First I commend the unique efforts of health care in the streets, literally in the streets! However, I understand that as the program as it stands now would not be able to function without foundation grants and other donor based funding. Do you have any plans in the future to ensure the programs sustainability without outside assistance? Could any of the programs ever be supported by the users themselves?
Also, how would your model be expanded to serve other similar communities throughout the country??
Unfortunately, we are located in the three census tracts were the poverty is most concentrated. Somehow, the HUD housing developments built in the 1950's were all built "north of Broadway" the main street on the Island. Most of the poor were then concentrated in this area bounded on the east by 25th street and west by 51st where the last housing development is located.
We do have some base funding. We are a "Mission" of the Episcopal Church. We are the only African-American social service agency in this part of Texas governed by the Diocese located in Houston. Therefore they have a church "obligation" to keep us there. They don't have an obligation to fund innovative programs or anything past the basics.
I must add that UTMB - the University of Texas Medical Branch has somewhat modified it's version of tending to the needs of the indigent. One of the reasons our client base is rising is that they are charging larger co-pays and turning people away. The 4 C's Clinic - the county run clinic is doing the same things. Now that they've lost another $30 million in the last legislative session things will get worst. For example, we see women with advanced cancers in our clinic here. We have to seek funds in order to pay for that woman's MRI because UTMB will no longer let her get it for free without advance payment. They're motto is "here for the health of Texas" - but it's turning into "we need to turn a profit".
The poverty here is so great and the addition of new working poor is growing so fast - people here simply are too poor to "contribute". We must remain a charitable enterprise and try to meet their needs.
Dear Ms. Rappaport,
I am really impressed by your organization's approach to providing health care to such impoverished people, and was simply curious about your statistics. I can see you keep very accurate records about the amount of clients you have seen and was wondering whether you also tracked the number of revisits? Though # of clients is crucial, its also good to see they are making the continued effort to make health-changes beyond the one-time street screening. Do you know the % of revisits of your clients?
HI!
I need to get the New and returning stats from Doris our WelCare Coordinator.
She's at a conference today.
Can you give me a few days to get that information?
thanks for asking.
sincerely,
marsha at st. vincent's house
Hi!
I have obtained that information from Doris:
On our Outreach Street Screening 76% are new clients. The reason for that is the program is designed to go to new places almost every time. The team goes to a new neighborhood "hang-out" corner on each weekly visit. For example the retired longshoreman have local "sittin' areas" - our team will visit those. Many of them have high blood pressure, etc. We do get repeat clients who will choose to go to a UTMB health fair or our "WelFair" which is held each November.
Regular Clinic: Our free clinic is the community clinic for the local underserved community. We see approximately 32% new clients in our general clinics. WellWoman Clinics which have only been here for three years still have a high percentage of new clients - 83%. Our psychicatric clinic is totally new - it's only 11 months old. Virtually all of the clients are new- 92%. We are filling a gap when UTMB closed part of it's mental health services.
Our Makeover Series just hit cable television three weeks ago. Everyone is new! We are working with the City to find out whose watching.
It was wonderful to read about your organization. The WelCare Initiative is truly a disruption in healthcare. I can only hope that within six years my organization will be as successful as ST. Vincent’s House. Awareness is the key, teaching the consumer how to take more responsibility for their health. Your “Makeover” Video sounds like a great inexpensive tool. Although Connecticut is one of the richest states in the union, our cities such as Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford suffer from the same problems as Galveston, Texas. Connecticut is weak when it comes to collaboration and sharing of resources. I work in a busy Emergency Department responsible for the education, intervention, and referral for the homeless population and people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, the amount of free services we provide is overwhelming and keeps rising every year. I have a few questions; what is the percentage of revisits for those who have received your intervention? And, do you share your “Makeover” video with other nonprofits, if so, how can I obtain a copy? Thank you for sharing your work. - Ralph
HI!
I need to get the "revisit" information from Doris, the Coordinator that literally goes out into the street to find our clients and test them.
I can make you a copy of our video. Can you send me your address?
The file is too large to email.
However, you can get a glimpse of the series on "YouTube"
type in "baldiloxx"
And you will get an image of "Polish" our Makeover spokesman in action.
thank you for asking.
sincerely,
marsha at st. vincent's house
Hi!
I have obtained that information from Doris:
On our Outreach Street Screening 76% are new clients. The reason for that is the program is designed to go to new places almost every time. The team goes to a new neighborhood "hang-out" corner on each weekly visit. For example the retired longshoreman have local "sittin' areas" - our team will visit those. Many of them have high blood pressure, etc. We do get repeat clients who will choose to go to a UTMB health fair or our "WelFair" which is held each November.
Regular Clinic: Our free clinic is the community clinic for the local underserved community. We see approximately 32% new clients in our general clinics. WellWoman Clinics which have only been here for three years still have a high percentage of new clients - 83%. Our psychicatric clinic is totally new - it's only 11 months old. Virtually all of the clients are new- 92%. We are filling a gap when UTMB closed part of it's mental health services.
Our Makeover Series just hit cable television three weeks ago. Everyone is new! We are working with the City to find out whose watching.
I hope this answers your questions.
And if you didn't see Makeover on Youtube - please send me your address. I finally got it to duplicate. I just love technology.
best,
marsha
Comments
Dear Ms. Rappaport:
First I commend the unique efforts of health care in the streets, literally in the streets! However, I understand that as the program as it stands now would not be able to function without foundation grants and other donor based funding. Do you have any plans in the future to ensure the programs sustainability without outside assistance? Could any of the programs ever be supported by the users themselves?
