Uncrowned Community Builders

Barbara is a lifelong resident of Buffalo, New York, but recently relocated to Hampton Roads, Virginia where she is president/CEO of alpha & omega enterprises (public relations and marketing firm). While residing in Western New York (WNY), Ms. Franklin was awarded a Community Health Foundation of W&CNY Health Leadership Fellowship and the Mayor (Brown's) Citizen Participatory Academy (inaugural classes). She attended Medaille College where she studied Business Administration and is pursuing a joint Bachelors/Masters in Health Care Administration in Hampton Virginia.

Barbara most recently served as the Community Liaison for Kaleida Health System (KHS) and represented KHS on the Great Lakes Health System of WNY subcommittee, whereby she co-hosted a weekly radio program on WUFO and facilitated strategic community listening tours, outreach and public relations events in the WNY communities for both entities.

Barbara has served as Ambulatory Care/Community Network Director for the Sheehan Health Network (SHN). In this capacity she was responsible for overseeing all primary & specialty care services and community networking to foster collaboration, outreach and linkages to SHN services. Additionally she was the project director for the following programs: Diabetes Apprenticeship Program (DAP) in collaboration with Dr. Paresh Dandona, Kaleida Health's Endocrinologist; "Take a Loved One for a Mammogram" funded by the Susan Komen Foundation program that promotes FREE mammograms for African American women in WNY, and lastly, The Family Care Buprenorphine Clinic and the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Guidelines in Underserved Populations. This study is designed to establish the effect size on patient outcomes resulting from implementing CKD guidelines & assessing the usefulness of Primary Care Physician directed telephonic case management for CKD guideline utilization. (The CKD was implemented and funded through UB Family Medicine & Research departments - Dr. Chet Fox).

Barbara served as the Executive Director of the Black Leadership Forum's Near East Side Community Health Task Force, a consortium of various agencies consisting of health systems, health maintenance organizations, independent health centers, civic agencies, universities/colleges, community and faith based organizations that collaboratively address health disparity in the City of Buffalo, New York. During her tenure she spearheaded the National Health & Human Services (HHS) initiative "Take a Loved One to the Doctor" (Later renamed Take a Loved One for A Check-up) providing over 500 Free medical exams utilizing and collaborating with over 13 different health facilities which opened their doors to uninsured and underinsured residents in WNY.

Barbara has served as the Chief Operating Officer for Geneva B. Scruggs Community Health Center, an Inner-City Healthcare Center and is the President/CEO of alpha & omega enterprises a public relations and marketing firm whose clients consist of health care organizations and small businesses. She possesses over twenty years experience in the healthcare industry and community networking/outreach.

Barbara formed "The NAVIGATORS" a community health advocacy group to address healthcare education, linkages and awareness in the minority and underserved communities in WNY. Her clients consist of Health maintenance, faith and community based organizations in addition to healthcare agencies and minority businesses in WNY that wish to join forces to address health disparity in disadvantaged communities and populations in the WNY region.


Publications/Articles/Lectures:
*Kaleida Health - Community Benefit Report - 2009
*Kaleida Health - OneVoice Employee Newspaper (23 editions)
*Kaleida Health - Community Connection Newsletter (12 editions)
*Take a Loved One to the Doctor 2005 Final Report - (HHS national web-site)
* Uninsured-Uncovered Bethesda World Harvest International Church
* Kaleida Health Community Service Plan 2005 pages 23-26 & 29
*Advance for Managers of Respiratory Care February 2005 * Vol. 14* NO 2, page 34
Clinicians debate spirituality role in healthcare

RECOGNITIONS/HONORS:
* Uncrowned-Queen Community-Builder Inductee
*Where Eagles Dare Award (GROUP Ministries)" Outstanding Community Service"
*National Women's History Month 2011 Honoree "Honoring Women"Together We Are Strong!

Certifications/Trainings:
*Adobe InDesign CS4
*Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services Part D - Certification
*Change Agent
*Conflict Resolution
*Elijah House " Theophostics & Christian Counseling"
*Federal Mediation & Conciliation
*Grant Writing 102 (Buffalo State)
*HIV Tester "OraQuick" Advanced HIV Testing
*Managing Time & Priorities
*Ministry Development Institute (MDI) - Christian Leadership
*Team Building

Barbara is a member and/or served on the following boards/committees in WNY and Virginia:
CURRENT:
- Virginia Organizers " Health & Social Security" committee member
- Sentara Hospice (Hampton Virginia) - Volunteer
- FACE Foundation (Newport News) Board member
- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
- Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI)
- Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF)
- AVON (Hampton Roads) Business Associate
- NAACP - Member
- Promises School of Beauty Culture - Board Vice Chair
- National Association of Colored Women's Clubs - Mary B. Talbert Civic and Cultural Club


Numerous other boards and committees:
* BLCA "Black Leadership Coalition On Aids' Medical Chair;
* Mary Talbert National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (New inductee);
* WNY Health Literacy Committee Member;
* P2 Collaborative Committee Member;
* Drums Along The Waterfront (Community Initiative) Steering Committee;
* National Association of Female Executives (NAFE);
* Near East Side & West Side Task Force Member;
* AIDS Network of WNY "Minority Concerns Sub-Committee;
* WNY Alliance for Non-Profit Excellence, Committee Member;
* Women's Land Trust Advisory Board Member;
* Sheehan/Grace Collaborative Public Relations/Marketing Co-Chair;
* Kaleida Health/EN-AHEC Mentorship Program;
* Kaleida Health/Black Leadership Forum's Diversity Advisory Group;
* First Night 2005-06 Planning Committee;
* Moving In Faith Community Sub-Committee Member.


Barbara is the proud mother of Tanisha Franklin-Dacosta (Ras Netfa DaCosta), Dezi Arnaz Franklin Jr. (Tishea) and Nana to Alexis Monet, Ras Supreme, Ras Justice, Dezi Arnaz III (Tre), Zoe Monet and Amir Francis.