Case Management & Outreach

The Case Management team at the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living (MHSCHL) is comprised of Bachelor level professionals who serve and help guide individuals throughout their journey to wellness. The process of case management at the MHSCHL is based on assessment, evaluation, resource brokering, and follow-up. Our case management team paves the way for autonomy for our clients and activates our mission of connecting the most vulnerable of populations to invaluable resources when needed most. They serve as an endless data bank of resources and depict a true collaborative effort within MHSCHL, its partnering agencies, and beyond. Built on the model of a true “warm hand off,” case managers fortify strong partnerships within the community and are often the bridge in ensuring that no one falls through the cracks.

The American Public Health Association has adopted the following definition of a Promotor/ Community Health Worker (CHW): A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an usually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.
At the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living (MHSCHL), our Promotores work toward a shared goal: to elevate the community they serve. They are uniquely qualified and play a pivotal role in addressing the needs of the underserved Latino communities in our surrounding area. They are agents of change; leveraging their skill set with the MHSCHL’s collaborative model to maximize their impact. Our Promotores are the frontline of the MHSCHL and stay in pulse with community needs. Through their outreach efforts, they competently and compassionately seek out and receive the community with open and welcoming arms. This integral approach facilitates connection, demonstrates integrity, and is the foundation of this working relationship. You can see our Promotores out in the community sharing about our services door-to-door, at school functions, community events, home visits, and our identified priority area Oak View.