Health Promotion & Disease Prevention

Supporting the community to prevent and manage chronic disease through education and awareness while strengthening and restoring traditional practices of healthy living.

NUTRITION | WOLFE | NATIVE WELLNESS GARDEN | HEALTHY LIVING W/ DIABETES | HEART HEALTH CHW PROGRAM | HEALTHY NATIVES MKE | BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT TEAM | HEALTH COACHING | CANCER PREVENTION | LIVING WELL FOR LIFE | SMOKING CESSATION

 

For more information about Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, please contact Lisa Albright at Lalbright@gliihc.net, or call (414) 316-5036.

HPDP Programs

Nutrition

Our nutrition education and counseling services are provided by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) and are available to clients of our agency. Services include individual, family, and group education through in person or telehealth appointments. Nutrition at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Inc. is culturally-based and celebrates traditional foods as a source of wellness. It is our belief that individualized lifestyle changes can lead to healthy nutrition habits that can last a lifetime.

Nutrition education/counseling topics include:

  • Prenatal
  • Infant Feeding Education and Support
  • General Child & Family Wellness
  • Chronic Disease Prevention (diabetes, heart disease)
  • Diabetes Prevention/ Pre-Diabetes/ Type 1 and 2 Diabetes Management / Gestational Diabetes
  • Cardiovascular Disease/ Hypertension/ Hyperlipidemia  (high cholesterol, high blood pressure)
  • Weight Loss and Maintenance
  • Gastrointestinal  (GERD, IBS, Constipation)
  • Vegetarian/Vegan
  • Fostering a Healthy Relationship with Food/Eating
  • Mindfulness
  • Food Allergies/ Intolerances (lactose, gluten)
  • Honoring Traditional Foods (health benefits, cooking tips)
i

Mino Ayaa-Being Well Cookbook (PDF)

My Native Plate
Download our Recipes

Work Out Low Fat Elders (W.O.L.F.E.) Program

​The W.O.L.F.E. program is a free weekly, year-round program for Native American Elders 45 and older and friends of the health center community. The program provides a safe space for our Elders to come together and socialize, exercise, learn about nutrition and healthy cooking, and eat a healthy homemade meal together prepared by the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Team. The program has been offered since 2006 in collaboration with the Indian Council for the Elderly (I.C.E.). In this time, the award-winning program has received many recognitions for its effort in supporting healthy aging.

During W.O.L.F.E., the Elders:

  • Receive health screenings for blood pressure and blood sugar levels
  • Are lead through an age-appropriate exercise with a fitness instructor that focuses on cardio, strength training, and increasing range of motion
  • Receive a hot, healthy meal using as many traditional foods as possible that is both heart healthy and diabetic friendly
  • Learn about a new nutrition topic each week taught by a dietitian of the clinic
  • Discuss healthy cooking habits and how to apply them to everyday life
  • Go home with fresh fruits and vegetables grown at our own Native Wellness Garden (seasonally)

W.O.L.F.E. meets every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at GLIIHC. To join, please contact Diana Osberg at (414) 316-5018. To schedule transportation, contact the Indian Council of the Elderly at (414) 933-1401

Why We Take Care of Our Elders, Our “Wisdom Keepers”

Native Wellness Garden

​The Native Wellness Garden (NWG) began in 2014 as a result of a partnership between the Gerald L Ignace Indian Health Center (GLIIHC) and UW- Extension. In 2020, the NWG produced and distributed to community members nearly 800 pounds of organic produce. To maintain the integrity of Native American organic agricultural practices, the NWG prohibits the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Come Check Out Our:

  • Donation and Community Gardener Beds
  • Three Sisters Garden
  • Medicine Wheel Garden
  • Pollinator Garden
  • Ceremony Circle
  • Victory Garden Fruity Nutty Orchard

The Native Wellness Garden Offers:

  • Free Raised Beds (interested? Contact us in the spring)
  • Spring Event: Bloom in June
  • Fall Event: Grateful Harvest Gathering
  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Gardening and Composting Glasses
  • Workouts/Yoga in the Garden
  • Garden Club hours: Tuesdays 3:30-6:30pm, Saturdays 10-12pm
  • Events/Teachings in the Ceremony Circle

The Native Wellness Garden’s mission is to restore traditional practice of food as medicine by serving as a space for the urban Native American community to gather and learn together.

