Imagine going just 24 hours without electricity or running water or having to walk blocks to meet an ambulance in the event of an emergency because it will not cross the county line into your neighborhood. Cristina De Bosquez doesn’t have to imagine. She works daily with people who live in that very real situation as program director of Healthy Start Laredo, a nationally-recognized Baptist Child & Family Services program designed to provide comprehensive and medical care for women either pregnant or raising a child under the age of two for the purpose of reducing infant mortality, preventing child abuse and assisting families in meeting basic health needs. HSL lives out that goal by significantly reducing the number of infant deaths in Laredo during the past six years, reaching more than 300 families, about 1,500 individuals, a year, 150 pregnant women and 150 families with children under the age of two. They also serve another 500 non-clients through educational services and workshops. The program staff, considered experts in border health due to their innovative development in HSL and a nationally acclaimed training video used by Health Resources and Services Administration for training sites across the country, partners with Gateway Clinic in Laredo to provide medical services to families who might not otherwise possess the financial resources to properly deliver or care for a child. The majority of HSL clients live in small communities called “colonias,” areas often without running water and street lighting necessary for hygiene and safety, and live without basic necessities. BCFS recruits clients and provides daily transportation in two 15-passenger vans to a mobile medical unit. Clients also are assisted with the paperwork to receive medical assistance and every other resource they might need, which is only one example of the services provided by HSL. “We have one and only one focus — to protect babies born and unborn,” De Bosquez said. A BCFS case manager follows each family until the child turns two, developing nurturing plans and teaching parenting skills, while working to empower the client by helping them achieve independence. “We really don’t know anything about healthy living, so our favorite thing about the program is the classes offered at the community center on diseases and STDs. If it was not for the program, we also could not get to our appointments or the classes because we don’t have transportation,” Josefina Chavez, HSL client, said referring to herself and her sister-in-law, Felipa De La Cruz. “We also really like having a case manager. Because we can’t go anywhere, it means a lot to have someone else to talk to during the day besides our kids,” De La Cruz added. “Our program is a strength based program and equips these families with skills to make it on their own,” De Bosquez noted. “We give our clients hope and permission to dream and set goals, which is priceless.” For more information on Healthy Start Laredo or the upcoming Christmas socials, please contact Cristina De Bosquez at (956) 712-4700 or cbosquez@bcfs.net. |