THE VIEW Health Care for the Homeless Program / Fall/Winter 2013 FROM THE BRIDGE

This issue: Bring Us Your Briefs p2 / Reclaiming Marathon Monday p3 / Patient-Centered Medical Home p5 www.bhchp.org

A Message From Barry Bock, Chief Executive Officer Since 1985, • Finally, one untraditional goal among Our Mission: The mission of Boston Boston Health health care providers that we at Health Care for the Homeless Program Care for the BHCHP hold dear is to see that all (BHCHP) is to provide or assure access Homeless persons are housed, without which to the highest quality health care Program true health equity cannot be realized. (BHCHP)’s for all homeless men, women and I have the honor of being CEO, which is a mission has been children in the greater Boston area. recent development for me after nearly to provide or We Offer: Primary Care, twenty-three years with BHCHP; I have assure access Behavioral Health, Oral Health, proudly assumed the role after serving as to the highest Family Services, Case Management, the organization’s COO for fifteen of those quality health Addictions Services, Medical years. I am as humbled to be leading care for all homeless men, women and Respite Care, and Outreach this organization as I am grateful for its children throughout Greater Boston. We existence and for the vibrant and skilled accomplish this by hiring a motivated caregivers who bring our mission to life. and dedicated staff, deploying them to where our patients are: the street, I have had the pleasure of meeting shelters, soup kitchens, and hospitals. many of you over the years through tours, events, or various speaking Our goal, and my vision, is to care for engagements. However, as CEO, one of patients where they are and to do so my privileges is to sign thank-you letters without judgment. We strongly desire to all the supporters of our program. I to break the cycles of homelessness cherish the opportunity to get to know and poor health, and we recognize you—even if it’s only on paper. that health care plays a central role in preventing these negative spirals. BHCHP is a program of firsts: having created the first respite program, first Today, we face these challenges in the Consumer Advisory Board, along with We Are: Administrative Staff, Building new light of health care reform. Thank- dozens of innovations in care delivery & Maintenance Staff, Case Managers, fully, our goals and those of the Com- models all to serve a remarkable group Dental Assistants, Dentists, Food monwealth and the nation are aligned: of patients. I hope you take some pride Services Staff, Behavioral Health • To improve the health of the individual of ownership—much of what we do is & Substance Abuse Counselors, patient, which we do through the made possible by your support and Community Health Workers, Benefits provision of exceptional care; contributions—for that I thank you. Enrollment Specialists, Nurse  • To improve the health of the Practitioners, Physicians, Physician If you would like the opportunity to see our population, which we do through Assistants, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, work firsthand, I encourage you to visit us and assertive outreach and public health Registered Nurses, Social Workers, meet our remarkable staff and patients. Please interventions; contact Linda O’Connor at 857.654.1050 or Respite Aides, and AmeriCorps/ • And to control costs, which we believe [email protected] for more information. Community HealthCorps Members we have a responsibility to do, as do all health care providers.

The View From the Bridge is a publication of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, bridging the gap between homelessness and health 24/7/365. For additional information please contact: Linda O’Connor, Director of Development, ([email protected]) at 857.654.1050 or Allison Whittier, Communications & Donor Relations Coordinator, ([email protected]) at 857.654.1044. Our Story

