Greater Longview Optimal Wellness (GLOW)

Overview

The Greater Longview Optimal Wellness (GLOW) is a nonprofit organization established in 2020, focusing on enhancing health and wellness within the Greater Longview area of Texas. It operates as an Accountable Community for Health (ACH) and aims to collaboratively address health inequities and improve community health outcomes through collective action and resource sharing among local stakeholders.

Mission

GLOW’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of residents in the Greater Longview area and nearby communities. The organization specifically targets individuals who are frequent users of emergency services, aiming to connect them with appropriate care and resources rather than relying on emergency department visits for non-emergent needs. This approach addresses various social determinants of health that often contribute to these individuals' reliance on emergency services.

Collaborative Partners

GLOW's initiatives are supported by a diverse collaboration of community stakeholders, including:

• Gregg County
• City of Longview (which serves as the Backbone Organization for GLOW)
• Christus Good Shepherd Health System
• Longview Regional Medical Center
• Community Healthcore
• Special Health Resources
• Greater Longview United Way

In 2023, Wellness Pointe joined the collaborative, further enhancing GLOW's capacity to serve the community.

Programming and Focus Areas

GLOW primarily focuses on identifying and assisting under-resourced individuals who might otherwise utilize emergency services for non-emergency situations. The organization employs various strategies to improve community health, such as:

• Providing case management for identified individuals.
• Collaborating with local nursing schools, including those from the University of Texas at Tyler/Longview, Kilgore College, and LeTourneau University, to support health interventions.
• Utilizing funding from partners such as the Episcopal Health Foundation and AETNA to enhance service delivery.

Through these programs, GLOW aims to create a sustainable system that not only addresses immediate health needs but also promotes long-term wellness strategies.

Impact

By facilitating a coordinated approach among various health and community service organizations, GLOW seeks to reduce unnecessary emergency service utilization, provide holistic health support, and improve the overall well-being of the Greater Longview population. The organization’s efforts exemplify a proactive model of community health that aligns multiple sectors to address root causes of health challenges, ultimately striving for better health equity and outcomes for all residents.