Harvard. Advocate Application Info Packet Fall Tony Kushner

Transcription

1 Harvard The world is calling; heal the world and in the process heal yourself, find the human in yourself by finding the citizen, the activist, the hero. Tony Kushner Advocate Application Info Packet Fall 2012

2 I. About Health Leads Health Leads is a national movement that mobilizes the nation s undergraduates to provide highimpact services to low-income families and, in the process, to transform our healthcare system into one that is more effective and more just. Health Leads envisions a healthcare system that addresses all patients' basic resource needs as a standard part of quality care. Health Leads mission is to catalyze this healthcare system by connecting patients with the basic resources they need to be healthy, and in doing so, build leaders with the conviction and ability to champion quality care for all patients. Health Leads believes that undergraduates have what it takes to make real change for individual families and for our country s healthcare system. We are always seeking passionate, committed, social justice-minded students to join our movement. To learn more about our work, our vision, and more, visit II. About Health Leads Boston Health Leads Boston is the oldest and largest region in the organization's six-city network. It has grown from a card table in the waiting room at Boston City Hospital staffed by 10 students, to a robust operation that last year alone mobilized 160 college students to serve over 2,000 families. The Health Leads Model The Health Leads Desk is a resource and advocacy program that helps families access community resources critical to their health, safety, and economic survival. Operating in clinics and hospitals, the Health Leads Desks use a patient s visit to the doctor as an opportunity to address the non-medical issues that have an impact on health. At the desk, Health Leads Advocates talk with individuals and families about their resource needs and connect them with appropriate services related to food, housing, health insurance, childcare, adult education, job training, and other services. The Advocates then follow-up with these clients to provide further assistance that will ensure success in accessing resources and to provide further assistance easing the frustration of bureaucratic systems, language barriers, and administrative errors that often obstruct families access to services. what people say about Health Leads This [Health Leads] is exactly the kind of social innovation and entrepreneurship we should be encouraging all across this country. First Lady Michelle Obama, TIME Magazine100 Most Influential People Gala Health Leads is a part of our team. I can t do it all. We re just barely staying above water. The students have excellent listening skills, aren t limited by time, realize this work is important, and are passionate about it. - Dr. Barbara Philipp, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center My classmates think you write a prescription, and you re done. I ask, can the patient read the prescription? Does she need transportation to the pharmacy? Does she have food at home to take with the prescription? These are not questions you learn to ask in medical school, but I learned them at Health Leads. - Mia Lozada, M.D. Health Leads alumna, Internal Medicine Resident, UCSF 1

3 III. Advocate Job Description Position Overview The Advocate provides high quality service to her/his clients that results in their access to the basic resources needed to be healthy. The Advocate participates in a team of 10, managed by an Advocate Coordinator (AC) and supported by a Resource Coordinator (RC). The Advocate reports to the site s Program Manager, a paid Health Leads staff member. The Advocate brings commitment, creativity, tenacity, and humility to work with families, and, through this work, strengthens her/his conviction and ability to champion quality care for all patients. Commitments Able and willing to commit up to 6 hours of service a including one shift at the desk and at least 1.5 hours a week of case follow-up on campus. Able and willing to commit to service for at least two academic semesters. Available to participate in regularly scheduled activities on campus at these times: o Every Sunday 6:00 to 7:00 PM (Reflection Sessions) o Alternate Sundays 7:00 to 8:00 PM (Case Support Groups) Available to attend the Pre-Service Training for Advocates on Saturday, September 22 nd and Sunday, September 23 rd. Position Availability Thirty (30) Advocates are needed for the desk in the Ob/Gyn Clinic at Boston Medical Center. Responsibilities include: Attends one shift per week, spending this time working with patients in-person and undertaking outreach and/or screening activities to engage new patients. Attends a Follow-Up Family (FUF) session on campus for 1.5 hours a week. Undertakes the additional follow-up activity needed to maintain consistent, high quality service to clients. Attends a Case Support Group on campus for one hour every other week to enhance service to clients and further skill development. 2

4 Maintains clean and up-to-date case records, and documents hours of volunteer service each week. Attends a Reflection Session on campus for one hour each week to extend learning by relating the Advocate service experience to broader health care policy, poverty reduction, and community development issues. Responds promptly to questions and requests from the Advocate Coordinator and Program Manager by , phone, and in-person. Attends the two days of Pre-Service Training for Advocates at the start of each semester. Participates in a mid-semester evaluation with the Advocate Coordinator. Completes a Volunteer Experience Survey at the end of the semester. IV. The Application Process Information Sessions Interested in learning more about Health Leads? Please join us at an information session. Sunday, September 9th 6-7 pm in Sever 106. Applications Applications are due by Wednesday September 12th no later than midnight EST. To request a link to the application, please Claire Zukin at. She will send you a link to the system. Note that this link will be unique to your address do NOT forward it to anyone else, or their answers could overwrite yours! Medical Tests Before you begin your work at Health Leads, you must submit certain health documentation to be cleared to volunteer in clinics. This is a process mandated by the hospitals and clinics in which we work. The following documentation must be submitted by or fax ( ) to Claire Zukin, Health Leads Boston Operations Coordinator, by Sunday, September 23rd, at the latest: Your complete immunization record; and, The results of a Tuberculosis skin test (TST) administered within the last 12 months. Be sure to make an appointment with University Health Services/ Student Health Services ASAP as appointments fill up very quickly. TST results must include the date the test was given and the date it was read, as well as the millimeter (mm) of duration. The form should be signed by the health professional reading the test with printed name, title, and contact number on his or her letterhead. **For those with prior positive TB skin tests, we 3

5 require documentation of the positive TB test date with size (mm) of skin reaction/induration and a copy of a normal chest X-Ray report obtained after the diagnosis of positive TB skin test. Note: All Advocates working at Boston Medical Center will need to obtain a second TB test within the first three weeks of starting shift. Interviews Interviews will be conducted by Health Leads student leaders and staff, and will last approximately one half hour. If you are selected for an interview, it will be scheduled on one of the following days: Friday, September 14 th 3 pm 10 pm Saturday, September 15 th 10 am 10 pm Sunday, September 16 th 10 am 10 pm Final Decisions Health Leads student leaders will notify applicants of acceptances by: Tuesday, September 18 th We hope that you accept our offer! All applicants offered an Advocate position must reply to the offer by: Wednesday, September 19th Training Dates If you decide to volunteer with Health Leads, please note that you will be required to attend training on both the following dates: Saturday, September 22 nd Sunday, September 23rd V. Questions If you have any questions, please contact Health Leads Boston Operations Coordinator, Claire Zukin. Her address is. Thanks for your interest in Health Leads. We look forward to working with you! 4