Last month we celebrated the onboarding of our Community Resource Navigators, and each month we'll fill you in on what they are learning and doing in Shawnee and Douglas counties.
While they are still spending much of these first few months completing their certification as Community Health Workers through a program at KU, they are also starting to meet community partners and even beginning to work with neighbors who need their help. In just over a month, they've collectively logged about 1,000 miles! UWKV Community Resource Navigators will spend more than half of their time out in their respective communties when their training is complete, giving our neighbors in need more ways to get connected to the help they need to thrive. Website updates will be coming soon with ways to search for services on your own or request a conversation with a navigator.
The Community Resource Navigation Team: Ashley, Heather (Program Director), Hannah and Sandy
Hannah
UWKV Community Resource Navigator
Rural Douglas County
Hannah grew up and lives in Baldwin. She has run a home daycare, led manufacturing teams, and even served with her local volunteer fire department!
Where you can find her:
Hannah also has connected with mental health and domestic violence agencies, joined conversations on housing and Medicaid, and helped the Department of Children and Families with local energy assistance program enrollment through LIEAP.
Sandy
UWKV Community Resource Navigator
Lawrence
Sandy worked for 30 years in the Lawrence school system, primarily with special education preschool. She was a teacher but also worked to connect families with needed services, so resource navigation is the next evolution of her talents!
Sandy will be a regular at the Douglas County senior resource center, the Lawrence Public Library (including baby and books groups), and at Positive Bright Start.
She has spent time shadowing at Heartland Community Health and has connected with Bert Nash, The Ballard Cemter, Sunrise Collective, Just Food, and Willow, She is learning about Medicaid and Medicare and has already volunteered at LIEAP events
Ashley
UWKV Community Resource Navigator
Topeka/Shawnee County
Ashley's background in the medical world includes time in both hospital settings and at the state level for Medicaid. Today, she is a non-traditional student at Washburn and has plans to eventually go to law school. She is especially interested in the effect of public policy on people’s lives.
Ashley is piloting regular hours at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.
She has also met with the East Topeka Senior Center, Topeka Housing Authority, Impact Avenues, food pantries, re-entry programs, domestic violence centers and Positive Connections. Like her fellow navigators, she has also assisted with LIEAP events.