Health Equity:
Cultivating Wellness in Every Community
Health is a universal language, but not everyone has the same literacy and access to healthcare resources. At CAIRO, we strive to change that narrative by focusing on Health Equity—ensuring every individual in our community has both health literacy and access to the care they need and deserve. Our programs are designed to overcome barriers such as language, cultural misunderstandings, and economic hardships. From culturally competent health education to partnerships with healthcare providers who understand our community’s unique needs, we are dedicated to nurturing a healthy, vibrant community where every individual can achieve optimal health without disparities
INSPIRE
The INSPIRE (Immigrants and Newcomer Support Programs for Integration, Resilience, and Empowerment) project is an ambitious initiative designed to systematically address the health inequities experienced by African immigrants and refugees in Minnesota communities. By forging a robust alliance among community organizations, public health departments in multiple Counties, INSPIRE aims to devise and implement innovative, culturally responsive strategies to promote health equity and resilience among these underserved populations, focusing on the key factors influencing health disparities.
The INSPIRE project emphasizes physical and mental health of youth, family housing access and stability, and social support networks. Through intentional relationship-building and cooperative action like an annual community health fair, INSPIRE aims to transform the conditions that sustain health disparities and generate enduring, positive change for African immigrants and refugee youths and families in Minnesota.
SHINE
The SHINE (Sustainable Health Improvement & Nutrition Education) Project closely works with health care providers and practitioners to offer chronic diseases education and management, preventative care classes including physical exercise, nutrition education and transportation for seniors over the age of 60. We partner with the City of St. Cloud’s Whitney Senior Center to offer the first National Diabetes Prevention Program to a Somali cohort that is held on-site at CAIRO. We also partner with them to convene multi-ethnic dialogues on healthy living for seniors living around the St. Cloud Metro Area.
COPE
Understanding the complex nature of substance use and its impact on diverse communities, COPE is tailored to address mental health disparities, and the unique challenges faced by immigrants and refugees integrating into the social and economic fabric of our State.
The ultimate goal of COPE is to foster a community that is well-informed and equipped to combat substance abuse. Our outcomes focus on:
- Increasing Awareness and Knowledge: Educating the community about the dangers of substance abuse and the pathways to recovery.
- Enhancing Utilization of Resources: Ensuring that individuals and families are aware of and able to access the support services available to them.
- Reducing Youth Substance Abuse Rates: Through targeted youth interventions and supportive services, we strive to see a measurable decrease in substance use among our youth.
COVID-19 Vaccinations & Testing – Through partnerships with the Minnesota Department of Health, our office offers COVID-19 vaccine clinics and walk-in testing services. You can also arrange testing and/vaccines for a larger group at your own facilities.