Navigator Notes: Help With an Unexpected Grandbaby
In late March, the United Way’s new Community Resource Navigation program received a referral from one of our community partners. One of their clients, a woman we'll call K, had recently become the legal guardian of her newborn grandson. The community partner reached out to Ashley Mason, United Way's Community Resource Navigator in Shawnee County, to see if she could connect the client with needed resources after this enormous change in her living situation.
K confided in Ashley that she felt unsafe carrying a baby up and down the flight of stairs to her small apartment. The water in the apartment was sometimes shut off, and the surroundings just didn't feel safe for a child. K had found a new place to live that she could afford, but she needed money for a deposit. She would also have to find a stove and refrigerator.
First Things First
Ashley got to work. One of the jobs of a community resource navigator is to know the available resources in the community and connect the client to those resources. When one need is met, the Navigator then helps the client connect to the next.
Diapers and formula had to come first. Ashley put K in contact with two local agencies that could fulfill this need. They then moved on to money for the apartment deposit.
United Way of Kaw Valley has donor network, Women United, that provides emergency grants of up to $750 to assist women and children in need. Women United was able to grant out the maximum amount to help with the deposit.
With K's new apartment secured, Ashley got to work finding a stove and refrigerator. United Way of Kaw Valley recently began working with Care Portal, an organization that brings together area churches with the goal of helping families with children. Ashley submitted a request through Care Portal, and soon appliances were found!
Closing the Loop
One day, while Ashley was at her regularly scheduled drop-in times at the library, K came with the baby to say thank you. Ashley was thrilled to meet the little one and close the loop on her journey with K. And K knows that Ashley will be available again if she needs her, thanks to United Way donors and generous corporate partners like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.
United Way of Kaw Valley’s Community Resource Navigation program is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and UWKV donors.