Celebrating the M Health Fairview cultural brokers program — and improved access to care and resources for our neighbors
Since 2016, M Health Fairview cultural brokers — people who understand health and healing from their community’s perspective as well as that of mainstream culture — have been working with people in our diverse communities. Serving as liaisons to the Karen, Hmong, Latine, African American and Native American communities, they build bridges and assist people in navigating health, school, and other systems. At the same time, the brokers strengthen community members’ abilities to advocate for themselves.
Cultural brokers are funded by philanthropy and part of M Health Fairview, but spend most of their time at trusted host locations in the communities that they represent, including Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), Hmong American Partnership, American Indian Family Center, Family Values for Life, and Karen Organization of Minnesota. The brokers serve our neighbors across the Twin Cities metro area.
The cultural broker program began when M Health Fairview facilitated community conversations with 40 organizations and more than 50 community members across the East Metro to help identify the most pressing health needs and opportunities for residents. Overwhelmingly the group heard from the community that there are significant barriers to accessing mental health services and culturally responsive supports. These barriers disproportionately affect people of color, indigenous communities, refugees, immigrants, and those with low income.
“Cultural brokers are such an important asset to the communities they serve,” said Keith Allen, senior manager of community health programs with M Health Fairview Community Advancement. “They help our neighbors access healthcare, find affordable housing, apply for employment, navigate county systems, secure food and other basic resources, complete legal paperwork, and more.”
Since the start of COVID-19, the cultural brokers have found ways to continue to meet the needs of the community, both virtually and in-person, including helping people overcome pandemic-related obstacles. They provide COVID-19 education, debunk vaccine myths, connect individuals to unemployment resources, assist people with resource navigation and advocacy, provide follow-up after COVID-19 patients are discharged, and seek out socially isolated individuals and families.
“M Health Fairview is committed to advancing health equity and improving the health and wellbeing of our communities, which goes beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics,” said John Swanholm, vice president of Community Advancement at M Health Fairview. “One way that we do this is through programs like the cultural brokers. We are helping people overcome barriers to health and wellbeing.”
M Health Fairview’s mission and vision extend beyond traditional healthcare settings, driving a healthier future for the communities we serve. The Community Advancement team leads our health system’s efforts to engage with community partners to develop upstream, proactive approaches to address the social determinants of health — factors that may not seem directly health related but have a big impact on health and wellbeing.
