Since 1971, TVHC provides comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health care, youth health services, community health education, family support services, and Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition services to low-income, limited English proficient, uninsured, and publicly insured patients.
As a federally qualified health center with over 300 health professional and support staff, TVHC operates eight primary care clinics: Hayward Clinic; Union City Clinic; San Leandro Clinic; Silva Pediatric Clinic (Hayward); the Firehouse Clinic (Hayward); the Mobile Medical Services Van at Hayward High School; the Tennyson Health Center at Tennyson High School (Hayward) and the Logan Health Center at the James Logan High School (Union City). TVHC also has four WIC nutrition services locations; eight school-based mental health service sites and one combined behavioral health-family support services site.
TVHC provides services to many of the regions most vulnerable and marginalized populations, building community trust by providing high-quality services in a multi-lingual, culturally welcoming environment. With respect to cultural and linguistic diversity, TVHC provides services to more than 28,000 community members each year, of which a large majority (74%)are Latino. TVHCs multi-multicultural and multilingual staff possesses extensive language capacity. With a four-decade presence in the community, TVHC has built tremendous trust and credibility to prevent health disparities in a multicultural community. In particular, immigrants in the area know they can turn to TVHC for high-quality services, delivered in their preferred language and in a culturally welcoming setting.
This job comes with a million little successes. Success can be something as simple as getting a client to accept a water bottle from your team to something as monumental as helping a client get shelter.
'When the people that we serve have positive experiences and health outcomes as a result of our interactions with them. Gaining their trust is meaningful to us and to them. This position really caters to the needs of a population who has fallen through the cracks.' - Street Health RN, Sara Hankin
'If you like variety, this is the job for you! Typically, our team gathers in the morning for a quick briefing. Then we 'll head out to encampments for the day. We get to spend a lot of time outside. We perform triage and focused assessments. We also provide health education, and we do a lot of critical thinking to come up with solutions to problems our clients face.' - Street Health RN Emily Jiminez
I didnt learn how to do street nursing in school. Like most jobs, Im figuring it out as I go. (The great secret of life? Everyones figuring it out as they go.) Im grateful Ive gotten (somewhat) used to having to pivot in the moment to focus on the highest priority.
Before, that meant dropping everything to advocate for a client who had an opportunity to receive housing. Or tracking down a client who required a swift follow-up assessment after an abnormal lab result. Or negotiating with a client who needed to go to the ED for a twisted knee (was it broken? sprained?) but wasnt willing to let us alert the fire department of her encampment location.
As part of a county-wide effort, our team is attempting to reach as many unsheltered people as possible within our jurisdiction. Our approach is focused on education (on the current state of the pandemic, as well as strategies to prevent illness), supplies (such as hand sanitizer and other hygiene items), and screening for relevant symptoms. If we get consent, I take a temporal temperature. If someone is symptomatic, we can advocate for a test.
Given the limited testing stock and the challenges in transporting a suspected COVID-19 case (we cant use our own vehicles, and its unethical to use ride-sharing apps) unless a client is exhibiting severe symptoms that warrant a 911 call, we will likely be in the difficult position of figuring out how an unsheltered person can self-quarantine.
I hope everything we are doing and everything you are doing has such an impact that our team will keep monitoring our unsheltered friends without seeing an outbreak occur within their communities. I hope the mask and gloves I wear when I get within 6 feet of a person experiencing homelessness keeps them safe.
I dont want to increase the collective anxiety, but I do want to encourage everyone to continue following social distancing directives so those of us who cannot (whether by profession or lack of a home) are a little more protected.
I shifted to make eye contact with her from where I was squatting in the dirt, retrieving supplies from my backpack. I said the words with intention, slowing my breathing, feeling my feet solid on the ground: We love you, too.
Well I sure do think the work you and your team do is a representation of Him. I dont think its a coincidence that you showed up in my life. I told him, as I always do, that were honored to serve him. I always say God is Love, I said. He smiled, and gave me a hug this time a little tighter than usual.