Meet Cathy Moore and Susan Hawes of Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Moore and Susan Hawes.

Cathy and Susan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2001, in response to the dramatic change in southwest Houston’s demographics, the parishioners of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany established Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS). To this day, ECHOS remains a ministry of the church and the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

ECHOS became s a non-profit corporation in 2001. The doors opened to provide health and social services to the growing population of immigrants and refugees living in the area surrounding the Church.

NEED FOR OUR SERVICES

Since 2001, families have been coming to ECHOS to access healthcare and social services. ECHOS helps families to have access to health care services and benefits coverage. ECHOS’ families encounter similar challenges.

These include:
* Unemployment
* Incomes below poverty level
* Lack of access to healthcare
* Language barriers
* Limited or no transportation
* Educational deficits or illiteracy

The average monthly family income of ECHOS clients is $1,126.

SERVICES

The Church of the Epiphany Opened the Doors of ECHOS. ECHOS is located on the church property. A food pantry continues to provide non-perishable food to an increasing number of people who are impacted by the employment downturn.

Other forms of assistance such as classes for English Language Learners and computer literacy, domestic violence support groups continue on a regular basis. Medicaid, Harris Health FAP (Gold Card) application assistance and follow-up remain our core service.

Services are provided free of charge and without restrictions to all who come through the doors of ECHOS, regardless of age, ethnicity, language spoken, documentation status or sexual orientation.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Over the years, ECHOS has faced challenges. I think the biggest challenge ECHOS had is reaching out to the community so that potential funders know we exist. Because we are such a small organization, we do not have the visibility of bigger organizations with larger budgets which means we struggle financially as we do not have a large donor base.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS) – what should we know?
Our mission is to connect people in need with health, social and educational resources that can improve their lives and our vision is a community where all people have access to resources needed to build a healthy and productive life.

What We Do:

• We connect people in need with the health, social and educational resources that can improve their lives. To support those who are unable to access affordable healthcare and medical insurance coverage, we provide on-site help in completing and submitting applications for healthcare and social services. We provide on-site health care services and screenings promoting healthier and more productive lives.

• We provide assistance with meeting basic needs and self-sufficiency. Assistance is free and includes food, classes such as English as a Second Language (ESL), computer literacy, and immigration services / legal assistance. Domestic violence support groups are also held on campus.

The Impact We Make:

• We provide life-changing programs and services that lead to productive, fulfilling and independent lives. Our impact is recognized when the health, social and educational needs of our clients are met and when a community comes together for the common good.

We Want Everyone to Know:

• ECHOS cares. Everything we do is done with passion, love and care for our community.

• ECHOS is community-based. Since 1998, we’ve been responding to the needs of the underserved population in our communities.

• ECHOS brings people together. We connect people of all ages and religious backgrounds to resources available to improve their lives.

• ECHOS encourages self-sufficiency.

• ECHOS facilitates collaborations with community partners. Working with over 23 public agencies and nonprofit providers we provide a critical link between people in need and available services.

• ECHOS is committed to keeping programs available for all. More than $425,000 annually in generous contributions allows us to provide help and hope for more than 9,700 people (unduplicated) we serve each year on-site and 12,215 people (duplicated, many clients come to multiple Food Fairs) at the ECHOS Food / Mini-health Fairs.

• ECHOS depends on contributions of time and talent of our volunteers. Over 134 passionate volunteers donate 3,608 hours to bring our programs to life for the community we serve.

ECHOS Programming, 2017 Goals and Outcomes –Working in collaboration with 24 public agencies and nonprofit providers, ECHOS is a critical link between people in need and the services that are available to help them build secure and sustainable lives in Houston. In 2017, ECHOS’ goal is to increase the number served by 5% over 2016 to serve 10,192 unduplicated individuals from approximately 5,285 households through our core programming and serve an additional 13,263 (duplicated) individuals through our mini health/food fairs. ECHOS core services include:

1. Services for Children –

In 2016, 45% of the individuals served at ECHOS were infants, children and youth under the age of 20. To respond to their needs, ECHOS provides the following services:

• On-site medical/dental services from non-profit providers – Children’s immunizations, along with well-child and sports physicals and sick child care are offered on the second Monday of each month and various school testing days and holidays (Texas Children’s Hospital Superkids Mobile Unit). Also, dental services, including screenings, preventive care and education, are provided by the University of Texas School of Dentistry on the Ronald McDonald dental van for children. In 2016, 323 services were provided to children. The goal in 2017 is to increase the number of services by 5% to 339.

• Application assistance for Children’s Medicaid/CHIP programs – provides full service medical and dental services for those children whose parents are unable to access care for them under existing medical insurance programs. In 2016, 1,954 application assistance services were provided. The goal in 2017 is to increase the number of services by 5% to 2,052.

• School Supplies – Low-income families often do not have the resources to adequately prepare their children for school. Recognizing this need, ECHOS prepares children to return to school with free school supplies. In 2016, 277 children received school supplies and the goal for 2017 is to serve 250 children.