To learn more about the garden or to become involved please:

Contact Loren Rendino at lrendino@gliihc.net, or call (414) 316-5005.

 
Visit the Native Wellness Garden Facebook Page
diabetes health fair

Healthy Living with Diabetes

This is a FREE 6 week self-management program taught by GLIIHC’s health promotion team. This class is great for anyone managing diabetes, looking to learn how to prevent diabetes or is a care taker for someone with diabetes. Each week the group learns about topics related to diabetes management and together participants set individualized goals to work on week to week with support from the group. Behavior change is easiest with support!

Topics covered:

  • What is diabetes?
  • Monitoring blood sugar
  • Sharing/problem-solving
  • Setting short-term goals
  • Tips for exercising
  • Foot care
  • Planning for sick days
  • Managing difficult emotions
  • Healthy eating: meal planning & reading labels
  • Preventing high & low blood sugars
  • Stress management & relaxation techniques
  • Preventing/delaying complications
  • Planning for the future
  • Communicating more effectively with family, friends, & medical team
WI Institute for Healthy Aging

Heart Health Community Health Worker Program

GLIIHC received funding from the CDC in partnership with UniteMKE and Department of Health Services to provide Community Health Worker (CHW) support to clients at high risk for developing heart disease. GLIIHC’s CHW, Jessica Martinez, has created a program to connect clients to resources that may be getting in the way of managing heart health while supporting clients through education and behavior change.

Contact Cardiac Community Health Worker for more information – Jessica Martinez 414-316-5023 jmartinez@gliihc.net

Heart Healthy Living

DHS Wisconsin
Unite MKE

Learn more about monitoring blood pressure at home from our HPDP team:

Self-Measured Blood Pressure Program

In 2019, America’s Health Rankings reported 37.6% of American Indian/Alaskan Natives have been told by a health care provider that they have high blood pressure. Keeping our blood pressure under control is very important for our health, and the Gerald L Ignace Indian Health Center has a program to help you do so!

GLIIHC’s Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) program is a 6-week program aimed at helping GLIIHC patients better manage their blood pressure. The goal is to measure your blood pressure twice daily with a free blood pressure cuff provided by GLIIHC, while also teaching you the skills needed to self-manage blood pressure.

Over the 6 weeks, you will meet with a coach every 2 weeks (3 times total) to go over your progress and provide any necessary support in measuring and managing your blood pressure. Your coach will then help to communicate your blood pressure readings to your care team at GLIIHC.

During the SMBP program, you’ll learn more about:

  • What blood pressure and high blood pressure is.
  • How to take accurate blood pressure readings at home.
  • How nutrition impacts blood pressure.
  • How exercise impacts blood pressure.
  • How stress impacts blood pressure.
  • Individualized goal setting and support to better manage blood pressure.

Link to: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure

Video on home BP from virtual tabling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-GwMFSzFsg&list=PL4C7O4RTBf_2pIrWyCyTurK_HCRCHf908&index=13&t=4s

For more information or to schedule an appointment for the Self-Measured Blood Pressure program, contact Shanna Williams, CHW at 414-316-3735 or email healthpromotion@gliihc.net

Living Well for Life

This is a FREE workshop that meets once a week for 6 weeks. Living Well is focused on teaching you the skills to better manage your health and well-being. Managing your health starts with taking care of yourself. Discover solutions that work with your life and health concerns. You will get information and advice for:

  • Short-term goal setting
  • Health eating and nutrition
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Planning for the future
  • Partnering with health provider
  • Fitness for exercise and fun
  • Feedback and problem-solving
  • Stress and depression management
  • Communicating effectively

This class is held twice a year with virtual and in person options. Call Diana at 414-316-5018 to register for the next session. You can also email healthpromotion@gliihc.net

living well

Healthy Natives MKE

GLIIHC received funding from the CDC through the Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) Grant to increase awareness about disease prevention for the urban Native American community. The Health Promotion team is working to raise awareness about pre-diabetes and high blood cholesterol, to support breastfeeding, and to decrease rates of cigarette smoking.  Stay tuned for more programming from our GHWIC team such as chronic disease self-management programs, a diabetes prevention program, a smoking cessation program, and support implementing nutrition standards.

