Bridges' Avila Provides Crucial Link to Recovery

Araceli Avila supported Manuela and her family throughout Juan’s illness, checking in and bringing the family essentials like groceries, shampoo, and conditioner. 

From Bridges to Health:

By Judy Bankman

This story is the second in a three-part series on the Bridges to Health program, its staff, clients, and role in the community, especially during COVID-19.

When Manuela Rodriguez’s husband Juan tested positive for Covid-19 in January of this year, she knew the family needed some extra support. Juan did not have sick leave, and he needed to take time off to recover. He suggested Manuela call the health department in Hood River, and she was connected with Araceli Avila, Community Health Worker, who works at Mid Columbia Medical Center with the Bridges to Health Program.

Araceli supported Manuela and her family throughout Juan’s illness, checking in and bringing the family essentials like groceries, shampoo, and conditioner. 

“She would call me every day, say, ‘Hey Manny, how’s your husband? Is he doing better? Do you need something?’” Manuela said.

Araceli also connected Manuela and her family to rental assistance through the Community Action Program in The Dalles, which helped them cover housing costs while Juan was not working.

Juan is fully recovered now, but Covid was hard on the whole family. Sometimes Juan’s oxygen would drop and Manuela would think about calling 911. She and her two kids stayed in separate rooms and she assisted Juan with a mask and gloves. Luckily, no one else got sick. The kids communicate with their father over video chat, but of course, they wished they could give him a hug. The family’s resilience, coupled with help from Araceli and others in the community, helped them make it through.

Funded by the Columbia Gorge Health Council and PacificSource Community Solutions, Bridges to Health has been helping clients access resources inside and outside the health care system since 2017. All Community Health Workers (CHWs) within the Bridges to Health Team are employed by local nonprofits, government agencies, or MCMC, which contract with the Columbia Gorge Health Council. CHWs are trusted members of the community who help their clients with anything from making a dental appointment to access food, transportation, or housing. 

Because Bridges to Health works across sectors, its staff have built strong relationships throughout the community. These relationships have ensured that the program’s work is not “siloed” and that it effectively meets clients’ needs through open communication channels and shared goals among community partners. The program is focused on equity, meaning that it works to provide each client with the resources they need to thrive, which undoubtedly vary from person to person.

“In order to be equitable, we need to help give people what they need to be successful,” said Suzanne Cross, program manager of Bridges to Health.

For Araceli, what makes Bridges to Health unique is its ability to take referrals from a variety of agencies and to help with any number of challenges. Plus, the program can offer emergency support, if an individual or family just needs a place to sleep for one night or meals for one day.

When Covid-19 hit, Bridges to Health pivoted to serve those in quarantine or isolation and launched the Covid-19 Response Program. Through this effort, CHWs began supporting clients by making home visits to deliver whatever they needed, from PPE to kids’ activities. CHWs were also able to help clients pay their bills or secure rental assistance, as Araceli did with Manuela and her family. The Covid-19 Response Program was made possible with grants from the Oregon Health Authority, PacificSource, Columbia Gorge Health Council, and Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.

Currently, Bridges to Health CHWs are seeing fewer families in isolation for Covid-19. They’re continuing their work of connecting clients to resources in the community, which nowadays means providing information about the Covid-19 vaccine, helping clients schedule appointments at local clinics, and making sure they have transportation to get there. The program has been working with Columbia Area Transit and the LINK, which provide free transportation to vaccine clinics throughout Hood River and Wasco Counties. Lastly, with funding from the Oregon Health Authority Community Based Organization grant, Bridges to Health has supported its CHWs in taking time to assist with vaccine clinics. Because many of the Bridges to Health CHWs are bilingual, their presence at vaccine clinics has helped support the Spanish-speaking community.

“Sometimes people say, ‘[Covid] is just in the news’. No it’s not just in the news,” said Manuela. “Once it happens to someone you love so much, you’re like, yes, it’s real.”

For more information on the Covid vaccine in your community, please visit www.gorgeimpact.com/vaccines. 

To read the first story in this series click here.