In collaboration with our community health partners, the YMCA Center for Healthy Living is embarking on a journey to spread health resources to everyone in need across the state of Pennsylvania. Learn more about our community tours below. For questions, please contact our team.
The YMCA & Pennie® Health Equity Tour
The Health Equity Tour is a series of in-person events throughout Pennsylvania focused on access to health resources. The tour will promote the YMCA’s evidence-based chronic disease management programs (LEARN MORE)! During this tour, the YMCA staff will distribute educational materials about COVID-19, oral health and water fluoridation resources, how to combat senior social isolation, and the harmful effects of tobacco use and vaping. Tour staff will promote and educate the individuals in attendance about Pennie™ and how to obtain insurance through the state-based exchange. The YMCA staff will also work with food banks and pantries to distribute food to those attending the event, connect attendees with vaccinations (where possible), and coordinate community blood drives.
What is the Purpose/Mission/Goal of the Tour?
This tour will help us reduce health inequities by providing individual health education to combat risk behaviors, reduce barriers to access to health care for disease and injury prevention and improve living conditions (physical, social, economic, and service environments). We will improve health equity by addressing the social determinants of health. The YMCA is focused on creating equitable and sustainable solutions that address both the immediate needs of the community and the systemic root causes that lead to inequalities.
The YMCA’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and global engagement (DIG) serves as a compass for the Y as it works alongside communities to drive social progress and positive social change addressing systemic racism and other forms of institutionalized bias. Organizational commitment to DIG is an ever-evolving process that takes time, investment, and strategic planning. Through empathy and relationships, individual leaders can work with the community at a grassroots level building trust, reputation, and partnership to create positive change.
What We Provide
During the event, we will provide the communities with the following and more:
- COVID-19 Education
- Pennie Education regarding Health Insurance
- Dietitian Consultation
- Oral Health Education
- Tobacco Cessation Education and PA’s Free Quitline
- YMCA’s Evidence-Based Health Intervention Education
- PA 211 Education
- Distributing PPE materials
- Health Literacy
- Mental Health Education
- Flu Education
- Radon Education
- Transportation Services
- Housing Resources & Assistance
- Drug & Alcohol Recovery Resources
- Victims’ Services
- LGBTQ+ Resources
- Veterans’ Services
- Senior Care & Housing
- Financial Services & Education
- Legal Services
Additional Offerings
Depending on the event and location, some additional offerings will be provided at the events such as:
- A1C Testing
- Balance Testing
- Blood Drives
- Blood Pressure Screenings
- Bone Density Scans
- Breast Exams
- COVID-19 Testing & Vaccinations
- Dental Exams
- Food Distribution
- Flu Vaccinations
- Glucose Screenings
- HPV Vaccines
- Mammogram and Pap Testing Screening for PA-BCCEDP
- STI Screenings
- Total Cholesterol Screenings
- Vision Screenings
- Wellness Exams
Community Action Tour
The team at the Y is touring across the state to educate the community about our no-cost programs. We will provide the following to the community: affordable health insurance information, giveaways, COVID-19 resources, and health screenings & vaccinations. This project is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
COVID-19 Mitigation Tour
Our Detection and Mitigation of COVID-19 in homeless encampments and congregate living facilities is a statewide tour funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the CDC. Our main goal is to identify COVID-19 cases as soon as possible to prevent large outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness.
