Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association (WAHMA) Announces Funding for Hmong Health Programs
The Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association (WAHMA) is pleased to announce funding from the Wisconsin Office of Minority Health, with match from a subcontract from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), to address these goals:
- Improve the Health Literacy of Hmong living in North Central Wisconsin via bilingual workshops and courses
- Develop a Wausau Area Hmong Health Coalition and formal structure for the Hmong Health Education Network
Current activity includes hiring Pa Thao, a 2013 graduate of UW Stevens Point with a degree in Health Administration, as Health Programs Manager. She is bilingual in English and Hmong, with experience as an interpreter and in community service. WAHMA is working with Bridge Community Health Center to encourage more Hmong to obtain health insurance. Ms. Thao completed training and is a Certified Application Counselor for the federal health insurance marketplace. She has translated information about the Marketplace into both Hmong dialects. These handouts will be available on Hmonghealth.org, as well as at Bridge Clinic, WAHMA, and area libraries. In addition to helping individuals and families, she is presenting bilingual and Hmong language workshops on Affordable Health Care, including one in Hmong scheduled for December 19, 11:00 a.m. at WAHMA.
Peter Yang, Executive Director and Margaret (Peg) Allen, Medical Library Consultant and Hmong Health Education Network Coordinator, welcome Ms. Thao to the editing team to complete the Hmong Family Health Guide as quickly as possible, in time for bilingual educational programming planned for 2014. This 600 page book has three columns: plain English, Green Hmong, and White Hmong It will be available in print as well as digital formats, suitable for storage on tablet computers, e-readers, and personal computers. Ms. Allen, Ms. Thao and contracted staff will also be updating and expanding the Hmonghealth.org website to include all the book topics, as well as additional links to bilingual health information. Anyone interested in Hmong health information education is invited to join the Hmong Health Education Network page on Facebook, where new resources and events will be announced, as well as via the News page at www.hmonghealth.org
Ms. Thao will also be coordinating development of the proposed Central Wisconsin Hmong Health Improvement Coalition (latest name) Please contact her at WAHMA at 715-842-8390 ext. 213 or pthao065@gmail.com if you or your organization would like to join the proposed coalition, including those serving the Hmong in Marathon, Lincoln, Langlade, Portage and Wood counties.
Please email our consultant (Ms. Allen) pegallen67@gmail.com if interested in joining the Hmong Health Education Network and its international mailing list. For the mailing list, please include a statment of interest in working collaboratively to share Hmong health information resources and educational opportunities.