A single mother has lost her job and is struggling to pay rent.  Facing eviction, she needs help to provide clothing for her four children.  A teenager is pregnant, and doesn’t know that she can qualify for health insurance for pre-natal care.  A family that doesn’t speak English has a seriously ill child who needs hospital care, follow up services and on-going therapy.

These are only a few examples of the problems brought to our Social Services department for resolution.

Social Services is staffed by a team of professionals that includes an intake specialist to assess the needs of each patient.  Social service assistants help patients apply for health care coverage, seek resources from other agencies and support them with advocacy.  They make referrals to other community organizations for housing assistance, domestic violence, immigration problems, family problems and custody matters.

Masters level social workers provide crisis counseling, psychosocial assessments and case management. 

“So much of health care, as it pertains to our patients, involves both medical and social issues.  We are blessed to have ready access to competent social workers who are dedicated and determined to help our patients and their families when any need or crisis arises.”
David Waters, MD

The following list of rights and responsibilities was developed by our social services department.

My Rights as a Human Being

To be treated with dignity and respect
To medical care
To be safe in my home and community
To be free from physical and verbal abuse
To food, clothing and a place to live
To a job with a decent wage
To worship according to my belief
To an education
To financial help if I cannot work
To make decisions about my own life

My responsibilities as a human being

I have the responsibility
To treat others with respect and dignity
To obey the law
To help myself as much as I am able
To protect the earth and the environment
To look out for the children and the elderly in my community