Redefining Wellness

Before arriving in Philadelphia to embark on my AmeriCorps journey with the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services, or “11th Street” for short, I struggled to envision what my service term would look like, particularly what role my position played in promoting wellness for our patients and community members. When I was first offered the position as the integrative services navigator and recruiter, I was eager to discover how I would find my place within my host site community. At 11th Street, I am responsible for connecting patients and community members with different resources and wellness services that we offer. Throughout the year, we offer community yoga and mediation sessions, music therapy and dance movement therapy programs as well as classes in nutrition education taught by our on-site nutritionist. On a typical day, I do outreach to recruit for these programs by tabling in the lobby and having patients complete interest forms while they sit in the waiting area and calling individuals who have indicated interest in our programs. It always makes my day to see how excited people get when I tell them about the wellness services that we offer, free of charge, and they enthusiastically share that they want to register. 

Through these programs and a multitude of other services, 11th Street follows an integrative health care model that involves patient-centered, integrated and sanctuary trauma-informed care. In essence, 11th Street “...integrates primary care, behavioral health, and wellness programs to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the biological, psychological, and social needs of the patient.” Through my service, I’ve learned that wellness goes beyond just physical health. When an individual first becomes connected to 11th Street, they are asked what areas of their life they could receive support in, even if it’s outside of the department or program that they’re working with. By providing a place for all of one’s needs to be met, 11th Street strives to treat the whole person, which helps to improve quality of life and reduce the likelihood of further treatment down the road. 

For me, wellness involves treating every part of a person in a way that recognizes the impact of their lived experiences and prioritizes their needs. Many of the patients and community members that 11th Street serves have had to navigate a racist and classist healthcare system that often ignores and dismisses their concerns. Racism plays a major role in perpetuating health disparities that act as barriers to receiving equitable care. When chatting with people in the 11th Street community, my first goal is to listen, and then to work alongside them to identify resources, programs, or services to connect them to. Ultimately, I want patients and community members to feel empowered in making decisions about their wellness, validated when speaking about their health concerns, and deserving of the highest quality of care regardless of how they identify.