Funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
The Alaafia Virtual Women’s & Mental Health Center was created to improve access to healthcare, mental health services, health education, and wellness resources for African women and girls throughout Wisconsin.
The Center addresses cultural, language, transportation, financial, accessibility, and healthcare-system barriers that can make it difficult for individuals and families to access and navigate quality care.
Serving as a virtual and community-based hub for healthcare navigation, advocacy, education, care coordination, and support, the Center connects individuals and families with healthcare providers, mental health professionals, preventive services, social services, and trusted community resources.
Through culturally responsive and individualized support, Alaafia helps participants understand their healthcare options, communicate with providers, navigate complex healthcare systems, and become more informed and confident participants in their care.
Our Approach
The Center uses a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and person-centered approach that recognizes that healthcare experiences can be influenced by culture, language, disability, financial circumstances, transportation, family dynamics, and familiarity with the U.S. healthcare system.
Our approach includes:
- Culturally responsive healthcare navigation and advocacy
- Language access and interpretation support
- Mental health navigation and resource coordination
- Community outreach and engagement
- Women’s health and mental health education
- Preventive health education
- Care coordination and referrals
- Partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations
- Virtual, in-person, and community-based support
By combining these services, the Center helps reduce barriers, improve communication between individuals and providers, strengthen access to care, and connect participants with the resources they need to support their health and well-being.
Services Offered
24-Hour Health Navigation & Advocacy
Individuals can access assistance through our 24-hour call, text, and chat services. Our team provides healthcare information, navigation assistance, referrals, resource coordination, and support based on each individual’s needs.
Healthcare Navigation & Referrals
Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging, particularly for individuals who are unfamiliar with available services.
Alaafia helps participants identify and connect with primary care providers, hospitals, clinics, specialists, mental health professionals, and community-based health resources.
Our navigators also help participants understand where to seek appropriate care and how to access available healthcare and social service resources.
Mental Health Resource Coordination
Mental and emotional well-being are essential components of overall health.
The Center connects individuals with culturally responsive counseling, therapy, support groups, mental health professionals, and other wellness resources. We work to reduce cultural and practical barriers that may prevent individuals from seeking or continuing mental health services.
Medical Appointment Assistance
Our team helps individuals prepare for and navigate healthcare appointments, including assistance with:
- Scheduling and coordinating appointments
- Completing healthcare-related forms
- Understanding appointment instructions
- Preparing questions for healthcare providers
- Understanding referrals and recommended follow-up care
- Coordinating communication with healthcare providers
- Connecting with additional resources after appointments
Our goal is to help individuals better understand and participate in their healthcare.
Language Access & Interpretation Support
Language should not prevent someone from understanding or accessing healthcare.
Alaafia provides language-access support and helps coordinate interpretation when appropriate to improve communication between individuals and healthcare providers.
We also help participants understand healthcare information, appointments, referrals, and available resources in ways that are culturally and linguistically accessible.
Transportation Assistance
Transportation can be a significant barrier to healthcare access. When eligible, Alaafia provides or coordinates transportation assistance for medical appointments, counseling sessions, preventive care, and other essential health-related services.
Community Outreach & Health Education
The Center brings health information directly into communities through workshops, presentations, support groups, educational programs, community events, and awareness campaigns.
Education topics may include:
- Women’s health
- Mental health and emotional wellness
- Preventive healthcare
- Chronic disease management
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Reproductive and family health
- Healthcare navigation
- Understanding the U.S. healthcare system
- Patient rights and self-advocacy
- Accessing healthcare and community resources
Our community education programs are designed to increase health knowledge, encourage preventive care, reduce misinformation, and help individuals make informed decisions about their health.
Bridging Communities & Healthcare Systems
A central part of the Alaafia model is serving as a trusted bridge between communities and healthcare systems.
We work collaboratively with hospitals, clinics, healthcare professionals, mental health providers, government agencies, universities, social service organizations, and community partners to identify barriers, strengthen communication, improve referrals, and help individuals successfully navigate available services.
This collaborative approach supports both individuals seeking care and organizations working to provide more accessible and culturally responsive services.
Our Impact
The Alaafia Virtual Women’s & Mental Health Center is helping strengthen healthcare access and community support systems throughout Wisconsin.
By reducing cultural, language, transportation, financial, accessibility, and system-navigation barriers, the Center helps women and families connect with healthcare and mental health resources, increase their understanding of available services, and become stronger advocates for their own health and well-being.
Through education, advocacy, healthcare navigation, care coordination, community outreach, and strategic partnerships, Alaafia is helping build healthier, stronger, and more resilient individuals, families, and communities across Wisconsin.