05.02.19
Julia Felton gives a window into her work at the front desk.
Q: What do you do at Health Care for the Homeless?
As a Client Access Associate, my job is to find out what people need, register them and direct them to care. We see 100 to 200 clients on a normal day at the downtown clinic. I also help set the tone. If I came to an organization and I was ignored or disrespected, I wouldn’t come back. I have the chance to make sure clients have a healthy experience.
Q: What does it take to be successful at your job?
Compassion. Empathy. I’m motivated by the people we serve. I’ve been in a situation where my children and I have been homeless. I was never on the street, but I can relate. I want to see people become housed, healthy and mentally stable. I look forward to clients who come back and say, “You helped me a lot,” or “This is a better day.”
Q: What is rewarding about your job?
People come in feeling hopeless, helpless and emotionally distraught. I try to stay calm and build a good rapport. There was a client who used to yell at me every morning, and I’d just say “Hello.” Then one day he said “Good morning” instead. I was ecstatic! Later, he told me that he lost his housing after he got hurt and couldn’t play football anymore. He went from a man who used to yell at me to a man who wanted to sit and have a conversation. It was very touching.
Through the end of March 2024, we’re offering hiring bonuses for full-time and part-time social work positions in our clinics.
March welcomes Women’s History Month. We come together to honor all those who experience life through the lens, body, spirit, and identity of a woman.
Explore a few ways you can celebrate Women’s History Month— past, present, future, and fluid— in 2024
We are delighted to announce the promotion of Wynona China from Director of Health Informatics to Senior Director of Health Informatics. In the last five years with us, Wynona transformed our approach to data, oversaw the transition to a new electronic health record system (athenaOne) and is now diving into medical records management. Keep up with her if you can!