Special Olympics New York & CEK RN Consulting, Inc. Partner to Provide Local Athletes with Free Health Coaching
CEK Prioritizes Inclusive Health After Being Inspired by Special Olympics Athletes
Albany, NY – Special Olympics New York and CEK RN Consulting, Inc. (CEK) today announced a partnership to ensure that local athletes with intellectual disabilities have access to CEK’s signature client services. This includes providing athletes with a Community Health Worker who will accompany them to medical appointments as needed, help them effectively communicate their symptoms with doctors and nurses, and ensure that they understand their treatment options and plans.
PHOTO CAPTION: Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman and CEK RN Consulting, Inc. Founder & Executive Director Coretta Killikelly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining an inclusive health partnership today.
“People with intellectual disabilities represent one of the most medically underserved populations in the world, and much of this has to do with a communications barrier that persists between patients and medical professionals,” said Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “Special Olympics is grateful to have found a partner as dedicated as we are to inclusive health in CEK and Executive Director Killikelly.”
“We founded CEK on a simple premise: To provide clients with a better understanding of their healthcare needs so they can lead a higher quality of life,” said CEK RN Consulting, Inc. Founder & Executive Director Coretta Killikelly. “When we learned about the challenges that many Special Olympics athletes and their families face in healthcare, we immediately saw how clearly our missions align. We are looking forward to meeting more athletes and taking this journey along with them.”
“When I met with CEK, I could tell right away they are a motivated team, ready to help Special Olympics athletes like me navigate the healthcare process,” said Capital District Region Athlete Kevin Brown. “I can’t wait to work with them. We’re going to make a big difference for Special Olympics athletes in the Capital Region.”
A CEK Community Health Worker assists clients with understanding and communicating their healthcare challenges. They also help them understand the medical providers’ recommendations for treatment and support them as they follow their treatment or discharge plans. In addition to assigning a Community Health Worker for athletes, CEK will provide health education and advocate for clients with low health literacy. These services will be provided to athletes, their families, and caregivers.
Special Olympics New York hosted a brief training session for CEK staff recently and will continue to provide training opportunities to ensure that CEK staff can become experts in working with people with intellectual disabilities.
In an effort to increase awareness and further the partnership, CEK RN Consulting, Inc. and Special Olympics New York will participate in one another’s events, including Special Olympics New York’s State Fall Games and CEK RN Consulting, Inc.’s Health Empowerment Conference. Both events are scheduled for October 2022.
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About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 31,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with about 250 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
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