Community Outreach

Improving the lives of our neighbors and friends is a way of life at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. Our goal is to create a hospital without walls, and to reach into the homes and hearts of our neighbors in need.

Healthy communities begin with healthy individuals. When one person feels well, he or she can help another. Eventually, an entire community can be transformed into a healthy environment for raising families.

Mortality rates due to heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are among the highest in Cuyahoga County, creating critical medical needs in the downtown Cleveland neighborhoods surrounding St. Vincent Charity Hospital.

Here are some of the ways St. Vincent Charity Hospital is helping:

Health Advocacy

The Health Advocacy Program strives to empower the individuals and families to access healthcare and make positive, healthy decisions. Through resources and door-to-door visits, Health Advocates build relationships utilizing a case management model to educate residents about healthy lifestyles, help in overcoming barriers to health services and, whenever possible, linking clients to a primary care physician.

Breast Health Education

St. Vincent Charity Hospital partnered with University Hospitals Health System Ireland Cancer Center to provide breast health education to more than 300 women in the community. This program, funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, also inspired many participants to enroll in the St. Vincent Charity Hospital Health Advocacy program.

Healthy Heart Program

In partnership with Cuyahoga Community College’s Department of Nursing, St. Vincent Charity Hospital offers cardiovascular screenings, blood glucose and cholesterol screenings and other health services, such as flu shots, and diet and exercise programs. Working with our Health Advocates, the program provides referral and follow-up services and facilitates linkages to health and social services. Our sites include: Phillis Wheatley, Lupica Towers, Cedar Extension, Arbor Park Village (Longwood) and King Kennedy.

Lupica Towers Initiative

The Lupica Towers community faces many social problems within the building, including crime, safety, drug and alcohol use, mental health issues and access to medical care. This initiative seeks to combine preventative health interventions, such as health screenings, education and advocacy, along with empowerment-building activities, such as women’s groups, resident activities and community activism, encouraging and supporting residents in making healthier lifestyle choices.

Building Healthy Communities

This grassroots effort, established through community visioning and goal-setting events, strives to support and empower community residents to identify key issues and implement action plans that will result in a healthier community. Through this initiative, residents have been working to address three key issues: improved public transportation to enhance healthcare access; improved access for youth to community programming that fosters parental involvement as an alternative to drug use; and community wellness programming related to cancer and other specific diseases.

School Partnerships

St. Vincent Charity Hospital has “adopted” Marion-Sterling Elementary School and the Health Career Magnet High School. As a corporate partner, the Hospital provides support to enhance student performance and encourage career goal development through professional shadowing opportunities, and financial and donated services from our Caregivers.

The Cleveland State University Partnership

Sponsored by a $1.3 million grant from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at NIH, Cleveland State University and St. Vincent Charity Hospital work with residents of the Central community to understand their concerns about obesity and its consequences. The program uses Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methodologies to develop effective obesity-related health interventions.