health

DW Admin on January 25, 2022

January 25, 2022 (San Antonio, Texas): Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. was proud to host a virtual panel discussion on the future of health in San Antonio, hosted by DreamWeek / DreamVoice on Monday, January 24, 2022. The conversation with community leaders about the future of healthcare in San Antonio. Topics included moving from a downstream approach to addressing community conditions, how technology is changing the delivery of care and what is needed to ensure the digital divide does not hinder access to tele-health, and how the mindset, perspective and practice of current and future healthcare providers will be foundational to establishing a healthcare environment that is reflective of the diverse communities they serve.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Inclement Weather Notice: Jan. 20, 2022

DW Admin on January 20, 2022

January 19, 2022 (San Antonio, Texas): Due to inclement weather, all Methodist Healthcare Ministries San Antonio area locations will close early at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2022. This includes: Wesley Health & Wellness Center; Dixon Health & Wellness Center; George Ricks School Based Health Center at Krueger Elementary; George Ricks School Based Health Center at Schertz Elementary, Wesley Nurse sites and our Corporate Office.

Patients who had existing appointments after 2 p.m. will be rescheduled.

Clinic operations on Friday, January 21 will resume virtually. Patients will be contacted with information regarding their telehealth appointment.

Operations outside of the San Antonio area will follow the guidelines of local school districts. Please call your local Methodist Healthcare Ministries contact for guidance on programs and services.

The safety of our patients, clients and team members is of utmost importance. Visit mhm.org for the latest updates.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Holiday Closures

DW Admin on December 15, 2021

December 15, 2021 (San Antonio, Texas): All Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24. Operations will resume on Monday, December 27.

Our offices and facilities will also be closed on Friday, December 31. Operations will resume on Monday, January 3, 2022.

Have a safe Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Provides Nearly 200 Ready-Made Thanksgiving Meals for Families this Holiday Season

DW Admin on November 29, 2021

SAN ANTONIO, November 24, 2021 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. provided 192 low-income families with ready-made Thanksgiving meals by distributed by a drive-thru at the organization’s Wesley Health & Wellness Center on the South side of San Antonio. The food was distributed throughout the week from Monday, November 22 through Wednesday, November 25.

"At Methodist Healthcare Ministries, we are blessed beyond measure and honored to continue this annual tradition that brings so much joy to our patients, clients and team members,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “During a year of such challenge and change, we are especially grateful to all our team and board members, partners, patients and clients whose remarkable resilience and sacrifices to give above and beyond themselves have strengthened thriving communities across South Texas.”

Recipients were selected based on need and identified by the organization’s medical, dental, behavioral health, parenting program and recreation & enrichment teams. Each was scheduled for a specific pick-up date & time. The food boxes contained a fully cooked, and deboned turkey, family-sized portions of mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn bread, rolls, a gallon of iced tea and pie for dessert, as well as re-heating instructions.

This year’s food distribution replaced the organization’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for the community, which was cancelled for the second year in a row in an effort to continue practicing social distancing and minimize the spread of COVID-19. The annual tradition began in 2009 and is a further testament to the organization’s commitment to providing a service and meeting a need for the community it serves.

Thanksgiving Holiday Closure

DW Admin on November 22, 2021

November 22, 2021 (San Antonio, Texas): All Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. offices and facilities will close at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24 and remain closed Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26. Operations will resume on Monday, November 29.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries & EnrollSA Mark the Beginning of Open Enrollment for 2022

DW Admin on November 2, 2021

San Antonio, TX (November 2, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. and EnrollSA hosted a press conference event at the Dixon Health & Wellness Center on Tuesday, November 2 to mark the opening of the ninth Open Enrollment period for health care coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act. The event featured remarks from Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' President & CEO, Jaime Wesolowski, Centro Med's Vice President of Development, Ana Maria Garza Cortez, Bexar County Health Collabrorative Program Director Anel Treviño, and Mary Brosius. Brosius is an ACA Consumer and new Navigator who will help consumers enroll for health coverage in Bandera County. To view the press conference, please click here.

The Open Enrollment Period for 2022 health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began on November 1 and will run through January 15. Participation in the ACA Marketplace continues to grow steadily. Enrollment into Marketplace in 2021 grew by 14.91 percent to 1,284,524, and after the Special Open Enrollment Period between February and August of this year, enrollment in Texas grew by 40 percent. Due to the American Rescue Plan (ARP), ACA plans are now much more affordable and insurance premiums during the Special Open Enrollment Period dropped 46 percent for consumers. Consumers now also have more choices than in previous years as four new health insurance carriers joined the Marketplace for a total of eight covering the San Antonio area.

