Being A Part of Something Great

My experience at St. Joseph’s Center thus far has been both memorable and enlightening. Throughout my service, I have been able to learn firsthand the challenges and rewards of working with individuals with disabilities. These disabilities range from physical disabilities to intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. My training has included how to safely manage a resident’s behaviors, understanding the complex health needs of our population (including the “fatal five”: choking, constipation, infection, dehydration, and seizures), and how to advocate for our residents in both social and medical settings. I have been able to find meaningful community-based activities for the residents of St. Joseph’s while also accompanying residents into the community to experience fun and uplifting events, such as when I went to a horse farm and engaged in sensory activities with the residents.

The main reason I joined the National Health Corps was to further my work with local communities. I have a special interest in underserved and/or vulnerable populations, so working with the clients at St. Joseph’s was a perfect fit! I knew that serving as a community health worker would broaden my reach into our local spaces. I have recently been licensed as a Registered Nurse, so being able to see our communities from multiple perspectives has really helped me in my personal practice.

The moments of my service that make the strongest impact on me are the instances where I am able to advocate for concrete changes for our residents. On one occasion, I was able to request a resident receive a new seizure medication to better control his epilepsy. On another appointment, I advocated for a resident with frequent respiratory issues to receive a chest vest to help him better clear secretions. I’ve been able to participate in events like the Community Health Worker conference, where I met a plethora of individuals that shared their experiences with outreach, health education, and client care navigation. It was a truly wonderful experience. Being a key member of the Health and Wellness Fair was truly an incredible opportunity for me to reach members of the community for smoking cessation, another part of my job where I feel like I can have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of those I engage with every day.

I am proud to call myself a woman of many titles- nurse, community health worker, resident health navigator, advocate, and a member of AHEC. I really value my time spent in and among my local communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and I hope I am able to continue to serve my communities as a partner and a leader.