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March is National Professional Social Work Month! To honor our #SocialWorkers and to help shed light on their important work, we’re bringing you their stories each week. #LMSW #PeopleofPeoples #BehavioralHealth

Our first feature is on Ana Serratos, a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in the Integrative Behavioral Health department at People’s Community Clinic. Ana, like our 10 other social workers, counsels patients who are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, and distress. Ana also provides support to the Pain Management Program, a multidisciplinary approach to reducing opioid use and treating patients with complex chronic pain.

In fact, counseling is one of the many non-pharmaceutical options recommended by the Center for Disease Control for alleviating pain. Patients will talk with Ana about their chronic pain issues—which are often unexplained and difficult to treat—and say things like, “I feel like you’re really listening to me,” or “I feel like you understand me.” (Ana says it’s moments like these that make her job as a social worker awesome!)

Ana also coordinates other “wrap-around” services like acupuncture, nutrition counseling, exercise, and medical-legal intervention to help patients with their symptoms.

Thank you, Ana, and thanks to the team of social workers that provide such great care for People’s patients!

 

 

 

 

Eva had one too many scares. For months, she and her 6 kids suffered from chronic respiratory issues. Her youngest, two-year-old Ana Maria, was in the worst shape. After rushing Ana Maria to the emergency room for the third time, Eva came to People’s looking for relief. They met with multiple pediatric specialists, each who looked for the root cause of the family’s illness.

It became clear that an unsafe living condition, particularly mold, was endangering the family’s health. For help, the physicians called on Keegan Warren, JD, an attorney at the Austin Medical-Legal Partnership (AMLP).

The AMLP recognizes that good health depends on many factors outside of the exam room. Social and legal determinants of health – like housing and work conditions, or hurdles to receiving certain benefits – effect health in tremendous ways, sometimes even more than the clinical care they receive. Often, a legal intervention is needed to address these health-harming situations. As part of the AMLP, attorneys are housed at People’s, and patients are referred to attorneys if they need legal help to improve their health.

Keegan learned that rains from Hurricane Harvey had flooded the family’s apartment, but property managers had not addressed the resulting mold infestation. Mold in the walls, floor, and furniture had contributed to debilitating – and dangerous – respiratory problems.

With Keegan’s help, the family took the apartment owners to court, which forced them to address the substandard conditions. Eva was assured that with the Keegan’s protection, the apartment owners would not evict the family or take any other retaliatory actions. As a result, the family was able to move to a new, clean apartment. The children’s health issues resolved slowly, and Eva’s family began the process of healing – this time, in a home with fresh air.

 

Walk into to People’s Community Clinic at 6pm on a Tuesday and you may be surprised by what you find. Medical appointments are over for the day, but the building is still buzzing with activity.

In the Community Room patients, neighbors, and clinic staff dance to upbeat Latin hits—it’s the weekly free Zumba class. The bass is pumping as students groove from side to side. They are laughing and moving to the beat. Zumba class is so much fun you may forget that you’re getting in a serious work out!

People’s is so much more than a clinic. We are a holistic health home for our patients

Down the hall in the Teaching Kitchen home chefs gather for La Cocina Alegre/The Happy Kitchen, a program offering free healthy cooking classes for People’s patients. Taught by People’s trained Health Educators, classes are available in English or Spanish (tonight’s class is in Spanish), with sessions for adults and teens.

Students receive a healthy cookbook and groceries to practice preparing the new recipes at home. The clinic even offers complimentary child care so busy parents can enjoy the class.

Zumba and La Cocina Alegre are just a few of the health and wellness programs that the clinic offers in partnership with other community groups. These partnerships bring enriching programs that empower patients to take charge of their health.

We offer a full calendar of classes, resources, and specialty services, everything from free summer meals for kids to breastfeeding support groups and healthy parenting classes.

Programs like ours make People’s so much more than a clinic. We are a holistic medical home for our patients and a health and wellness hub for our community. Stop by some time and see for yourself—even better, join us for a class!

 

Current Offerings

Classes, workshops, and resources empower patients to get and stay healthy.

DIAPER BANK

Free diapers for patients, provided by Austin Diaper Bank.

SNAP (FOOD STAMPS)

Patients can apply for and renew SNAP, or check the status of their application on-site at the clinic.

SUMMER MEALS

Many kids who qualify for free or reduced lunches during the school year struggle to access meals during summer. Thanks to a partnership with Central Texas Food Bank, we offer free lunch all summer long, four days a week.

MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP

Our staff attorneys provide free legal counsel for patients facing health-harming legal needs. In Partnership with Texas Legal Services Center.

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT

New and expecting mothers learn about the benefits of nursing. Students work with People’s Lactation Consultant to develop a breastfeeding plan, setting themselves (and baby!) up for success.

REAL TALK

Learn how to help your teen make healthy decisions through better communication. Connect with other parents, gain skills to talk to your teen about intercourse. In partnership with St. David’s Foundation and Lifeworks.

NURTURING PARENTING

A family-centered, distress-informed class designed to build nurturing parenting skills and empower families against cycles of abuse and neglect. In partnership with Any Baby Can.

THE HAPPY KITCHEN/La Cocina Alegre

Learn how to cook healthy meals for you and your family with this 6-week cooking and nutrition program. In partnership with Sustainable Food Center.

SMALL BITES

Teaching students ages 6-10 about nutrition and healthy cooking. Healthy snacks every class! In partnership with Common Threads.

MOM’S CLUB

A supportive group for moms with children ages 0-5 to connect, learn new skills for child development, find resources, and make new friends.

ZUMBA
Fun, energetic, group exercise class. Meets every week – all fitness levels welcome! In partnership with It’s Time Texas.