UHIP
Urban Healthcare
Initiative program
“Everyone Is Entitled to Quality Healthcare”
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UHIP Vision and Mission
Our mission is based on the belief that “Everyone is Entitled to Quality Healthcare.”
UHIP is a non-profit 501(c)3 community health education advocacy program active among community- and faith-based organizations within the greater City of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey communities. The mission of UHIP is to improve health disparities and healthcare access among African Americans, Hispanics and other communities that suffer disproportionately from chronic disease, disability, and premature death, and who have no or limited access to quality care.
The goal of the UHIP is to directly address barriers to quality and affordable care in local urban communities by increasing health literacy and access to comprehensive health care. To achieve its mission and goals, UHIP partners with local community organizations, transitional living centers, houses of worship and civic groups, community centers, senior citizen housing facilities, mental health/substance abuse treatment programs, barbershops, hair salons, etc., to bring services to vulnerable populations in the spaces where they congregate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes UHIP unique?
UHIP is not part of any Federal, State, or Local governmental agency. Our program was developed and launched by a local private family practice physician who, from treating his patients, saw a need for improved health literacy through health literacy training in the community. Let’s make caring for your body a daily practice.
What is Health Literacy?
https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/health-literacy-healthy-people-2030How do we define health literacy?
Healthy People 2030 addresses both personal health literacy and organizational health literacy and provides the following definitions:
- Personal health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.
- Organizational health literacy is the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.
These definitions are a change from the health literacy definition used in Healthy People 2010 and Healthy People 2020: “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” The new definitions:
- Emphasize people’s ability to use health information rather than just understand it
- Focus on the ability to make “well-informed” decisions rather than “appropriate” ones
- Incorporate a public health perspective
- Acknowledge that organizations have a responsibility to address health literacy
https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/health-literacy-healthy-people-2030
Is there a fee for UHIP services?
NO – UHIP services are grant and donation funded.
In what communities does UHIP provide services?
UHIP provides health literacy services throughout Essex County. Our home communities are: the Oranges, Newark, Irvington, Montclair, Bloomfield, Glenn Ridge, and upper Union County. Please remember – all requests are considered.
How to schedule a UHIP community event?
To schedule an event, it is as easy as sending an email request to fjordan@uhipnj.org. UHIP staff will follow up with a phone call to discuss for further arrangements. You are also welcome to call our office for further information. 973-676-8447
At what type of events can UHIP conduct a presentation?
UHIP attends a variety of events such as health fairs, community speaking events, worship and group meetings of all faiths, substance abuse/mental health treatment programs, adult/senior living facilities, local speaking at barbershops, beauty parlors, and other local businesses. We are always open to new challenges to reach the community at large.
Is there a suggested list of speaking topics?
While UHIP has a menu of health literacy topics we address, we are open to other health literacy topics that may be of importance to your community. Click this link to our menu of speaking topics
Our Goals
Educate Our Community
Utilize basic healthcare literacy training and patient-centered health care strategies to improve outcomes for health problems directly affecting our communities.
Educate Second Responders
Educate Second Responders (barbers, beauticians, church members, family members, friends, etc.) to see warning signs of a potential health problem before it becomes critical and get you into care.
Teach Self Advocacy
During a doctor’s visit, teach patients to ask questions about what they don’t understand such as, Why are you putting me on this treatment plan? What is this pill for? What happens if I don’t take this pill or go for that test? What are my options?
Good Health
Promote a healthier living lifestyle which includes daily exercise, healthy diet, good sleep habits, regular medical checkups, etc.. Learning to treat your body as well as you treat your car.
Help Globally
Expand the concepts of UHIP to other programs in an effort to a broaden the audience in our global community
Provide Outreach Services
Taking our services and programs onsite where the community congregate including churches, barbershops, beauty parlors, community events recreational centers, health fairs, education centers, etc.
What is Health Literacy?
Learn more about Health Literacy
Community Resources?
Identify healthcare and other related resources in our community.
Our Story
As a community outreach program, UHIP takes all of our services directly into the community. Initially, our health literacy training programs were designed for houses of worship in East Orange and Newark. Our physician trainers were incorporated into morning worship services with 5-minute talks about health conditions that affect our community such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, medication adherence, and regular health screenings which everyone should be getting. Since that beginning, UHIP has expanded into all sorts of community centers. Our goal is to make everyone (friends, family, barber, fellow church members) a first or second responder. We train everyone to be a first responder for those close to them. Learn to see the warning signs of a medical issue before it becomes a critical issue, and get that person in to see a medical provider or to hospital emergency services. Learn why you are taking the medications you are prescribed so you can make knowledgble descisions about your healthcare. Don’t just say I stopped taking that medication because it made me feel strange. Learn why the medication may make you feel what you consider not normal – then make an informed decision.
Check out our Events Calendar and join us!