Founded in 1985, BHCHP employs the adults with complex conditions like *A partial list of BHCHP’s partners professional medical staff that manages cancer, heart disease, pneumonia and includes: Above & Beyond/Brookview, the clinics and delivers the compre- diabetes who are too sick to live in Anchor Inn, Asian Task Force Against hensive health care at most of greater a shelter or on the street and would Domestic Violence, Boston Family Shelter, Boston’s adult, family and domestic otherwise require prolonged and costly Boston Living Center, Boston Medical violence shelters (Pine Street Inn, hospitalization in the acute care rooms Center, Bridge to Recovery, Brookview The New England Center for Homeless of Boston’s hospitals. House, Cardinal Medeiros Center, Veterans, St. Francis House and more Carolina Hills Shelter, Casa Esperanza, When you support BHCHP you reach than 80 others).* BHCHP is the hands Casa Nueva Vida, Church of the Advent, children and adults throughout greater Crittenton Women’s Union, Crossroads, and face of health care for over 12,000 Boston’s entire safety net community DOVE, The Eighth Pole at Suffolk Downs, homeless adults and children each when they are not only homeless but Entre Familia, Families in Transition, year at sites as diverse as Horizons for also sick.  Father Bill’s & Mainspring, Finex House, Homeless Children and the crawl space Hildebrand Family Shelter, hopeFound, under the Longfellow Bridge. BHCHP has Horizons for Homeless Children, Housing operated in-the-black while delivering Families, Inc., Kingston House, Latinas medicine that matters to Boston’s most “When you support BHCHP y Niños, Lindemann Center, Long Island vulnerable population for over 28 years. you reach children and Shelter, Margaret’s House, In addition, BHCHP staffs, manages and General Hospital, Massachusetts delivers comprehensive health care at adults throughout greater Mental Health Center, Millenium House, 2 hospital-based clinics on the campuses Boston’s entire safety net Nazareth Residence, New England Center of Massachusetts General Hospital and for Homeless Veterans, Paul Sullivan Boston Medical Center and at a clinic community when they are Housing, Pilgrim Shelter, Pine Street Inn, on the backstretch at Suffolk Downs Portis Family House, Project Hope, Queen of Peace Shelter, Renewal House, Revision Racetrack. BHCHP also staffs, manages not only homeless but House, Rosie’s Place, Safe Harbor, Project and operates our own Barbara McInnis also sick.” SOAR, Sojourner House, South End House at Jean Yawkey Place, a 104-bed Community Health Center, St. Francis medical respite facility for homeless House, St. Mary’s Women’s & Infant Center, St. Ambrose, The Women’s Lunch Place, and Woods-Mullen Shelter

Lawyers: Bring us Your Briefs Briefs are nothing out of the ordinary connect with to the law community. However, to the BHCHP online homeless community, they are. Having access to this simple, daily essential is as Read our patient stories and much about dignity as it is hygiene. Join learn how to get involved at BHCHP in our second-annual drive to www.bhchp.org collect new undergarments for Boston’s homeless men and women. Every donation will help deliver comfort to one of the 12,000 patients that BHCHP cares for at more than 80 locations Subscribe to our YouTube throughout Greater Boston. BHCHP channel encourages participation by any group of legal professionals or individuals Follow us on Twitter @BHCHP that would like to collect briefs for for daily updates our patients. Last year over 1,100 Like us on Facebook and keep undergarments were collected!  up with BHCHP news For further information and additional assistance on the Lawyers, Bring Us Your Briefs drive, please contact Margaret Boles Fitzgerald, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, at [email protected].

