AmeriCorps...The Road Less Traveled

Hello my name is Michelle McGlaun, an AmeriCorps member serving as a HealthCorps Navigator. The AmeriCorps program through which I serve is Community HealthCorps, a National Direct program operating in several states throughout the U.S. My service site is the Cherry Street Health Services (CSHS) at the Heart of the City Health Center. Cherry Street's mission is to improve the health and wellness of individuals by providing comprehensive primary and behavioral health care while improving the access of those who are underserved. 

In order to accomplish this goal, Cherry Street offers services at 25 sites throughout Michigan. This makes CSHS the largest federally-qualified health center in Michigan.  At Heart of the City, I am in Patient Services where I perform patient outreach.  In short, I connect our clients to different types of resources that they need.

One example of how I am able to help connect patients with the resources they need is the recent case of a patient whom I helped to apply for Medicaid. This client had previously been denied Medicaid because he had not been declared disabled. After he was denied, he tried to get several jobs but because of his medical issues, he was unable to keep jobs for long periods of time. 

After he lost his last job,  I decided to try again to help him apply for disability and Medicaid. I met with him and together we filled out the Medicaid application. After that, I pulled together all of his medical records and the other information required to apply for Medicaid. Because I helped to pull all of these records together, they were available for review by the judge who was determining the patient's disability case. Once the judge was able to actually see all of his medical conditions, the client was approved for Medicaid and disability. 

Many people had given up on this gentleman and his case since he had already been denied for disability several times. But as a result of myself and other CSHS staff who decided to try one more time, we were able to help him get approved for disability and Medicaid services that will help improve his life.

With only six weeks left in my second year of AmeriCorps service, I am grateful for stories such as these which have made my two years of service a great benefit to me.  I have been able to serve a vast amount of clients at Heart of the City and I have also been able to volunteer with several different organizations through out Grand Rapids.   

Even though I have enjoyed my service year, it has also come with its share of challenges.  Like when the resources available are not enough to meet the needs of the clients, or when a client I have helped has unexpectedly passed away. But I have been able to use both the triumphs and challenges to my advantage, because they have taught me how to be a better communicator, leader, and a more compassionate person.