Stories of Healing, With Heart

“If you heal the individual and you heal the family, you heal the community.”

Those are the words of Abby Morales, our Behavioral Health Coordinator. Six years ago, Abby was our only mental health counselor. Now, we have three licensed medical health counselors, one licensed clinical social worker, one intake coordinator, and one psychiatrist. Not only has the department tripled in size, but it has also dramatically expanded its scope.

Our behavioral health services have increased to meet many different needs. Trauma-informed strategies have become critical. The staff on our behavioral health team have different areas of expertise, so they can offer collaborative care to their patients. Sometimes, one patient may see three counselors to benefit from the various specialties.

Our team has been laser-focused on whole-person, collaborative, and results-oriented care. Recently, a 16-year-old migrant girl from Ecuador arrived at our health center. She presented with OCD tendencies, including compulsions and rituals. After close watch, Abby contacted her doctor. She asked to check her thyroid and vitamin levels. As expected, her levels were low. So, she was started on supplements and a low dose of psychotropic medicine. The fearful, obsessive teenager transformed from someone who struggled to communicate with others to a person with a large group of friends and the ambition to try out for her school’s dance team.

This young girl is now set for a healthy school year and a hopeful life. Her family is beginning to heal, and ultimately, the community will benefit.

Getting to know the community is Andrea Tappan’s favorite part of her job. As our Community Outreach Coordinator, her role is to find ways to support the community’s unique needs. Sometimes, support means distributing backpacks. Other times, it’s making healthy food accessible through a food pantry or deploying a mammogram van so women can receive affordable screenings. In all these places, Andrea meets what she calls “the most fantastic people.”

“Giving someone a turkey voucher when you know they have no food is pretty special,” Andrea says. “And when we give pajamas to a child, you can just see their faces light up.”

Giving back to the community is at the core of our mission. Partnerships with other organizations multiply the efforts.
“It’s a matter of coming together as a village to meet the needs of our people,” Andrea explains. “I encourage [medical] residents to come and see what happens at these outreach events. It’s an ideal way to see our mission in action.”

This past year, Andrea recalls a brother and sister coming to one of the events. The young girl wore her brother’s larger coat because she did not have one of her own. When she was given her very own coat, they both smiled.

“It’s rewarding knowing that we are giving back to our community, this work is hard, but it’s worth it – every time.”

Spiritual Care Coordinator, Carmen Lopez, had a plan for her day. She planned to visit our patients at the local hospital. Carmen wanted them to know someone was praying for them and listening to their concerns. Building trust is what she does. God takes it from there.

One day, while visiting a Beacon patient, another patient was brought in to share the room. The new patient overheard their conversation and asked, “Can you also pray for me?” She had been diagnosed with cancer and was afraid. She was also hungry to know more about God.

Carmen made herself available to this patient. She ministered love and hope, and, in time, they shared communion. The woman gave her life to God, believing that if she remained here, she would be a testimony. If she passed, she would go with God. Either way, she felt at peace. She did pass away a month later, but during that month, Carmen continued to faithfully visit, even though this patient wasn’t our patient. We serve the community, trusting God to connect the mission with the need.

“She was so grateful to have someone ministering to her during that month,” Carmen says. “Showing the love of God is what we do at Beacon. We all genuinely care, and it’s beautiful. I thank God for opportunities like this one at the hospital.” It was a divine appointment.

When you don’t have shoes, you’re not employable. When you don’t speak English, you’re not welcome. If you’re allowed to work, you won’t get paid. Tips alone are the income source for many of our immigrant neighbors. They may work 10-12 hours a day for only $23. Luisa Florez, our immigrant program coordinator, hears stories like this every day.

Luisa is at the center of guiding immigrant families in their new way of life. The need for support is great, and our program has expanded quickly. It began with health screenings for immigrant populations on Staten Island. Now, it has expanded to workforce development and life coaching.

“I understand the concerns on Staten Island,” says Luisa. “This is new for all of us. It’s a culture shock for everyone. We must adjust, and they must adjust. But with a little patience, I honestly believe these people will make it, and our community will benefit.”

We continue to have a practitioner at the immigrant shelter, where all 95 rooms are full. When families leave, others move in, so the health and humanitarian needs are constant.

“They really are grateful for the help,” Luisa says. “They’ll say, ‘I don’t have much, but….’ and they’ll give me chocolate or cookies or a little note.”
Luisa hopes the political situation will improve for them. Many of the immigrants want to get established quickly and begin giving back to the community. Until then, she says, they are learning.

“It’s little by little, and nothing is going to change overnight. But we are their neighbors, and they are ours.”