Our Programs

The Community Health Program

The Community Health Program (Promotora Program) strengthens the health and well-being of families in our community by increasing health knowledge and awareness while enhancing access to preventative health services for medically underserved women and families. This evidence-based program responds to the needs of our medically underserved Hispanic and African American population and the risk factors that prevent them from accessing health services: lack of health insurance; lack of transportation; financial hardship – high poverty rates; lack of childcare; personal fear or cultural mistrust of the healthcare system; immigration barriers; and literacy or language barriers. 

1. Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention Program:

Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention Program: The Martinez Street Women’s Center is able to provide culturally-relevant education sessions, free clinical breast exams, transportation vouchers, and reduced-rate screening to ensure that women in our community have access to breast health screening. This is especially important for Latina and Black women, who are at high risk for dying from breast cancer because many of us are diagnosed when the disease is already at a very advanced stage. Remember, early detection saves lives!


2. Diabetes Education and Prevention Program a Tool Against Disease

Through the evidence-based use of Community Health Workers (CHWs), Diabetes management education has been shown to influence the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of patients; connect patients to health care services; offer social and psycho-social help; and build awareness and capacity of a community to advocate for better access to health services. The Diabetes Education and Prevention Program conducts CHW-led outreach and education through an innovative Diabetes Bingo presentation reaching and a 6-week Diabetes management curriculum. Education efforts target Latino and African American residents with the following characteristics: (1) currently with Diabetes; (2) pre-diabetic; (3) high risk for diabetes (BMI, family history); or (4) primary care-taker for a diabetic patient. Participants are also referred to one of our medical partners for long-term


3. Healthy Living and Nutrition
Nutrition is a tool you can use to prevent disease. To help solidify this powerful message, we engage families and community groups in a fun Nutrition Bingo game. We cover the basic food groups, portion sizing, caloric in-take, snack tips and food demonstrations. We show simple ways to use affordable grocery items to create healthful meals and snacks that will reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes and cancer. At the conclusion of our event, participants dance the Cupid Shuffle. Fun and laughter is shared by all as we try to “out-move” each other!

4. Positive Parenting Class (8-Week Certified Course)
The Martinez Street Women’s Center is part of a broad collaborative effort to improve child well-being in San Antonio by sharing nurturing parenting skills with parents and guardians in our community. Precious Minds, New Connections is an initiative of the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation to support parents in gaining skills through 8-week Parenting Classes at our Center and many other locations across San Antonio and surrounding counties. Our parents share meals together and learn parenting strategies each Thursday or Saturday for 8 weeks. Upon completion, parents receive a graduation certificate and supplies for implementing Positive Parenting with their family at home. 

5. Pre-Natal Wellness Program
The Healthy Mommy, Healthy Baby project targets a high-risk Latina and African American population in San Antonio to reduce premature birth through culturally appropriate education on healthy prenatal care for expectant mothers. As a community-based health education and outreach program utilizing an evidence-based Promotora/Community Health Education model, we utilize the Comenzando Bien curriculum through a partnership with the March of Dimes. The goal of Healthy Mommy, Healthy Baby is to enhance the health of expectant mothers and infants through curriculum-based pre-natal education and parenting classes.  The entire family is encouraged to participate in our Positive Parenting classes to continue improving the health and wellness of their family. 

Girl Zone

Girl Zone is a year-round after school program and summer camp that enhances academic potential, nurtures high self esteem and supports the healthy development of neighborhood girls, ages 9-14.

The strength of our program is our neighborhood-based approach, which allows us to maintain long-term, positive relationships with girls and their families. Girl Zone provides on-campus enrichment activities and off-campus learning experiences to girls at SAISD schools in Southeast and East San Antonio.

NEW Campuses for Fall 2012: Washington Elementary and Denver Heights Community Center
 

1. Afterschool Enrichment

Girl Zone utilizes a culturally-informed curriculum that incorporates the following components:

  • Service Learning/Leadership/Community 
  • Arts & Culture 
  • Environmental Justice 
  • Science Technology Engineering and Math 
  • Healthy Relationships/Self Esteem 
  • Abstinence-Plus Sex Education 
  • Sports/Physical Activity

2. Healthy meals and after school snacks 

3. Staff and mentor/volunteers conduct school outreach, lunchtime visits on-campus, phone calls, home visits to engage and mentor girls in after school and summer programming

4. Educational and Recreational field trips that reflect covered topics occur once per month during the school year and once per week in the summer to reward attendance and positive behavior

5. Support sessions (one-on-one and group circles) address behavior and healthy conflict resolution skills

6. Annual Spring group art exhibit (Girls Eye View) features youth-led artwork and youth presentations in collaboration with the UTSA Women’s Studies Institute

7. Leadership Curriculum includes community service opportunities and advocacy components, encouraging youth to make a difference.
 

Summer Camp The Girl Zone Summer Camp is a culturally-relevant, community-based summer enrichment experience for girls age 9-14 in East and South East San Antonio. The 2012 Camp dates are from June 11, 2012 through July 19, 2012. The hours of operation are from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday through Thursday. Our program provides a balance of educational workshops with exciting summer adventures to create a valuable learning experience.

  • STEM Enrichment includes a Summer Science and Medical Technology Series in collaboration with UT Health Science Center School of Nursing. Middle school students will experience a simulated hospital environment to gain exposure to medical careers.