Removing basic barriers to better health.
As pastor of the Northside's Destiny of Faith church, a community leader, and president, founder and executive director of Project Destiny, there's one thing Rev. Dr. Brenda J. Gregg enjoys above all.
"I love to see people's lives turn around," she said. "So, I love to see people who don't have a voice, have a voice."
As the head of Project Destiny, a Northside community organization founded in 2004 specializing in the wellbeing of youth and families, it became apparent that too many Northside residents weren't receiving adequate healthcare. The reason is called social determinants of health: basic necessities such as access to nutritious food and transportation, safe housing, and good jobs. They can impact up to 80% of an individual's health outcomes.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Thrive18 is born.
So, Rev. Gregg decided to fill this critical gap. Working with One Northside, the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Allegheny Health Department and Highmark Health, in 2018 she and her staff formed Thrive18. Thrive18 sends community health workers into the Northside's 18 different neighborhoods to identify health-related social needs and barriers to care that may not be known to a person’s health care providers. These dedicated workers step in to connect residents with access to healthy foods, get referrals from doctors, coordinate with landlords to remedy housing issues, assist with GED and citizenship paperwork, and much more.
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Removing healthcare barriers.
Currently, food insecurity, housing, and issues related to education, transportation, and utilities account for nearly two-thirds of barriers to health and well-being in identified households.
"We want to help our neighbors connect to important information and services," said Rev. Gregg. "So, we feel like Thrive18 has been that hub."
Bringing better health outcomes to the Northside.
The organization's community-focused approach is working.Here are just a few highlights from Thrive18's 2024 Impact Report:
From October 2018 to May 2024, the Thrive18 team contacted over 11,000 households, completed 3,200 social determinants of health screening surveys, and connected more than 2,900 households to vital social and health care services.
• The program has sustained a 91% engagement rate among people with identified needs; there is a 98% engagement rate when there is a “warm handoff” between AHN clinical staff and the Thrive18 team.
• Residents helped by Thrive18 who have Highmark-related insurance coverage have shown significantly fewer emergency department visits and 14% higher wellness visits.
• The collaboration has tapped into support from more than 300 local service providers.
Yet while Thrive18's approach is novel to some, Reg. Gregg said it's an offshoot of what started as Project Destiny 21 years ago with a handful of volunteers and the willingness to listen to others.
I love to see people's lives turn around. So, I love to see people who don't have a voice, have a voice.
