Nazareth awarded Cabrini Health Foundation Grant to work with migrant families
A new grant funds a college-community partnership to support the mental health and public health of migrant people in Livingston and Wayne counties and support experiential, community-based learning for students. The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation awarded nearly $328,000 for Nazareth College to collaborate with the Migrant Ministry of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
The El Cuidado de Nuestros Vecinos (Caring for Our Neighbors) initiative involves members of Nazareth's Community and Belonging division and the College of Health and Human Services — including Nazareth students and clinicians from creative arts therapy, social work, and public health — to work with community leaders and the Migrant Ministry staff to develop, implement, and assess age-appropriate and culturally appropriate care plans focused on empowerment and resilience.
"Three migrant populations with the most unmet needs include teens/youth; women; and those suffering from substance abuse," said Mary Dahl Maher, Ph.D., co-director of the El Cuidado de Nuestros Vecinos initiative, along with Nazareth's nursing professor, chair, and director of Nazareth's public health program. "Getting services within these communities is crucial. Many families have limited transportation, along with a fear and reluctance to travel. We want to work with families to respect their cultural integrity, safety, trust, and traditions of the migrant communities."
For the past four years, students from Nazareth's community youth development and foreign language programs, under the direction of Professors Hilda Chacón, Ph.D., and Marie Watkins, Ph.D., have worked with the migrant community in Marion, N.Y., with youth empowerment activities and English language tutoring. This grant builds upon this established relationship, creating two interdisciplinary care teams from Nazareth College that will provide regular co-treatment services, along with bilingual resources and materials.
Nazareth students will get hands-on experience to prepare them as future mental and public health professionals with the cultural and economic competencies needed to work with rural migrant populations.
"Our mission in the School of Health and Human Services is to educate culturally responsive professionals able to work interprofessionally to promote and sustain health and wellness and improve quality of life in the global community. This grant is a tremendous opportunity for our students to live that mission working with the migrant communities in western New York, while also working with our colleagues across the College," says Brigid Noonan, Ph.D., dean of Nazareth Health and Human Services. Services will be provided by graduate students and supervised by licensed faculty, including Leanne Charlesworth, Ph.D., chair of social work, and Tania Giorgis, a licensed speech-language pathologist and clinical assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders.
"The Migrant Ministry Office of the Diocese of Rochester is very grateful for the Nazareth College partnership to serve our migrant brothers and sisters. Our collaborative efforts will strengthen the outreach to this critical component of our community and allow us to further engage in education and support," said Bernard Grizard, diocesan director of pastoral services.
"As we set our sights on 2021, we must address the healthcare disparities related to race and income that have only been heightened since the onset of the pandemic," said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, chief executive officer of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. "We honor the legacy of Mother Cabrini by funding activities, programs, and initiatives that help bridge gaps in health services, bolster the health outcomes of diverse communities, and eliminate barriers to care."
"This initiative is guided by the values of relationship, trust, and reciprocity," said Jamie Fazio, co-director of the El Cuidado de Nuestros Vecinos initiative, and director of Nazareth's Center for Spirituality. "The faculty and students involved in this initiative will recognize the cultural strengths found within the migrant community and will witness the resilience of a community that has faced racism, discrimination, and numerous obstacles."
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the health and well-being of the vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of targeted communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. The Foundation – which is named in memory of a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor – provides flexible support for new and innovative approaches that enhance health and wellness across New York State. For more information, visit Cabrini Health.
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Julie Long | Chief PR Officer, | (585) 781-8186 | jlong2@naz.edu
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