Evelyn’s Journey Begins
With a sparse English vocabulary, her 3-year-old daughter in her arms, and in the end of her 1st trimester, Evelyn, like many other migrants, left her home country, her family, her culture, and the only language she had ever spoken, with the hope of bringing a brighter future for her growing family. She was searching for a brighter life where her children would not have to go through the hardships she experienced. This story is not unique. In fact, it is the same story that is told by many migrants arriving in the United States.
Facing Challenges and Finding Support
Despite being surrounded by the uncertainties and challenges of affording necessities such as obtaining a place to live, nutritional foods, proper healthcare, and employment opportunities, Evelyn was presented with Family Case Management, which includes support for expectant migrant mothers, at her initial prenatal care appointment at Greater Family Health. Originally, Evelyn was seeking assistance to find a proper place to live for her 3-year-old daughter, her husband, and herself. Evelyn’s Family Case Manager presented her with housing resources, along with financial assistance resources and local food pantry resources around her local area.
Managing Health During Pregnancy
As the pregnancy continued, Evelyn returned to Family Case Management, requesting more information regarding her gestational diabetes she was recently diagnosed with, after attending her latest prenatal care appointment. The Family Case Manager encouraged Evelyn to enroll in the food assistance program – Women, Infants & Children (WIC). Upon approval to the WIC program, Evelyn will be eligible for nutritious foods specifically chosen to support her nutritional needs to have a healthy pregnancy. Moreover, the Family Case Manager also discussed and provided Evelyn with educational information regarding preeclampsia and understanding signs and symptoms of pre-term labor.
Community and Celebration
Lastly, at the beginning of her 3rd trimester, Evelyn was invited to a baby shower offered by Family Case Management. At the baby shower, Evelyn interacted with other pregnant moms enrolled in the Family Case Management program like herself. At the baby shower, Evelyn was presented with educational information regarding the importance of attending postpartum appointments, along with the importance of why a home-visit gets completed during the 3rd trimester. Evelyn also got a chance to participate in a raffle where she won a pack ‘n play for her baby.
Summary
Evelyn’s story highlights the comprehensive support provided by Family Case Management for expectant migrant mothers. Our bilingual Case Managers are dedicated to ensuring that every mother receives the resources and care needed for a healthy pregnancy and a brighter future.
