By James Sienkievic
On Thursday, Oct. 3, the Institute for Community Living (ICL) hosted a Children and Family Resource Fair at the East New York Health HUB. Tucked away in a room off the courtyard in the back of the sprawling three-story community HUB building, the event was an exciting opportunity to introduce the ICL and its partners—including the Food Bank for New York City, the Community Healthcare Network, VNS Health, HealthFirst, and Black Veterans for Social Justice—to families in the area and provide support on a range of issues. Booths lined the walls while games and balloons were arranged around the room, and children played Connect Four on small tables on the floor.
After serving for 15 years …. struggled for years to get proper help from the VA
The fair was an opportunity for the ICL to introduce itself to a wider segment of the community and showcase its wide range of resources to the East New York community, including activities for kids, expert advice on parenting, mental health, substance use disorders, as well as opportunities to win exciting prizes and giveaways.
Natalie Primus, a former Air Force and Marine Corps service member, attended the event that morning after being invited by an ICL veterans outreach member. After serving for 15 years and being medically retired due to an injury, she had struggled for years to get proper help from the VA. She was there that morning hoping to hear about different resources available to her and her child that she may not have known about.
“Sometimes you need to hear about all the other programs that are available to you. Sometimes when one person doesn’t have it, another person may be able to provide that information. So that’s one of the things I hope to get from today.”
Built in 2018, the East New York Health HUB is part of ICL’s approach to what they call a whole health approach to wellness. The site provides comprehensive, integrated services to address a full range of primary health and behavioral health needs, as well as children and family, employment, housing, mental health, and veteran services. Across the three floors, various departments specialize in addressing the specific needs of the community.
Toni Kimpson, a social worker with the ICL, says that some of the most pressing issues lately have been housing and helping people deal with stigma regarding mental health and substance abuse.
The HUB has helped her get through some of the roughest times of her life
“We’re just trying to really educate the community about what mental illness is, what it can look like. It touches all of us, and we need to support each other with where we can go for help and make sure people know where those resources are.”
Martha Salgado shared how the HUB has helped her get through some of the roughest times of her life. The daughter of Chilean immigrants, she had worked steadily in the banking industry for over 25 years before she suddenly lost everything. The ICL became her lifeline and helped her get her life back on track. As a foster mother of three who has cared for more than 20 children, Martha has found the support provided to her by the HUB invaluable. They assisted her with Medicaid, helped resolve human resources issues, and provided essential food bank access. “Their food bank is amazing,” she said.
The Children and Family Resource Fair highlighted the vital role that organizations like the Institute for Community Living (ICL) play across New York City and the nation. As the nation continues to grapple with mental health and substance abuse issues, stories like Natalie’s and Martha’s shine a spotlight on the hard work and dedication of ICL staff in supporting their communities. Resources are plentiful for those in need, and organizations like the ICL assist individuals in accessing them every day.