Vermont Business Magazine OneCare Vermont has partnered with Cigna’s Community Ambassador Fellowship program to reduce social isolation and build resiliency for older Vermonters. Alison Hemphill, a Senior Account Manager in Cigna’s Burlington office, was selected as a 2020 Fellow and will work with OneCare Vermont’s primary prevention team to launch a “Sheds” initiative as they aim to improve social connections for older residents and create a space where members can contribute their skills to the needs of the broader community.
Cigna’s Community Ambassador Fellowship program allows Cigna employees to work with an organization of their choice to positively impact the health and well-being of people in their communities. The eligible employees take a paid leave from work to support projects that exemplify Cigna’s mission. After the competitive application process, selected employees embark on a one- to three-month fellowship to work in their chosen community.
Hemphill starts today, February 17, on OneCare Vermont’s RiseVT team to assist with launching Vermont’s first Sheds model. This model originated in Australia where “Men’s Sheds” create a community space and build a social network for retirees. One of the main drivers for the creation of the Sheds movement was to improve the overall health of the older male population who often struggle with social isolation, and related adverse health outcomes, as they age. While the original model was created to serve only men, the Vermont model will extend the invitation to all interested in joining.
“I am delighted that Alison has this opportunity to work with OneCare Vermont’s RiseVT team to address social isolation,” said Mark Butler, president of Cigna New England. “We know that feelings of isolation and loneliness affect people’s health; and social well-being influences one’s peace of mind. This important project will help improve lives and build healthier communities, which is at the heart of what we do at Cigna.”
Hemphill will spend three months working with OneCare Vermont’s RiseVT team as well as partners at SASH (Support and Services at Home). RiseVT is the lead primary prevention program at OneCare Vermont working to create healthy environments in local communities, schools, and worksites. SASH is a nationally recognized program that provides comprehensive care management and prevention to older adults, and adults with disabilities, embedded in affordable housing and surrounding communities. SASH will assist with recruitment of Sheds members along with the local RiseVT program managers.
“We are thrilled to work with Alison on creating a Sheds model for Vermont,” said Melissa Southwick, Assistant Director at SASH. “Last year, I visited two Sheds in Canada and saw firsthand how impactful this model of bringing skilled, older members of the community together on purpose driven projects can be on improving health outcomes by increasing members’ sense of belonging and purpose.”
RiseVT currently has sixteen program managers around the state of Vermont serving 36 communities to work on projects that improve health. This team will work with Hemphill to identify facilities for the Sheds and assist with identifying community projects for Sheds members to take on.
“Our goal at RiseVT is for all Vermonters to have what they need to lead a healthy life. We have been excited to create a Sheds model for quite some time and are thrilled that Alison will help make this happen in 2020,” said Marissa Parisi, Executive Director of RiseVT.
RiseVT anticipates piloting three Sheds in 2020 in strategic locations in Vermont with support from local RiseVT program managers. Once these sites are identified, more information will be available on locations, operating times, and membership at RiseVT.org this spring.
About RiseVT: RiseVT helps make the healthy choice the easy choice for Vermonters, improving health and reducing healthcare costs. RiseVT utilizes an evidence-based model that engages public-private partnerships, behavior change interventions, and a comprehensive evaluation approach to achieve measurable and sustainable improvement in community health. RiseVT is the lead primary prevention program for OneCare Vermont and is expanding to every county in Vermont by the end of 2020. Learn more at risevt.org.
About SASH: Developed in Vermont by the nonprofit Cathedral Square, SASH is a nationally recognized, team-based program of care coordination for older adults and people with disabilities. It operates from 140 affordable-housing communities throughout Vermont and is free to participants, with funding provided through OneCare Vermont as part of the state’s efforts to reform health care by focusing on wellness and the social determinants of health, including housing. In addition to providing health education, programming and social opportunities, SASH care coordinators and wellness nurses work with a network of partners — providers in home health, agencies on aging, developmental/mental health/addiction services, primary care and hospitals — to help each participant meet self-identified goals. SASH is currently the focus of a national demonstration in seven states, and it is being fully implemented in both Rhode Island and Minnesota.
About OneCare Vermont: OneCare is an accountable care organization (ACO) working with Medicare, Vermont Medicaid, Commercial, and Self-Funded insurance programs to improve the health of Vermonters. It is comprised of an extensive network of primary and specialty care physician members, hospitals, post-acute care facilities and other healthcare stakeholders all agreeing to focus on improved health, higher quality, lower cost increases and greater coordination of care for all of our Vermonters.
Source: February 17, 2020 (Colchester, VT)—OneCare Vermont