Page 16 - The Indian EYE 021326

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 13, 2026 | The Indian Eye 16

Bronx families overcome barriers with

support from community health workers

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx team improves lives of immigrant

children struggling with developmental delays

OUR BUREAU Bronx Hospital connected more
than 460 at-risk children to critical
Bronx, NY
services—proof that determination,
wo Bronx families—one from partnership, and cultural under-
Ecuador and one from Togo— standing might turn isolation into
Tfound life-changing support for opportunity.
their young children with speech and “CHWs serve as trusted advo-
developmental delays, thanks to the cates and cultural liaisons,” said Hil-
persistence of NYC Health + Hospi- da Reyes (center), CHW Supervisor.
tals/North Central Bronx Community NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
Health Workers (CHWs) Mariam is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliat-
Diakite and Desiree Martinez. ed with the Albert Einstein College
Four-year-old Mateo arrived of Medicine. The facility has earned
from Ecuador, unable to speak, re- numerous Center of Excellence des-
lying only on gestures. Diakite and ignations, accreditation, and recogni-
Martinez spent seven months nav- tion for its renowned Level 1 Trau-
igating obstacles until he began re- ma Center, Burn Center, Surgical
ceiving speech and occupational Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke
therapy twice a week. Center, Snakebite Treatment Center,
“We worked to ensure the par- Community Health Workers Desiree Martinez and Mariam Diakite Breast Health Center, Bariatric Sur-
ents felt comfortable sharing their gery Center, and Cancer Service. The
concerns in their own language,” said facility also offers the region’s only
Diakite. Today, Mateo is happy, ver- multi-person hyperbaric chamber,
bal, and thriving in preschool. His allowing up to nine patients to dive
mother showed appreciation: “My together at one time.
child can now communicate and play Jacobi’s Ambulatory Care Pavil-
with others. Without CHW support, ion is a stunning complement to its
this would not have been possible.” inpatient acute care, allowing staff
Similarly, Koffi, a five-year-old to provide patients with high-quality
boy from Togo, could not hold a service in a modern, state-of-the-art
spoon or pencil and struggled to environ
speak after his family entered the About NYC Health + Hospitals/
shelter system. North Central Bronx
Over three years, Martinez and
Diakite coordinated referrals, es- YC Health + Hospitals/North
corted the family to appointments, Central Bronx is a member
and overcame missed evaluations Nfacility of the New York City
and language barriers. “Every obsta- Health + Hospitals system, one of
cle meant finding another solution,” eleven acute care facilities within
Martinez said. the City of New York. A 215-bed
A turning point happened when community hospital, North Central
Diakite, fluent in French, began ac- Bronx Hospital specializes in wom-
companying the family to visits that “CHWs serve as trusted advocates and cultural liaisons,” en’s and children’s services. It also
finally led to consistent speech ther- said Hilda Reyes (center), CHW Supervisor. provides Behavioral Health acute
apy and special education support. and ambulatory care. Its busy outpa-
Koffi now attends kindergarten and tient department has led the way in
after-school programs while his fami- on Special Education (CPSE), and systems, their advocacy is transfor- community-based care delivered in
ly lives stably in the Bronx. the Committee on Special Education mative.” a compassionate and culturally-ap-
Both families have requested an- (CSE). North Central Bronx Hospital propriate manner. Its Labor and De-
onymity due to ongoing immigration “Our community health workers CHW Supervisor Hilda Reyes add- livery service safely brings more than
issues. play a vital role connecting families ed, “These stories show how CHWs 1,000 babies into the world each year.
CHW program support ser- to developmental, behavioral, and empower families and prevent delays North Central Bronx is committed to
vices include connecting patients social services,” said Dr. Elisa Karp, in care that can change a child’s life providing safe, high-quality medical
and sending referrals to appropriate Attending Physician at North Cen- forever.” care for any and all in need. For more
agencies, such as Early Intervention tral Bronx Hospital. “For immigrant In 2025 alone, the Pediatric information visit www.nychealthand-
(EI), the Committee for Pre-School families learning to navigate complex CHW Program at North Central hospitals.org/north-central-bronx.

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