Also, how would your model be expanded to serve other similar communities throughout the country??
Thank you very much in advance for your response.
Sincerely,
Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
Dear Tyler Ahn,
Unfortunately, we are located in the three census tracts were the poverty is most concentrated. Somehow, the HUD housing developments built in the 1950's were all built "north of Broadway" the main street on the Island. Most of the poor were then concentrated in this area bounded on the east by 25th street and west by 51st where the last housing development is located.
We do have some base funding. We are a "Mission" of the Episcopal Church. We are the only African-American social service agency in this part of Texas governed by the Diocese located in Houston. Therefore they have a church "obligation" to keep us there. They don't have an obligation to fund innovative programs or anything past the basics.
I must add that UTMB - the University of Texas Medical Branch has somewhat modified it's version of tending to the needs of the indigent. One of the reasons our client base is rising is that they are charging larger co-pays and turning people away. The 4 C's Clinic - the county run clinic is doing the same things. Now that they've lost another $30 million in the last legislative session things will get worst. For example, we see women with advanced cancers in our clinic here. We have to seek funds in order to pay for that woman's MRI because UTMB will no longer let her get it for free without advance payment. They're motto is "here for the health of Texas" - but it's turning into "we need to turn a profit".
The poverty here is so great and the addition of new working poor is growing so fast - people here simply are too poor to "contribute". We must remain a charitable enterprise and try to meet their needs.
Dear Ms. Rappaport,
I am really impressed by your organization's approach to providing health care to such impoverished people, and was simply curious about your statistics. I can see you keep very accurate records about the amount of clients you have seen and was wondering whether you also tracked the number of revisits? Though # of clients is crucial, its also good to see they are making the continued effort to make health-changes beyond the one-time street screening. Do you know the % of revisits of your clients?
Sincerely,
Molly Fay
Nomadic Communities Trust
HI!
I need to get the New and returning stats from Doris our WelCare Coordinator.
She's at a conference today.
Can you give me a few days to get that information?
thanks for asking.
sincerely,
marsha at st. vincent's house
Hi!
I have obtained that information from Doris:
On our Outreach Street Screening 76% are new clients. The reason for that is the program is designed to go to new places almost every time. The team goes to a new neighborhood "hang-out" corner on each weekly visit. For example the retired longshoreman have local "sittin' areas" - our team will visit those. Many of them have high blood pressure, etc. We do get repeat clients who will choose to go to a UTMB health fair or our "WelFair" which is held each November.
Regular Clinic: Our free clinic is the community clinic for the local underserved community. We see approximately 32% new clients in our general clinics. WellWoman Clinics which have only been here for three years still have a high percentage of new clients - 83%. Our psychicatric clinic is totally new - it's only 11 months old. Virtually all of the clients are new- 92%. We are filling a gap when UTMB closed part of it's mental health services.
Our Makeover Series just hit cable television three weeks ago. Everyone is new! We are working with the City to find out whose watching.
I hope this information helps.
best,
marsha
It was wonderful to read about your organization. The WelCare Initiative is truly a disruption in healthcare. I can only hope that within six years my organization will be as successful as ST. Vincent’s House. Awareness is the key, teaching the consumer how to take more responsibility for their health. Your “Makeover” Video sounds like a great inexpensive tool. Although Connecticut is one of the richest states in the union, our cities such as Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford suffer from the same problems as Galveston, Texas. Connecticut is weak when it comes to collaboration and sharing of resources. I work in a busy Emergency Department responsible for the education, intervention, and referral for the homeless population and people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, the amount of free services we provide is overwhelming and keeps rising every year. I have a few questions; what is the percentage of revisits for those who have received your intervention? And, do you share your “Makeover” video with other nonprofits, if so, how can I obtain a copy? Thank you for sharing your work. - Ralph
HI!
I need to get the "revisit" information from Doris, the Coordinator that literally goes out into the street to find our clients and test them.
I can make you a copy of our video. Can you send me your address?
The file is too large to email.
However, you can get a glimpse of the series on "YouTube"
type in "baldiloxx"
And you will get an image of "Polish" our Makeover spokesman in action.
thank you for asking.
sincerely,
marsha at st. vincent's house
Hi!
I have obtained that information from Doris:
On our Outreach Street Screening 76% are new clients. The reason for that is the program is designed to go to new places almost every time. The team goes to a new neighborhood "hang-out" corner on each weekly visit. For example the retired longshoreman have local "sittin' areas" - our team will visit those. Many of them have high blood pressure, etc. We do get repeat clients who will choose to go to a UTMB health fair or our "WelFair" which is held each November.
Regular Clinic: Our free clinic is the community clinic for the local underserved community. We see approximately 32% new clients in our general clinics. WellWoman Clinics which have only been here for three years still have a high percentage of new clients - 83%. Our psychicatric clinic is totally new - it's only 11 months old. Virtually all of the clients are new- 92%. We are filling a gap when UTMB closed part of it's mental health services.
Our Makeover Series just hit cable television three weeks ago. Everyone is new! We are working with the City to find out whose watching.
I hope this answers your questions.
And if you didn't see Makeover on Youtube - please send me your address. I finally got it to duplicate. I just love technology.
best,
marsha
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