The Central Southwest (CSW) neighborhood in Houston is located south of 610 Loop between Almeda Road and South Main. According to the 2000 Census, the population is 42,000, of which 15,000 are children (ages 0-19). The neighborhood is predominately African-American (56%) and Hispanic (36%). Nearly one out of every four people in CSW is without a high school diploma. One out of every three households lives below the federal poverty level. Over 74% of the students at Madison High School are considered at-risk of dropping out of school.
BACKGROUND
The Central Southwest Health Collaborative is a coalition whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the residents of the Madison High School Feeder Pattern area, a primarily African-American community in south Houston. Members of the collaborative include community residents, community-based organizations, university researchers, local churches and schools. The Collaborative formed in response to a community health assessment completed in 2002 by St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities (SLEHC). It is an extension of the Madison Feeder Pattern Partnership, a group that continues to meet quarterly to exchange information on improving students’ success in school.
CSW INITIATIVES
In response to the child vaccine needs in the area, the CSW Health Collaborative enlisted the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile (RMCM) to provide immunizations to children in the area. Harris County Hospital District, then-operator of the RMCM, agreed to provide services to individuals 0-21 years on the 40-foot mobile vehicle every second Saturday. Every second Saturday, the unit held a Second Saturday Shot Clinic at Fountain of Praise Church and offered immunizations, TB testing, vision/hearing screening, and general health assessments for children without health insurance. The unit also assisted individuals with CHIP and Gold Card enrollment for eligible families.
Responding to community feedback regarding the need for parenting programs, The Children’s Museum of Houston has deployed their Parent Stars program at Hobby Elementary School for the 2003-2004 school year. At the core of the Parent Stars program are its Family Learning Events, which are performed in collaboration with the school faculty. These evening events take place in the school cafeterias, which are transformed into family learning centers that host approximately fifteen bilingual activity stations. Each activity is designed to illustrate how parents can engage their children in learning. Each parent receives an activity guide to provide them with additional activities that can be set up and explored at home. Each of the activities is associated with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, which illuminate core competencies that students should reach in grades K-12.
Statistics showed three out of four high school students were at risk of dropping out of school. This prompted Texas Women’s University Institute for Women’s Health to develop CHOICES. CHOICES is an after-school health education program for young women in grades 6-12. The program delivered 87 hours of health education for 65 girls attending Madison High School or Dowling Middle School during the 2002-2003 school year. In 2003-2004, 100 girls will receive 30 hours of enriched health education. Each enrollee will attend 2-hour CHOICES sessions plus additional Saturday field trips to participate in a total of 30 hours of instructional activities.
The 2003-2004 curriculum focuses on Healthy Bodies (the female body and personal hygiene; healthy eating), Healthy Minds (self-esteem; anger management), and Healthy Relationships (getting along with family and friends; recognizing gender differences; avoiding premarital sexual activity). The 2003-2004 curriculum was enhanced when the CHOICES students planned and hosted a Women’s Health Summit in partnership with TWU and the Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Held at a downtown baseball stadium September 15, over 600 female students and their moms attended the all-day event featuring a broad array of women’s health topics.
According to a survey of the Texas Department of Health Region 6 (which includes the Houston metropolitan area), the percentage of 4th graders who are at-risk or overweight was almost 50% for both boys and girls; these were the highest rates of all Public Health Regions in the state (Hoelscher, 2003). CSW Collaborative engaged Urban Harvest to join an effort to develop two community gardens to contribute to a children’s knowledge of gardening, vegetables and nutrition. Using food systems as a unifying concept, children learn to grow, harvest, and prepare nutritious seasonal produce in local gardens. The CSW YMCA included a garden in their after-school program as a fun, after-school learning activity. Studies have shown increased TAKS scores for students at schools that effectively integrate a gardening curriculum in their learning programs. Holy Trinity Church established a church-based garden to teach congregants about harvesting seasonal produce and giving back to the community.
MEMBERSHIP | Almeda Elementary | Houston ISD |
| Children’s Museum of Houston | Madison H.S. |
| Communities In Schools | Montgomery Elementary |
| Dowling Middle School | Peterson Elementary |
| Family Services of Greater Houston | St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities |
| Fountain of Praise Church | Texas Southern University |
| Grissom Elementary | Texas Women’s University |
| Harris County Hospital District | Urban Harvest |
| Hobby Elementary | Windsor Village Elementary |
| Holy Trinity Church | YMCA |
More Information:
To learn more about the Central Southwest Health Collaborative, please contact us.