2 Team BHCHP: Reclaiming Marathon Monday

twenty years. She was in the company of Team BHCHP collectively raised nearly numerous other medical professionals $25,000, surpassing their fundraising caring for people who’d fallen ill from goal of $20,000. Because of their drive their 26.2-mile run when the first bomb and ingenuity, BHCHP was proud to have went off. been able to make an organizational donation to the OneFund Boston to When the second bomb went off a few support the needs of victims and their seconds later, Toni had just disconnected families. the IV of the runner she was attending to before the wheelchairs began rolling into We would like to recognize additional the tent. BHCHP staff members for their efforts and responsiveness during the Marathon “...We worked as a team in every aspect aftermath: Claire Anagnostopulos, Nicole of care, coordination, and mission. Ashton-Rice, Maggie Beiser, Denise Team BHCHP—(L–R) Sam Clark, Billie, Starks, Some volunteers were there for the Bill Ritchotte, and Ted VanderLinden— De Las Nueces, Ashley Forde, Herby at a pre-race event at Brandy Pete’s. first time and others are die-hards who Formilus , Barbara Giles, Heidi Groff, love the energy and camaraderie that Theresa Kim, Shane Leblanc, Andrew we experience on Marathon Monday,” Lopez, Peggi Marini, Joyce McCrevan, Toni reflected. “None of us dreamed we Running a marathon is no small Katherine Orlin, Javier Pagan, Martha would be facing the horrific, traumatic feat: the countless hours of training, Paquette, Denise Petrella, Betsy Stanley, injuries that we saw that day.” boundless dedication, and sheer Mark Stroman, and Melinda Thomas.  athleticism required to propel one’s body In the wake of the tragic events that Thanks to the generosity of the John Hancock 26.2 miles. ensued on April 15th, the entire city Non-Profit Marathon Program, we’ve been of Boston came together in support fortunate to field a team for the past three For Billie Starks, LICSW, an addiction years. For more information about BHCHP’s of victims, survivors, and all others counselor for Boston Health Care for the 2014 team, please contact Alyssa Brassil or affected by the tragedy. BHCHP was no Colleen Eagan at [email protected]. To Homeless Program (BHCHP)’s Suboxone exception. learn more about last year’s team please visit Program and one of four people running www.bhchp.org. on the organization’s behalf, joining “BHCHP is grateful to have been able Team BHCHP was an opportunity to give to support the Boston Medical Center’s back to the patients she was getting to response immediately upon the arrival know and care about. of victims of the blast. We deployed eight “...we worked as a team clinical staff and three security officers, She and her fellow BHCHP teammates, in every aspect of and witnessed firsthand the amazing Bill Ritchotte, Sam Clark, and Ted and organized emergency care provided care, coordination, and VanderLinden never could have by our BMC partner,” recounted Barry anticipated the events of April 15, 2013. mission.” Bock, CEO. At mile 23 Billie began to hear chatter Six months after the attacks, Billie and about what had happened near the finish Toni often think of the tragedy, but are line. As she passed a close friend she ready to join those who will flock to the was warned to be careful. “Somebody streets of Boston in 2014 to reclaim the said something about an explosion,” her beloved “Marathon Monday.” friend cautioned, “I’m sure it’s nothing.” “Little things happen that make me “I continued on through Kenmore reflect on the day, writing about it, Square, and noticed that the police seeing updates on the news, or passing officers along the route did not seem to someone on the street with a ‘Boston be on alert…so after four and half hours Strong’ shirt,” claimed Toni, “but then of running, I figured I’d just keep going,” I sense the commitment to get in there Billie recalled. “It was at 25.6 miles that I and do my best next year.” was stopped in the middle of the course by other runners and spectators who “I knew that day that I would want to try Billie at mile twenty-three. simply said: ‘stop running, it’s over.’” to run the marathon again next year,” said Billie. “Not only because I didn’t At the finish line, Toni Abraham, ANP- get to finish the race, but also because BC, BHCHP’s Site Director for Pine I wanted to band together with the Street Inn Clinics, was volunteering at entire community that was impacted on the medical tent as she had for nearly the day of the marathon, to show our solidarity and resilience.”

