Page 5 - Mary's Center - Connections - Spring 2021

FAMILY SUPPORT HEROES

Throughout the COVID-19 public
health emergency, the Family
Support Workers (FSWs) at Mary’s
Center have been critical to
supporting the overall health and
well-being of our community. FSWs
assess the social and emotional
needs of the patient population
while helping them navigate other
essential services inside and outside
Mary’s Center.

When the pandemic hit and the
economy shifted, there was a
drastic increase in our community’s
need for additional support. As
our participants faced housing and
food insecurity as well as financial Family Support Workers play an essential role in Mary’s Center’s efforts to provide emergency supplies like
strains, our FSWs were at the center food, diapers, and money to ensure families keep their homes, and computers to keep children connected to
school. Thank you to the many supporters who provided assistance for this critical direct relief to our families.
of helping families navigate these
obstacles. “At Mary’s Center we
recognize that treating physical Throughout the pandemic, rewarding. Sasha said, “I have found
health alone is not enough,” stated participants experienced a greater it both challenging and exciting to
Director of Social Services Jessica need for housing assistance and find innovative ways to support my
Kaufman, MPH. “For the best legal support in fighting eviction participants. As a Home Visiting FSW,
possible health outcome, we need despite the federal ban. FSWs have I have a dynamic and wide-ranging
to address social, emotional, and
been there to support participants job. Some days I am working to
educational needs.” This involves
with accessing complex cash and secure housing. Other days I am
FSWs supporting families through
food assistance programs at the
each chapter of life. simply a listening ear. I am kept on
local and federal level. These
my toes, but I wouldn’t have it any
One significant role of the FSWs is resources have been essential to other way as I cherish being a witness
supporting women before, during, our community in meeting their to the triumphs of the individuals I
and after pregnancy through the basic needs during this work with.”
Healthy Start program. During the fall unprecedented time.
of 2020, FSWs from our home visiting FSWs like Sasha are true heroes to
While this past year has been a
program distributed infant blankets so many families during these times
challenge for all, our staff has
and postpartum care kits directly of uncertainty and great loss.
remained focused on leading our
to new moms in their homes. They
participants to healthier and brighter Mary’s Center is extremely proud
were extremely grateful for these
futures. Sasha Zients, a Mary’s Center of the successes of our participants
deliveries since they have had to limit
their public outings to minimize their FSW, shared that helping her and we feel privileged to be in their
risk of infection. For these mothers, it participants successfully overcome lives during one of the most
was a meaningful and unforgettable these obstacles has been very challenging times.
part of their postpartum experience.

FSWs connect participants to If you are interested in learning more about the extraordinary work
resources within Mary’s Center as of our family support teams and other essential social services
well as in the greater community. programs, please visit www.maryscenter.org/social-services.

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