Leveraging Resources Partnering with Non-Profit Organizations Vivian B. Flores, M.A. Immunization Program Manager San Antonio Metropolitan Health District

San Antonio - Then San Antonio was founded in 1718 on the banks of what is now known as the San Antonio River. Once the capital of Spanish Texas, San Antonio fell under Mexican rule in Texas and San Antonio declared independence from Mexico in The Alamo became known as the Shrine of Texas Liberty after the defenders of the Alamo were defeated by the Mexican Army in In 1836 Texas achieved independence from Mexico. Texas, along with San Antonio’s approximately 800 residents, became part of the United States in 1845.

San Antonio - Now San Antonio is located in Bexar County which now has almost 1.6 million residents. Population –57.3% Hispanic or Latino –32.3%White –7.7% Black –2.2% Asian –1.1%American Indian/Alaskan Native –0.2%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Median household income is $44, % of families live below the poverty level 20.2% of residents have no health insurance 43.1% speak a language other than English at home

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Vision –Optimal health for our communities and our environment. Mission –Provide leadership and services for San Antonio and Bexar County to prevent illness and injury, promote healthy behaviors, and protect against health hazards.

332 West Commerce

Goodwill Industries West Commerce Westbound View

Goodwill Industries Vision –To be recognized as a community resource for overcoming barriers to employment and serve as a role model for other business to do likewise. Mission –Goodwill helps change lives through the power of work.

406 West Commerce

Different Visions and Missions San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD) representatives are involved with numerous community committees with local organizations including Goodwill Industries. Both organizations came to the realization that although their mission/vision maybe different, they consistently serve the same population. Each organization faces unique economic challenges in a community where the poverty rate is high and many residents lack health insurance.

Good Health! At Goodwill The Goodwill executive team approached the Director of Health with a novel concept “Good Health at Goodwill” to link preventative health care and education to existing Goodwill services. The proposal called for the Health Department to collocate a public health team in a Goodwill retail store providing outreach opportunities and extending services to improve the health of San Antonio/Bexar County residents. The Goodwill Board of Directors and the City Council agreed to the terms of the proposal and lease agreement and the partnership began in January 2007.

The clinic is located inside a Goodwill retail location, in Northwest San Antonio, which is underserved by public health clinics. The Baptist Health Foundation, City Council, and SAMHD funded the clinic for a one time start up cost of $14,700 The clinic offers immunizations, health education, and health screenings. Monthly SAMHD reports on services provided at the clinic. One nurse and a clerk operate the clinic which Goodwill leases to SAMHD for less than $4,000 a year. 3,689 clients have received immunization services at this location, and SAMHD has conducted flu outreach events at other Goodwill stores. The Good Health at Goodwill model has expanded by Goodwill partnering with the University Health System to offer expanded health services at other locations. Good Health! At Goodwill

727 NW Loop 410 at Blanco

Goodwill Good Health Work Project The SAMHD’s immunization registry (SAIRS) is widely used in San Antonio and surrounding counties. Area health care providers submit immunization consent forms and histories to be entered into SAIRS. Timely entry of immunization data into SAIRS is critical to meet the CDC’s Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Functional Standards. The number of providers submitting consent forms to SAIRS has increased and overwhelmed the capacity of existing staff members, resulting in backlogs and periodic inability to meet CDC’s IIS Functional Standards. To reduce the backlog the Immunization Division approached Goodwill with a job training partnership proposal.

The goals of the proposal were: –to ensure the timely entry of immunizations into SAIRS –provide job training and work experience for Goodwill clients A Memorandum of Agreement was approved in April Goodwill participants are paid by Goodwill Industries. Six to eight Goodwill clients are assigned to SAIRS. SAIRS training is provided and performance is monitored. Monthly SAMHD provides Goodwill case managers performance reviews for their clients. The backlog of consents has been reduced to meet CDC’s IIS Functional Standards. Three Goodwill clients have found permanent employment as a result of the project. The Work Project may expand to include a records archiving component in Goodwill Good Health Work Project

Lessons Learned Both projects took time, and red tape, before becoming reality. When collaborating with non-profit organizations the time frame prior to implementation of a project can take six to twelve months. Partnerships can result in unanticipated opportunities. Both organizations continue to build on the success of these projects and rely on the other for letters of support and/or detailed programmatic support documentation to assist in pursuing external funding opportunities or to satisfy reporting requirements. SAMHD and Goodwill have both benefited from Good Health! At Goodwill and the Goodwill Good Health Work Project!!

Questions? Contacts –Vivian Flores, Immunization Program Manger –Derek Taylor, Management Analyst