3 Honoring Boston Treasures at the Medicine that Matters Gala

Two of Boston’s proudest achievements of BHCHP, helping the organization were honored at BHCHP’s 2013 Medicine become a national model for homeless that Matters Gala: its world-class healthcare. healthcare and the . Longtime Dover resident and renowned Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry, Massachusetts General Hospital cardiac Chairman Thomas Werner, and surgeon Cary Akins, MD, was also President and CEO Larry Lucchino honored at the event, receiving BHCHP’s received the 4th Annual Tim Russert Dr. Jim O’Connell Award. Dr. Akins Award, for their personal generosity and helped launch BHCHP’s capital campaign 1 for the partnership that has developed for a new home through a simple, but far between the Red Sox organization and reaching, gesture. When his friend and BHCHP. The Red Sox have championed former patient Jack Welch, former CEO BHCHP in numerous ways, including of General Electric, and his wife Suzy supporting its first-ever capital offered to make a gift of $1 million to campaign, hosting the annual Sox for his favorite charity, Dr. Akins introduced Socks donation drive and providing them to BHCHP. BHCHP with a platform to connect with Some 470 people attended the April a much larger community of supporters. 29th gala at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, 2 Journalists Maureen Orth, Tim Russert’s raising $520,000 that will be used wife, and , his long-time to care for the complex medical and friend, presented the award to the Red behavioral health needs of the 12,000 Sox. patients BHCHP cares for each year. The Red Sox award then took a delightful Special thanks to the evening’s chairs, detour into a tribute to BHCHP’s retiring , Mike Barnicle, John Executive Director Robert Taube, as Masterson and Edmund Murphy III as Lucchino and Henry presented him with well as major sponsors , a framed pitching contract. Taube, an Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, avid Red Sox fan, retired in July after 3 Cramer, CVS Caremark, Jack and Suzy 20 years, 15 of those years at the helm (1) John Masterson, Senior Vice President & Welch and the Red Sox Foundation.  General Counsel, Covidien and Edmund F. Murphy III, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (2) Larry Lucchino, John Henry, and Cary Akins, MD (3) Maureen Orth, Anne Finucane, and Mike Barnicle Lessons... continued from back page

She said the day I took her to complete up in her life as progress and as a working toward one goal: the care and an application was the highlight of her gift from God. The atheist teacher rehabilitation of the sick and poor. life in this country. If she could only work sees it differently. I credit her success in a setting as wonderful, caring, and to a refusal to accept defeat, to her The rapport between patients and staff, giving as BHCHP, she would feel like God willingness to sacrifice, to her will to the tenderness and competence of those had answered her prayers. We toured honor her family, to her obsession to caring for patients, the trust and hope the building and met staff members and be successful and, of course, her faith. that shone on the faces of so many the patients who are in their care. I suppose it can be all of these things. patients, the commitment of the entire staff to those who need and deserve We left that day with a sense of Whatever the cause we are grateful when life gives us more than just hope. our help, won me over. I knew that my confidence that when a position opened support for this mission was important. up for a respite aide, Pierre Line would Like other people, my wife and I give be asked to fill it and eventually she was. to various charities to try to do our My wife and I soon agreed that when It was the first job she ever had that paid share. We have been lucky to have had we leave this earth, we will leave behind her a living wage, but what provided her good starts in life that led to successful something that will help BHCHP succeed with the greatest gift was the respect teaching careers. Giving back is a financially. It will never be enough, but she was accorded for her work. responsibility as we see it. in some small way it will support a brave and daring and compassionate mission.  Less fortunate people in similar I had never felt a personal bond with any circumstances do not become one group until Pierre Line and I were For more information about the Dennis competent and caring respite aides. given a tour of BHCHP’s Jean Yawkey Buff Bequest Society or to schedule Some become homeless. Pierre Line Place. There I saw “giving” in action. A a tour, contact Linda O’Connor at understands this. She sees each step staff of real people moving about, all 857.654.1050 or [email protected].

