Sarah Welch

Writer for Mid-Iowa Health Foundation and HealthConnect Fellowship Mentor

Dedicated to using my creative writing, strategic communications, and project management skills to engage my community in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.

5 reasons why youth should lead systems-change work

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4 insights from researching housing instability in central Iowa

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Iowa youth aging out of foster care: How are they doing?

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7 lessons learned from Sesame Street partnership

Foundation grants
Jan 31, 2022
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A closer look at mental health in schools during the pandemic

Community response
Nov 29, 2021
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4 issues impacting children’s health during the pandemic

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7 lessons learned about systems change work

System change
Sep 9, 2021
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The Foundation's role in the HealthConnect Fellowship

Funder practices
Sep 8, 2021
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Go ahead: Brag a little

Leadership
Aug 5, 2021
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Vision vs. Tactics: How we can achieve the change we want to see

Action planning
Feb 22, 2021
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System-change achievements advocates are making for central Iowa’s kids

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What you should know about homelessness in central Iowa during the pandemic

Community response
Oct 26, 2020
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Leading system change, even in times of uncertainty

System change
Jul 22, 2020
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What I've learned about system-change work during this time of crisis

System change
Jun 11, 2020
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Approaching storytelling with authentic engagement

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18 HealthConnect Fellows to advance system changes to improve children’s health

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Cultivating Change: How the HealthConnect Fellowship lifted a network of advocates to improve children's health

System change
Nov 15, 2019
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One voice for a children’s mental health system

System change
Nov 15, 2019
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Persistence for quality health care

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A call to action for Latinx youth

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Putting the pieces together for children to learn

Partnerships
Nov 9, 2019
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Housing code for healthier lives

Advocacy
Nov 7, 2019
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Connecting systems, connecting families

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Transforming practices to prevent trauma before birth

System change
Oct 31, 2019
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Six insights from listening to health advocates' stories

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Zeroing in on Health Needs

A needs assessment of Oakridge Neighborhood residents is informing ways to improve health and well-being

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Doula Care Becomes Essential Health Care

An Iowa Doula Project is expanding community-based health care to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

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Improving Health through Community Advocacy

How AMOS engaged hundreds of advocates to push for a children's mental health crisis response system

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Media's Role in Improving Health

How support to Iowa Public Radio is building awareness of factors that influence well-being

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Latinx Project Tells Story of Strength and Opportunity

New report highlights central Iowa Latinos contributions and disparities and elevates Latinx leaders

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Improving Health through Social Supports

MercyOne's community health worker model improves outcomes for families.

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Re-Imagining How Iowa's Systems Work Together to Best Serve Families

The Vision Council has led conversations on how Iowa's families and children can be safe, secure, healthy, and well in our communities.

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Champions for Change: A Collective Commitment to Children's Health

Outcomes from Mid-Iowa Health Foundation's HealthConnect Fellowship, October 2019-June 2021

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Elevating the Latinx Community

How nonprofit leaders brought attention to the Latinx community and built new systems of support during the pandemic

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Central Iowa Youth Drive Change for Better Health

uVoice high school students commit to learning about and addressing issues, including vaping and racial justice, in central Iowa.

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The Dream Cube: Art for Social Impact

The Dream Cube, a monolithic structure constructed of pillows piled 8-feet high, popped up in downtown Des Moines late last fall. The provocative piece sparked conversations about the potential of our youth—if they have a safe place to dream.

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Protecting Those Who Protect Our Kids

Iowa ACEs 360 shares this story about how supervisors in the Polk County Dept. of Human Services’ Child Welfare Division are addressing trauma in their workforce.

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A New Approach to Supporting Youth in Juvenile Detention

Teenagers in jumpsuits lying on yoga mats, their eyes closed, their bodies still. This is the image Megan Hoxhalli describes as remarkable for juvenile detention, a place where youth arrive shaken, dysregulated, and scared about their future.

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