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Solidarity Not Charity. -- Common Ground Health Clinic
| Latino Health Outreach Project |
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Solidarity Not Charity
Ofrecemos servicos de salud y consejos medicos en espanol About three weeks after the levees broke, a few women from Louisiana who were volunteering at the Common Ground Health Clinic began scouting areas of New Orleans in order to assess healthcare needs on the ground. We quickly realized that among the many gaps in the city’s public healthcare infrastructure was a source of culturally competent, bilingual healthcare for Latino residents and cleanup workers. We began setting up clinics on sidewalks and parking lots in front of hotels where large numbers of workers were staying. Initially, the clinics consisted of two healthcare providers giving tetanus shots and over-the-counter medications. Within a few weeks, more providers were added, including MDs, nurse practitioners, acupuncturists, and herbalists. At different times we have operated as many as three mobile clinics a week, and have provided support for health and safety trainings with other organizations. We now do one clinic a week early morning at a day-labor pick up site, and one at a church on Elysian Fields (across from Lowe's), the last Friday of every month, as well as occasional clinics at other sites. In addition to providing health care, we are building relationships with organizations who have a history of working in New Orleans’ Latino community.The Latino Health Outreach Project of Common Ground Health Clinic continues to grow as we enter the fourth year of our existence. We currently operate a weekly mobile clinic and a Personal Protective Equipment distribution program and provide professional interpretation services for CGHC patients and patients of several other clinics. The project is still staffed by many volunteers from across the city. The current coordinator, Narda Hernandez, is a New Voices Fellow and she is working closely with all the providers, volunteers and staff at CGHC to expand the reach of the project as well as establishing common protocols across sites. LHOP volunteers and staff have been instrumental in promoting and supporting other organizations that provide services to Spanish speaking clients across the city. The following places are the main sites where we refer our patients.
organizational service provided by LHOP, and outcome: New Orleans Women's Health Clinic: Translated intake forms: patients now use Spanish intake forms. Tulane Community Health Center at Covenant House: provide interpreting service & translated main outreach flyer: Patients are able to be served adequately both at this clinic and at places where patients are later referred to, for specialty services. Outreach materials are being widely distributed within the Latino community. El Verbo Christian Ministries: This is the 2nd year that we supported 2 Health Fairs hosted by El Verbo on October 4th, 2008 and December 6th, 2008: the public received vital info on specific resources & our clinic and personal protection gear was distributed: 48 glasses, 30 pairs of gloves, 15 Tyvek suits. Language Access Coalition: 2 LHOP members in Health Subcommittee: Working on Establishing Interpreter Bank: The LAC has decided to work in areas of health, education, and criminal justice. The health committee is composed of many health justice activists that wish to secure access to care for limited-English proficient populations. Currently, the committee is planning interpreters’ training, and establishing actual interpreters’ bank for the city. Louisiana Resource Guide Committee: Assessing new and current bilingual social services and women’s health resources: In a partnership with different organizations trying to clarify and unite resources for the Southeast region of Louisiana, the CGHC Resource Guide is serving as a model for what should be included and distributed to the public. There will also be a website that can be used by professionals, patients and volunteers. St. Anna’s Medical Mission: shared outreach challenges and successes at a support meeting on Oct. 14th, 2008: Visited the zoo on Nov. 30th, 2008 as part of ESL training. While we refer our own LHOP patients to their outreach site, this meeting allowed us to see that we have incorporated the community every step of the way and need to work on that with LHOP. Trinity Counseling Training Center: Since December 2008, hosting a bilingual counselor-in-training intern Anya will begin to help form the educational classes and counseling sessions at the Elysian Fields site. She helped to interview 30 people at the Elysian Fields site for the community needs assessment. Pastor Anthony Pierce at 2514 Elysian Fields 2nd LHOP Site Building the clinic outreach site to provide referral services, PPE, and medical services. Louisiana Latino Project of the HIV/AIDS Program Office of Public Health: Supporting Latino Outreach Project in health fair & outreach activities: LHOP has partnered to increase awareness & testing for HIV, specifically at the corner of MLK &Claiborne Ave and at 2514 Elysian Fields site. LHOP has invited 3 undocumented Latina women to improve financial management of their informal business and to discuss family planning and health issues. |
