Impact of Collaboration with The Washington Center on both residents and aspiring public health professionals

Ounce of Care provides a first-of-its-kind community-based service model by partnering with affordable housing developers in Washington D.C., Richmond, VA, and Seattle, WA, to support their residents needs around health, wellness, and stability. This includes scheduling residents' doctor's appointments and follow-ups, applying for government assistance programs, and hosting community engagement events like fitness or nutrition classes, vaccine clinics, and other fun activities on-site. This summer, Ounce of Care hosted three interns from The Washington Center, an academic internship program designed to enhance both personal and professional development. In this post, each intern will talk about their individual experience working with Ounce.

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Elle

Hello, my name is Elle! I'm from a rural town in Pennsylvania. I'm a senior at Commonwealth University – Lock Haven studying Health Science with a concentration in Community Health and Education.

Ounce is much more than a care coordination service. The Ounce team deeply cares about all their residents by expressing compassion and ensuring that everyone gets the best possible service regardless of their demographic. They’re advocates for each resident that takes the advantage of reaching out to Ounce. My personal experience working with Ounce has opened my eyes to systemic challenges low-income residents consistently face. Watching Ounce mitigate these social and economic barriers by connecting them with assistance programs and healthcare professionals truly makes a difference in these communities. Despite hardships, residents continue to demonstrate positivity. My memorable interactions with residents on-site are overwhelmingly inspirational with residents only showing me kindness and inclusivity. Directly interacting with primarily senior residents and working closely with the Community Leads have taught me valuable skills that go beyond the classroom. I’ve learned how to better advocate and educate others on health-related topics by creating education materials and useable health logs for residents to keep track of their blood pressure, blood glucose, and medications. This knowledge will become useful as I pursue a MPH. Getting to know the DC community has been a privilege. I’m rooting for Ounce of Care as they expand to different cities.

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Jaque

Hi y’all! I’m Jaque, a rising senior at Rice University in Houston, Texas. I am currently pursuing my bachelors in Sociology and Social Policy Analysis. I grew up in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood outside of Houston, called Galena Park.

Over the summer, I witnessed firsthand the strong connections Ounce and the Community Leads have built with the residents. The Community Leads were incredibly mindful of the residents’ challenges, such as transportation, healthcare literacy, language barriers, and affordability. These barriers often prevent residents from seeking the care and resources that they need and deserve. Luckily, Ounce works to close this gap. I was able to work in Hispanic communities, many that resembled Galena Park in Houston, and encountered the many barriers this community faces. Language, citizenship, fear of burdening the government, were just a few issues I encountered over the summer. There's a pressing need for more Spanish-speaking employees in all systems of care to address these growing needs of the population. I was glad to see that many residential properties hosted resource fairs with resources like free legal services, English learning classes, and rental and utility assistance programs. Ounce was also able to share their services and we received lots of engagement. It was great to meet new residents and re-engage with those who were already enrolled. I learned invaluable skills like applying for Medicaid, SNAP, ERAP, and unemployment insurance, but also the ability to create connections and community. Another way I was able to engage with the community was through social media. I created content for holidays, events, and testimonials. I loved being able to use my creativity to design and share resources through social media. My engagement with government resources and deepened understanding of systemic barriers has inspired me to continue advocating for the Hispanic community, to improve their access to essential services and support.

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Tobi

Hi, my name is Tobi and I am from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am a 4th year Health Sciences student majoring in Health and Society with a concentration in Sociology. Ounce for me has been an amazing experience, as I had the opportunity to learn about the U.S healthcare system, government assistance programs, and the unique and complex challenges they present. It was a big learning curve, which made me appreciate universal healthcare and the social services I have in Canada.

Working at Ounce has shown me the real-life impacts of the social determinants of health. The barriers D.C residents face to adequate housing, employment, food, and healthcare are caused by historical policies that have disenfranchised Black and Brown residents in particular, and witnessing the effects of these barriers in SE DC has empowered me to be an advocate for more progressive health policy.

I got to work on projects like the Mayfair Health Fair, which involved coordinating a moon-bounce, face-painting, and food for nearly 80 residents, as well as calling parents to schedule onsite well-child visits for their kids. I enjoyed participating in the Wake the 8 fitness events, which encouraged community bonding and physical activity! I also participated in health council meetings which brought together a wide range of community organizations and stakeholders working together to achieve a common goal of addressing health disparities affecting residents east of the river.

I hope to use my experience with Ounce to ensure that all people, regardless of their circumstances can live a healthy life. I plan to pursue my Master’s in Public Health in addition to a medical degree so I can advocate for my patients in through improved public health policy.

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Our time at Ounce of Care has changed how we view health, and the barriers people face to a healthy life. We have come to appreciate the importance of community outreach and listening to people to advocate for their needs. Though we are moving on into different spaces, we are all united by our love for Ounce and the meaningful experiences we gained this summer working with their amazing team members and residents. We will continue to cheer on Ounce as they grow to help more people to bridge the gaps between health and housing.