4 Patient-Centered Medical Home: Q&A with Dr. Gabriel Wishik, Medical Director BMC Clinic

services to them in order to HIV team is another example—a group avoid deteriorations, which of interdisciplinary people working means fewer hospitalizations together to provide care. In the rest of or emergency room visits. the program, although we’ve worked alongside each other, we didn’t always PCMH requires that you work in an interdisciplinary manner. design a clinic that is able to make that kind of self- As a result of PCMH, we have actively analysis—conduct ongoing and intentionally associated our primary quality review and monitoring care and behavioral health providers, of populations and then nurses, case managers, medical directing resources to where assistants, and front desk staff with they are needed most. It’s a team. Then we devote time for case about having an agile and conferencing and discussing whatever responsive clinic. is needed in order to provide better In the spring of 2013, our Boston care. That’s the most visibly, palpably Medical Center (BMC) Clinic received In what ways has PCMH changed the impressive thing that we’ve done so far. care coordination and delivery at recognition by the NCQA (National It feels good and will hopefully result in BHCHP? Committee for Quality Assurance) as good patient outcomes. an official Patient Centered Medical When we first started this project there Home, Level 3. were a lot of natural fits because we So what is next for the PCMH were already doing some of these things. initiative? What is the Patient-Centered Medical But we have really bent over backwards We are really proud to have attained Home (PCMH) model? to identify the highest risk people and Level 3 recognition as a PCMH practice. PCMH is a way to provide primary care create interventions that will be of good That is the highest level possible and to that is comprehensive and essentially service to them. It’s an ongoing process do that with the challenges that exist treats people the way we all want to be and we’re still working on that. We are with delivering care to our complex treated. It was originally developed in identifying people that have a lot of population is a big deal. We don’t see it the 1960s in the pediatric population. It different kinds of problems, including a as an end point though. Right now, we has grown, evolved, and really exploded real focus on substance abuse and risk are working on spreading the model to in the past ten years. Some of the of overdose, among other things. several other clinics in our program. different elements include: How does PCMH address the At our BMC clinic, we aren’t finished • Ensuring that patients can identify complex health needs of individuals either. To be a medical home, the who their care team is, so they get experiencing homelessness? practice must continue to change in care when they need it. Patients By having a strong focus on primary order to improve quality and access to should be able to have contact with care, something that has predated care. I think we are up to the challenge!  the clinic that doesn’t necessarily need PCMH, we’ve really tried to connect to be face-to-face. people who are not usually connected • Using electronic medical records to primary care. We’ve accelerated that “By having a strong wisely. Specifically using them to track as part of this project. quality and allow the practice to make focus on primary care, interventions that will improve quality We’ve also expanded our ability to see for individuals or populations. people on a walk-in basis; we want them something that has • Focusing on communications with to be able to see us when they need us. predated PCMH, we’ve specialists within the rest of the health We continue to try to improve access care system so that the clinic is not by increasing the number of walk-in really tried to connect operating within a vacuum. There is appointments and occasionally the people who are not a focus to make sure that tests and timing of our clinics to better serve the referrals are tracked, so no one falls population. usually connected to through the cracks. What excites you most about PCMH? • Being able to identify which patients primary care.” in the practice are at the highest risk Team-based care, which is really a core for “X,” “Y,” or “Z.” Whether that’s tenant of PCMH. This is something that dying, having problems related to their we’ve done before. We’ve had teams chronic diseases, or overdosing. The throughout the program that work practices need to be able to identify tightly together. The Street Team is a those people and provide additional good example of a well-run unit that has been in existence for a while. The

5 News

With the help of The Barbara Cocci, LICSW, was honored Red Sox Foundation for her outstanding contributions to and NESN, thousands community-based behavioral at the of Red Sox fans brought Association for Behavioral Health’s new white athletic 2013 Salute to Excellence. Barbara, socks to our 8th Annual BHCHP’s Director of Behavioral Health, Sox for Socks event at received the award for Excellence in Fenway Park on May Program Leadership. 25th and 26th. During Found in Translation honored Peggy those two games we Andreas, RNC, BSN, a member of collected 10,600 pairs BHCHP’s Family Team, with the Culture of socks and $1,500 Catalyst Award. The Family Team provides (L–R) Catherine Minahan (BHCHP volunteer), in cash donations to support our work, outreach services to homeless families in Melissa Victorino (wife of Shane Victorino), bringing our eight year total up to more Janna Mortensen (wife of Clayton Mortensen), and Boston area family shelters, motels, and Sue Farrell (wife of Red Sox Manager John Farrell) than 100,000 pairs of socks collected and domestic violence shelters. The award is collect socks from a generous fan. $11,500 donated! Our sincere thanks to presented to three inspiring individuals everyone who helped to make this year’s who emulate the organization’s mission event a grand slam! to reduce ethnic, racial, and linguistic BHCHP’s founder and president, disparities in health care by unleashing James O’Connell, MD is a 2013 bilingual talent into the workforce. recipient of the City Champion Award! The Boston Municipal Research Bureau and Shattuck Public Service Awards annually recognize an individual working in non- profit for their dedication and unselfish service to others in the City.