Check out what the team has already done on our YouTube page or tune in live for our virtual tabling sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am on Facebook.

Reach out to healthpromotion@gliihc.net for more information.

Breastfeeding Support Team

The Gerald L. Ignace (GLIIHC) Breastfeeding Support Team provides education and support to women and families during pregnancy and after childbirth. Every breastfeeding experience is unique and our team of Certified Lactation Counselors is here to support each journey.

GLIIHC’s team honors breastfeeding as a traditional practice among Native communities. Breastmilk provides the best nutrition for baby as the first food that nourishes mind, body, and spirit. Breastfed babies are less likely to have ear infections, diarrhea, colds and flu. For mothers, breastfeeding means less risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

To schedule a consultation contact our Breastfeeding Support Team: 414-316-5097 breastfeeding@gliihc.net

Local Breastfeeding Advocacy Groups:

 

Breastfeeding Resources:

Learn more about breastfeeding and the breastfeeding journeys of GLIIHC’s staff:

Health Coaching

Incorporating new healthy behaviors can be great for all aspects of our wellbeing. But incorporating these new behaviors can be a difficult task, especially if you’re unsure of where or how to start. However, a health coach can provide you with the support you need to make your health goals a reality! A health coach believes you are the expert in your life and you know what’s best for your wellbeing. A health coach will work with you to develop an action plan that’s best for you and you feel comfortable with. Once you have your action plan in place, you can meet with a health coach at whatever frequency is best for you to go over your progress, make any necessary changes, and provide ongoing support for your health journey.

Below are some of the services offered when working with a health coach:

  • Help you set SMART goals at a pace you’re comfortable with
  • Help you explore different health behaviors that may be right for you based on your goals
  • Provide education and resources on various health-related topics
  • Provide ongoing support
  • Make referrals to necessary specialists within GLIIHC

 

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Health Coach contact: Shanna Williams at 414-316-3735 or healthpromotion@gliihc.net

If interested, you download this form and email to healthpromotion@gliihc.net

Reach out to healthpromotion@gliihc.net for more information. Subscribe to our YouTube page or tune in live for our virtual tabling sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am on Facebook.

Cancer Prevention

Cancer screening saves lives. GLIIHC’s HPDP team is here to provide prevention education and support you through the screening process. GLIIHC hosts the Ascension Mammogram Coach bus three times a year to make breast cancer screening more accessible. Give us a call to learn more about your age appropriate cancer screenings, upcoming events, and other cancer screening assistance programs.

American Cancer Society
American Indian Cancer Foundation
Cancer Screening Recommedations

Contact us with questions or to learn more about how HPDP can help support you in preventing cancer. Loren Rendino, 414-316-5005 healthpromotion@gliihc.net

tobacco growing

Native tobacco plant (Nicotiana rustica) growing

tobacco drying

Tobacco leaves drying at GLIIHC’s Native Wellness Garden

Honoring Tobacco – A Smoking Cessation Program

Tobacco has a special place in our culture as one of the four sacred medicines. Tobacco has many different uses, such as offering thanks to someone who helped you. However if you abuse tobacco, it will abuse you back.

Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult things you will do. However, a certified tobacco treatment specialist can provide you with the support you need to make quitting smoking easier.

Similar to health coaching, a tobacco treatment specialist can work with you to help you develop a plan to cut back on smoking and replace smoking-related behaviors with new healthier behaviors.

Once your plan is in place, you can meet with a tobacco treatment specialist at whatever frequency is right for you for continued ongoing support.

To make an appointment to explore support in your decision to reduce tobacco use, Call Shanna Williams: 414-316-3735

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