We work with some of the most vulnerable children in New Orleans. Medical care is only part of what the children need in order to thrive. Many need glasses; some need hearing aids. Hunger is common and clothing is a real challenge for some families. They need lawyers more often than you might think. Many of our patients don’t have insurance as they await asylum hearings, and yet they have serious conditions that can’t wait while the backlog of cases is being heard. Accessing these resources is all the more challenging when there are language and cultural barriers.
For children who have fallen through the cracks, we need case managers to help pull them back up. Case managers not only know the resources available within communities; they help families navigate through unfamiliar systems. They arrange transportation, at times even going with the children to help with the process.
Case managers are a vital part of our team and without them our work would not be possible.