EnrollSA announced that after three years of not having a federal Navigator grantee in San Antonio, there are now two organizations, CentroMed and The Health Collaborative, that were announced as grant recipients for the new enrollment cycle. This equals a $2.6 million investment in enrollment for the San Antonio area for staffing and marketing to enroll more community members. Navigators will also be able to work with providers who do not currently accept an ACA Marketplace plan to explore how they may be able to cover consumers moving forward.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities across Texas, it is more important than ever that San Antonio area residents know about the health coverage options available to them, including through the health insurance marketplace, CHIP and Medicaid. Financial assistance is still available and EnrollSA enrollment assisters & Navigators are available to provide free application assistance.

Nearly 74,000 individuals in the San Antonio area have come to count on the coverage they've purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Residents can sign up for a free in-person appointment by calling (210) 977-7997 or by visiting EnrollSA.com. Residents can also enroll on their own by visiting www.healthcare.gov or by calling (800) 381-2596.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries 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.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Receives Groundbreaking Initial Trauma Informed Care Certification

DW Admin on August 25, 2021

San Antonio, TX (August 25, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. – a private, faith-based not-for-profit dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured – attained its Level 1 Trauma Informed Care Certification through the Ecumenical Center at a special event held Wednesday, August 25.

Reducing trauma and recognizing the influence of childhood trauma on adult violence and health status have been identified by the CDC as crucial strategies for improving the nation's health.

The Ecumenical Center is the certifying entity for the South Texas Trauma Informed Care Crisis Consortium and developed the certifying standards to ensure the highest level of adherence to trauma informed approaches in all interactions with the community. Three pilot organizations, including Methodist Healthcare Ministries, stepped up to help pilot the Level 1 Trauma Informed Certification process. Once the pilot is complete, the Ecumenical Center will begin certifying the 35 organizations on the waiting list to complete Trauma-Informed Care Certification. Methodist Healthcare Ministries was the first of the organizations in the pilot to complete the process and attain the Level 1 certification.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been a longtime supporter of the South Texas Trauma Informed Care Consortium and are honored to be one of the first to sign up for the Level 1 Trauma Informed Care Certification through the Ecumenical Center,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “By earning this certification, we are enhancing the relationships we build with the patients and clients we see in our own clinics and ultimately, improve their health outcomes, as well as supporting the efforts and well-being of our own team members through a more trauma-informed workplace.”

“As the Trauma Informed Care certifying body in Bexar County, The Ecumenical Center would like to congratulate Methodist Healthcare Ministries on becoming the first San Antonio area organization to receive Level 1 Trauma Informed Certification,” said Mary Beth Fisk, Executive Director/CEO of the Ecumenical Center. Their commitment to training their staff and developing processes utilizing a trauma-informed care approach will enable people who have experienced trauma to feel safe, confident and valued while interacting with their organization. We encourage others – including nonprofits, schools, and businesses across our community- to consider exploring Trauma Informed Certification for their own organizations.”

Trauma Informed Care practices can improve client, patient, and employee relationships, and help organizations avoid retraumatizing of those who have experienced trauma in the past.

Any organization or business, not just those in the health care industry, can become TIC-certified.

For more details on this initiative, please visit the Ecumenical Center’s page at: https://www.ecrh.org/trauma-informed-organizations/ or call (210) 616-0885.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries 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.

About the Ecumenical Center

In 1967, The Ecumenical Center was founded by a coalition of religious leaders, from all major denominations, to provide counseling, education and mental health and wellness services to the under-served in San Antonio, Texas. Now, 54 years later, The Center provides evidence-based counseling at 37 locations in South and Central, Texas. In 2020, The Center provided direct and indirect services to 26,000 people (13,000 of them children) with 99% of the client’s needing fee assistance. The Center provides the latest evidence-based counseling services provided by licensed clinicians and certified peer support specialists. Services include: EMDR; Children’s Play/Art Therapy; Individual; Family; Adolescent; Geriatric; Couple’s Marital/Relationship and Substance Abuse counseling. Group Education is offered through Parenting Classes and CEUs for licensed clinicians. Support groups are offered for Bereavement, Addiction Recovery and Suicide losses. Therapy using The Expressive Therapeutic Arts (Art, Music, Neurologic Music, Writing, Therapeutic Rhythms), as well as, Psychological Testing and Neurofeedback services are offered. The Center for Trauma Informed Care Certification and The Center for Young Minds are programs of The Ecumenical Center.