Community-Based Practices

Our team serves vulnerable people in our communities who face barriers to accessing care and can benefit from extra support to achieve physical and mental health. We provide essential primary, sexual and reproductive health care and mental health services for West Side youth and inclusive, affirming care for the LGBTQ+ community. Partners include local high schools and community-based organizations that connect people with essential resources and services.

Sometimes, I’m the very first person someone tells that they’re trans or nonbinary. They’ve never had a safe, supportive place where they can talk about their identity. I recently worked with someone from rural Mexico who had been saving their entire life to get gender affirmation surgery; they moved here and were underweight because they were skipping food to save money. I was able to connect them with food and other resources.

Another patient with uncontrolled diabetes was in our emergency department and I was able to set her up with an endocrinologist to treat her diabetes and provide hormone replacement therapy. Trans patients aren’t just in need of hormones and surgery — they have other health needs, too.

Andre Pappas, patient care navigator, Affirm

1,377 mental health sessions cared for young people at five School-Based Health Centers

At least half our patients have a history of suicidal thoughts; a huge number have a history of trauma, which we might see as anger that can get them labeled as “bad kids.” You always have to dig deeper — and we have the ability to do that because we have the opportunity to spend time with them.

When one student was struggling with the situation at home, we were able to work closely with the school and have them understand why they might see some behaviors worsen. The unique thing about us is that we’re all right here and can really do some teamwork.

Janel Draxler, APRN, psychiatric nurse practitioner, School-Based Health Centers

128 teen pregnancies were prevented through Adolescent Family Center family planning services

When I introduce myself to a new patient, I say, “My name is Maria; welcome to the Adolescent Family Center, and to our family.” We focus on reproductive health — we take pride in our ability to offer a wide range of contraceptive methods to young people — but we’re also taking a comprehensive approach. There can be many layers of what our patients are working through, so often our work is like peeling an onion.

Ultimately, our goal is to help them get on track for success. I’ve had patients come back to tell me how proud they are to graduate from 8th grade, from high school, from college. One of our former patients came in as a pregnant 15-year old and today she’s the head of obstetric anesthesia at an academic medical center in Texas.

Maria Reyes, PhD, CNP, nurse practitioner, Adolescent Family Center