Through a generous grant via the United Health Foundation and in cooperation with KC Care Clinic, CHC of Wyandotte County’s Community Health Worker initiative seeks to improve health across Wyandotte County. From time to time, we want to showcase some of the success stories from our health workers: 

“I got a referral for a Farsi Client from Catholic Charites. When I first met them at their apartment, I was nervous because I have never worked with clients from Middle East, and I was thinking to myself if I would be able to build trust from them. They have language barriers, health issues and transportation difficulties. They also requested an in-person interpreter because they could not hear very well over the phone speaker. But because of my work policy, I could not provide them a personal interpreter, so the first encounter with them started with a small bump. I had to explain to them repeatedly to try phone interpreter services.

After assessing the need, I set up three service goals with her and worked to meet those three goals.  The husband was the main contact person for this client because of their culture. After working with them for a few weeks, they became friendlier and more open to me. They feel like I am a family member to them. One day, they showed me documents from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. They were requested to provide additional evidence for their green card application from the beginning of the year. They got several notices because they could not understand what to send or what were requested.  I asked my supervisor if I can help them for their green card because this is outside of my job descriptions.

After getting approval from my supervisor, I started scheduling a Civil Surgeon appointment for them.  I was able to schedule Medicaid Taxi for them. I was told by Medicaid transportation representative that they normally cannot provide transportation for this kind of appointment. At Civil Surgeon clinic, they said a personal interpreter needed to come and sign for them as an interpreter. I called a Farsi interpreter that I met before at the client’s and explained the situation. I requested on behalf of my client, and explained to her how difficult it was for the client to even to come to this clinic.

Finally, an interpreter said she will come and sign for them with no charge! I have never thought that she would help us with a free charge. She said she also want to help them like what I have been doing for them.”

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Za Ceu Lian is a community health worker who serves Wyandotte County’s English, Chins & Burmese speaking communities.