Introduction

Across the United States, immigrant, refugee, and minority communities face documented health disparities: higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and untreated mental illness, lower rates of preventive care, and worse maternal and infant outcomes. These gaps reflect structural barriers, not personal choices: language, navigation, trust, and access.

The Sparx Foundation Health Access and Health Literacy Initiative meets people where they already gather: in mosques, churches, schools, community centers, and homes. We train community health workers from the communities they serve, deliver culturally aligned health education, and connect families to the screenings, services, and insurance coverage they need to stay well.

About the project

What we do

• Train community health workers and peer educators from immigrant, refugee, and minority communities.

• Deliver workshops on diabetes prevention, hypertension, heart disease, maternal health, and mental health.

• Host community screening events for blood pressure, blood glucose, BMI, vision, and hearing.

• Provide insurance enrollment assistance and Medicaid navigation during open enrollment.

• Distribute culturally and linguistically appropriate health education materials.

• Build partnerships with mosques, churches, schools, clinics, and refugee resettlement agencies.

Health That Meets People Where They Are

Community-based health education, screening, and navigation for underserved and immigrant communities.

Our impact

• 500-1,000 community members reached in year one through workshops and screening events.

• 5-10 community health workers trained and active in their own neighborhoods.

• Materials available in multiple languages reflective of the communities served.

• Documented warm hand-offs to primary care, behavioral health, and insurance navigation.