“Mind, Body & Soil”

The Salaam Community Wellness Center (SCWC) provides an integrative, culturally-responsive model of primary care to all patients. Primary care is the first point of entry for most patients seeking healthcare services. It is the primary care assessment that begins the process of helping to identify the patient’s health, healthcare and social service needs. This helps providers to guide the patient through the process of treatment and prevention towards health and wellness.

As human beings we consist of the elements of the earth. When these elements do not align and work in concert, we call this condition a “dis-ease”. This manifests in many ways. In some it results in them seeking foreign substances to numb a physical or mental pain. For others they may seek to use these substances to fill the void of loneliness or cope with trauma.

Salaam Community Wellness Center’s model utilizes western and non-western modalities to address addictions. We offer an individualized non-judgmental approach tailored to each person’s needs. Individual and group therapy is  integrated with mind-body exercises including deep-breathing, meditation, yoga, massage therapy, Reiki, sound/music therapy and other holistic modalities.

Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic symptoms are all too often the “norm” in many communities of color. Unresolved issues and behaviors that arise result in dysfunctional relationships, family discord, violence, poor work and school performance. Failure to address these issues results in the inability to reach one’s life potential.

Salaam Community Wellness Center’s integrative approach includes individual, family and group therapy. Modalities such as deep-breathing, meditation, yoga, Reiki and sound/music therapy are utilized to help the self-healing process.

“Soil” is the source of our physical being. Without its nutrients we cannot gain and maintain our health. Food deserts and lack of access to affordable healthy foods in many communities rob its members of the very essential building blocks for health.

Our nutrition program incorporates and integrates nutrition counseling and a community garden. We have adopted the “Food as Medicine” concept which educates individuals on how to use food as a way of preventing and managing chronic illnesses and diseases. Our newly installed organic garden provides healthy produce, herbs and flowers for both medicinal and nutritional use.

This “therapeutic garden” is “a holistic healing space” where individuals and groups can learn about gardening, conduct or participate in mindfulness activities such as deep breathing and meditation, yoga, tai chi, and chi gong.

Health and wellness are a combination of our state of being physically, mentally and socially healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We recognize that many of us need help from time to time to achieve health and wellness. Far too often many of the health problems we experience are because of social determinants. Examples include poor housing, poor education, lack of access to healthy foods, and lack of “living wage” employment.

Salaam Community Wellness Center is partnering with other organizations serving the South Side of Chicago in establishing its “Health and Wellness” Pop-up. This monthly program will rotate throughout the Woodlawn neighborhood. Mental and physical health screenings will be provided along with case and care management services. Residents will have access to “rapid response” care for immediate access to physical, mental, substance abuse treatment and social services. Non-western therapeutic sessions will be conducted including deep breathing, meditation, yoga, massage therapy, sound and music therapy. Attendees will have access to resource and service providers on-site including assistance with obtaining medications, referrals to specialists or housing referrals.

An important offering of this program will be our “Essential Bag” give-aways. These bags will contain items that are not covered by social benefit programs but are essential such as personal care items.  All of these are critical to helping individuals and their families in improving their health and achieving wellness.