Donate Your support You can make a big difference in Why Socks? Access to socks is often the health and comfort of a homeless limited for homeless men and women will bring... man, woman or child with a small gift. living in shelters and on the streets. You can’t imagine how much these Common infections such as athlete’s the Healing comfort of a respite items help our caregivers establish foot thrive when damp socks are worn bed for a woman with severe skin and maintain contact or how much our for days at a time. Frostbite is common abscesses with no other place to patients appreciate your kindness. in colder months, sometimes resulting recuperate. in toe amputations. The best way to We can never have too many of the Dignity of a talking glucometer prevent such conditions is to keep feet these items: for a young man who is newly blind clean and dry—very difficult if you spend • new white socks and wishes to independently manage your days outside. That’s why BHCHP • new underwear (men’s and women’s) his diabetes. has a daily foot clinic at St. Francis • diapers House and regularly scheduled foot the Trust developed between a • new sneakers clinics at other primary care sites. nurse practitioner and her patients • gloves who attend the weekly Transgender Contact [email protected] or call • scarves clinic for primary care and Alyssa Brassil at 857.654.1046 for • winter hats behavioral health services. • gift cards: more information, to find out about ––CVS ($5 and up) other small gift needs or to make the Hope that a Community Support ––Dunkin’ Donuts ($5 and up) arrangements for delivery. Worker can instill in a patient ––McDonald’s ($5 and up) who is struggling with addiction, ––Stop & Shop ($20 and up) but seeking treatment at local methadone clinic.

