Oct 20: Health Clinic Volunteering - FSSA Modernization

I went to this event at the Women's Hospital here in Evansville and found out about an issue facing our community. The Family and Social Services Administration has been completely modernized to its detriment (this is where people apply for Medicaid, food stamps, etc.). Modernized... they put the application system online and through a call center... only problems are that the people who need theses services the most (the elderly, disabled, mentally ill, children) do not have, do not know how to use, cannot get to a computer AND/OR do not have a phone that is not a prepaid phone (uses minutes even for an 800 number).

Effect: local people are not getting the support they need to survive (e.g., 120 newborns whose moms' were on Medicaid are not getting insurance and hence no well baby treatment after birth)

On Oct. 20, Kenton and I were trained to have appointments at this clinic for those with no or inadequate insurance each Monday from 5pm-7pm to help people fill out these applications. THEY ARE NOT EASY. It is amazing that the state government has done this without thinking through the ramifications. They expect someone with a severe mental illness, barely able to get out of bed in the morning, to be able to fill out this application on their own. Don't get me wrong, I believe in Capitalism and that people who are able should pull themselves up. BUT, I do not believe that we should abandon those who CANNOT pull themselves up.

So we've been volunteering each Monday and when we don't have appointments, we have been doing clerical things at the clinic. It has been very rewarding and eye-opening. Once you talk to someone who had a job, is recently disabled, lost their job, doesn't have insurance, has less than $500 in a savings account, and over $300,000 in medical bills, you feel blessed.