2. Support Groups/Counseling –

• The growing incidents of domestic violence prompted ECHOS to address this issue through Domestic Violence Support Groups and counseling and are facilitated by a representative from the Houston Area Women’s Center for Spanish and English speaking clients held at ECHOS, weekly. ECHOS has a liaison on staff that handles domestic violence in-take daily and provides the referral to services. In 2016, 83 women participated in the program. The goal for 2017 is to increase the number served by 5% to 87 women. Also, all staff, volunteers and the Board will receive specialized training by the Women’s Center on the ways to recognize, respond and refer to women who come to ECHOS in a domestic violence crisis situation.

3. Education / Job Preparation –

• English as a Second Language – A “working knowledge” of the English language is critical to enable new arrivals to navigate the workplace, the stores, the school system and life in Houston in general. Recognizing this, ECHOS operates beginner and intermediate English as a Second Language (ESL) classes run by volunteers two days a week throughout three semesters per year. In 2016, 353 adults and 8 seniors benefited from the ESL classes. The goal for 2017 is to serve 5% more individuals through ESL classes – or 380 individuals.

• Computer Literacy – Computers have become a part of everyday life requiring that computer skills are mastered in order to qualify for many job opportunities. An IT Specialist and a translator from Community Health Choice provide their volunteer services at ECHOS to offer a computer literacy class which began in July 2016. Included in the class, clients are taught to build a marketable resume, preparing them for jobs. Also, students receive assistance applying for job certifications taking tests online. In 2016, 60 adults completed the class.

4. On-site medical/dental/optometry services from non-profit providers –

ECHOS leverages non-profit providers to build a healthy community by providing a safe, central location for the following much-needed services:

• Blood pressure and blood glucose screenings three days a week – with appropriate referral for follow-up, treatment and possible entry into clinical trials as necessary (Juno Research LLC);

• Vision screenings two days each week – with referral to the University of Houston School of Optometry for a deeply discounted dilated eye exam and corrective lenses if needed;

• Dental services, including screenings, preventive care and education, at the University of Texas School of Dentistry’s mobile dental van 6 – 8 times a year;

• Screening mammograms in the mobile unit operated by The Rose;

• Optometry services in the mobile unit operated by the University of Houston, School of Optometry.

5. On-site health education and application assistance for healthcare and other social services –

As a healthcare access advocate, ECHOS provides education about and assistance in completing and submitting applications to State and County medical and social services including:

• Medicaid/CHIP Perinatal programs – so women can receive appropriate prenatal care, helping to insure the delivery of full-term, healthy babies;

• Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) Financial Assistance Program (“gold card”) – so that uninsured individual with medical needs who reside in Harris County can receive significantly discounted services at a primary care clinic rather than the emergency room;

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – providing cash assistance for those in need to purchase healthy food for their families so that they can rely on local food pantries as a supplemental, not primary, source of food.

6. Food Distribution –

In 2016, 8,989 individuals received food through the food pantry – 3,779 of them being children. Please note that the same families may return to the food pantry and/or food fairs creating duplication in these numbers. This nutritious food bolsters the health of the families served who suffer from food insecurity.

Mini Health/ Food Fair – In addition to the above core services, through its membership in the Houston Food Bank, ECHOS also provides two monthly mini health/food fairs. One of the fairs is held at Santa Maria Virgen Episcopal Church in Alief, where some 200 households receive upwards of 40 – 50 pounds of fresh produce provided by the Food Bank. A second fair is held on the first Saturday of the month on the EHOS campus distributing similar quantities of fresh produce to a similar number of households.

In 2016, the mini health/food fairs served 12,606 individuals – 4,328 of them being children. The 2017 goal is to increase the number of individuals served by 5% to 13,263.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The members and staff of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany and the Episcopal Diocese of Texas deserve all of the credit for opening the doors of ECHOS. Our funders, the foundations, and individuals who donate to ECHOS are the ones who make sure we are here, ready to serve anyone in the community who walks through our doors.

The staff of ECHOS is the rock stars of the organization. They ensure clients are served with compassion.

Staff provides one-on-one, personalized assistance that goes beyond what is typically available at other organizations. At ECHOS, applications for services are not simply “handed” to individuals. Rather trained staff individually assists each client in completing their application and checking the accuracy of their supporting documentation. The staff listens with love to clients, in order to understand the needs of the families they are working with. Furthermore, clients completing new applications and submitting applications, receive a phone call from ECHOS within the month to make certain the client has been accepted into the program requested (and if not, why not) and that they are receiving the services applied for – specifically medical care, food support, etc. In cases where this is not happening, the staff provides guidance on how to access the services in question.

No appointments are needed. The requirement to have an appointment to receive services is a major barrier to the underserved and working poor. For example, one might have an appointment for an eligibility interview for food assistance at 10:00 am on a Thursday morning and receive a call the evening before saying, “I have work for you starting tomorrow for three days.” It goes without saying that the individual will choose work over the appointment – with a resulting delayed entry into the food assistance program.

Pricing:

• $100 feeds a family of four for 1 week

Contact Info:

• Address: 9600 S. Gessner, Bldg. E
• Website: www.echos-houston.org
• Phone: 713-270-0369
• Email: echos@echos-hoston.org
• Facebook: @EchosHouston
• Twitter: @EchosHouston

Image Credit:
Nathan Lindstrom

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