www.bhchp.org

6 “Patriots Difference Maker:” Larry Adams

Despite being a diabetic, having three There are a wide variety of opportunities for strokes, and undergoing several foot individuals and groups to impact the important work of caring for the health of Boston’s surgeries, Larry has always said “yes” homeless men, women and children. For more to volunteering at BHCHP. information about our volunteer opportunities, contact Alyssa Brassil at [email protected] Each week The or 857.654.1046. Charitable Foundation recognizes a deserving volunteer through their Celebrate Volunteerism initiative. Throughout the season, the foundation focuses on different volunteer areas, with the goal of sharing examples of dedicated Board of Directors volunteers, building awareness of the Chair: Brett Painchaud need for volunteering, identifying and Vice Chair: Barbara Blakeney, RN, MS Treasurer: Steve Tringale educating others about volunteer oppor- Larry Adams* tunities and inspiring New Englanders to Sarah Anderson, Esq. become lifelong volunteers. Bruce Bullen Tom Dehner When the opportunity to nominate Joanne Guarino* an individual engaged in healthcare Christopher Lathan, MD, MS, MPH Kevin Leary volunteerism came along, BHCHP staff Steven Lipiner members thought Larry was a clear Hap Redgate (L–R) Larry showing off his signed football with Patriots Michael Reynolds* players Jake Bequette, Tavon Wilson, and Logan Ryan. choice. The panel of judges tasked to name a winner agreed as well. Lisa S. Rubinstein, MD Leonard Simons, Esq. When asked about the impetus for his Brian J. Swann, DDS, MPH Larry survived the ravages of Derek Winbush* hundreds of hours of volunteer work on homelessness years ago and has never * Member of BHCHP’s Consumer Advisory Board behalf of BHCHP and its patients, Larry stopped helping other homeless men answered: “the staff at BHCHP kept and women since. Philanthropic Advisory Council me alive, took such great care of me, Cary W. Akins, MD In 1996, Larry helped to create Boston and gave me a reason to believe in James Brett Health Care for the Homeless Program’s myself: this is my chance to give back.” James Champy (BHCHP) Consumer Advisory Board Eileen and Jack Connors On October 8th Larry was recognized George B. Donnelly (CAB)—a dedicated group of homeless as “Patriots Difference Maker of the Jennifer & Dennis Eckersley and formerly homeless men and women Week” in a ceremony at Brockton Robyn Glaser who provide input that shapes the Richard Grande Community Health Center. Patriots programs BHCHP offers its 12,000 Joanne Jaxtimer defensive players Jake Bequette, Logan Rick Lord patients. Ryan, and Tavon Wilson presented him Daniel P. McQuade BHCHP’s CAB was the first program Jan Miller an honorary medal and autographed Alfred Minahan of its kind in the country; there are football to thank him for his continued Thomas P. O’Neill III now 40 around the country. commitment to giving back. Mitchell T. Rabkin, MD Scott Rabschnuk Over the past 17 years, Larry has been What started for Larry as a patient- Susan G. Reilly a committed member of the CAB, doctor relationship at a time of personal Stephen Rosenfeld, Esq. Paul Saperstein working actively on the creation of need, grew into an active volunteer Jack Shaughnessy, Sr. public policy initiatives and direct commitment, with Larry giving hundreds Peter Smyth services for the men, women and of hours each year to help inform John D. Spooner children in BHCHP’s care. His leadership BHCHP’s staff while serving Boston’s Kirk A. Sykes Suzy Welch abilities and practical ideas led to his homeless population.  Benaree Wiley election as Chair many times over within the last two decades. In 2006, Consumer Advisory Board Larry was elected to BHCHP’s Board “The staff at BHCHP kept Chair: Larry Adams* of Directors where he has represented Co-Chair: Joanne Guarino* the organization’s consumers for nearly me alive, took such great Shawnette Reed seven years. Sarah Reid care of me, and gave me Michael Reynolds* Also a seasoned peer counselor, he Caroline Smith offers practical advice on living with a reason to believe in Derek Winbush* * Member of BHCHP’s Board of Directors diabetes and other health complexities myself: this is my chance while in the throes of tenuous living conditions. to give back.”

7 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON MA PERMIT NO. 294 780 Albany Street Boston, MA 02118

Medicine that matters

Lessons in Giving: The Gift of a Student to a Teacher Ron Paulus, Guest Contributor

My journey to Boston Health Care for Together we worked tirelessly to the Homeless Program (BHCHP) was achieve her goal. After she earned her anything but linear. Although I had certification, the next step was for her to been a faithful donor for several years, find a job to apply her new skills. I knew my relationship with the program was how difficult that would be so we worked quite typical. I had no idea how that as a team in and out of the classroom: relationship could grow, or how one the atheist teacher and his student with person and one visit could change an unshakable faith in God. so much… I was always on the lookout for I met Pierre Line Romain when I was opportunities for Pierre and had talked a volunteer tutor at the Jamaica Plain to several friends who would point me in Adult Learning Program (JPALP). directions they thought would be fruitful. Prompted by the cruel hurricanes of As it turned out, one friend’s suggestion 2008, Pierre Line had recently come to was exactly the one Pierre Line was the United States from Haiti. Although praying for. He suggested that I bring she could speak Spanish, Creole, and her to BHCHP to file an application for French, her English was limited. a respite aide position—an option that Top: Ron and his wife, Charlotte Thompson; had not occurred to me. Bottom: Pierre Line Romain One day she said to me: “Teacher, I am going to go to a school to learn to be a continued inside on page 4 respite aide. I need to make a better life for myself and this is the area I want for my future.”

Photo Credits: BHCHP Staff, Roger Farrington, Catherine Minahan, Kristen Roessel, and Kate Vander Wiede