It was the first time we had a mammogram mobile unit in our Vietnamese community. In the beginning it was challenging for Boat People SOS (BPSOS) in Louisville but in the end it proved yet to be another successful event for us.

Brown Cancer Center’s employee helped participant to go over their insurance information inside the mammogram van. (Photo of BPSOS)

BPSOS-Louisville has been partnering with the Kentucky Cancer Program (KCP) for about a year and a half. As a part of our collaboration, BPSOS-Louisville is responsible for recruiting women for breast health and women’s cancer education programs and screening services and providing interpretation at these events. Normally, we would meet Vietnamese women that we have recruited at or take them to the Family Health Center Americana or locations that are close to the residence of our targeted women for the cancer screening services to accommodate their need and convenience.

Both BPSOS-Louisville and KCP have thought of offering the mobile unit to the Vietnamese community. While the minimum requirement for the number of participants is only 20 which is not hard to obtain in some cases; however, BPSOS staff knew that it was not going to be easy work cutting out for us. This is due to the conception and behavior of Vietnamese women about their health and cancers, it was extremely difficult to change their mindset and promote preventive care. For example: some women entrust their health and life in the divine being while others even though are living with some type of cancers choose not to share or talk about their experiences with closed ones because they are afraid of shame or being shunned upon.

Our set date for the mobile unit at BPSOS was on July 28th, two days after our Amerasians’ concert. For more than two months, BPSOS’ staff recruited women, did outreach, created an ad and placed it on Hom Nay magazine (a local media print), produced flyers and inserted them into our Mach Song newspaper (BPSOS’s media outlet).

Fortunately, Hom Nay magazine decided to generate posters based on our flyer and gave them to us which we posted them at Vietnamese businesses and organizations. On top of that we were planning for the concert to reunite and regroup the Amerasians in Louisville.

The flyers were out long before people from the Louisville community were calling us to schedule for their mammogram. Because we wanted to reserve the 20 slots for our Vietnamese women, regrettably we put the non-Vietnamese women’s information down on the waiting list. As more and more non-Vietnamese women were calling in, we were making progress with our Vietnamese participants. We even had two Vietnamese women on the waiting list.

The Monday before the event, BPSOS called the women on the list to remind them of their mammogram appointment. Much to our anticipation, the day finally arrived. We had two BPSOS staff to assist, direct the participants where to go, and provide interpretation. In addition, we had another interpreter to help us to run the process.

Considering it was our first time to plan for a mobile unit, it was very much fruitful. Everything was running smoothly and our partner, KCP, was surprised by the steadiness of process. We had the total of 19 Vietnamese and 2 non-Vietnamese women that had their screening done that day. Overall, I think our July 28th event is a stepping stone for future mobile units to come in the Vietnamese community. We are moving in the right direction if we continue with this progress.

Hopefully, as more and more screenings are being offered Vietnamese women will alter their knowledge, attitude, and behavior about their health care.

July 21, 2009: Tina Phelipot is a graduate of California State University Long Beach, with a BBA in Business management. We are happy to welcome her as a new member of case managers here in Houston. Having been previously employed as an Office Manager for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, she brings experience and enthusiasm to the team.

“I’ve worked with patients before and although this is my first time as a case manager I hope my skills can apply here,” she said.

On behalf of everyone, I would like to extend a big, “welcome!”

July 20, 2009: Boat People SOS in Falls Church, Virginia, is expanding its assistance to homeowners in the DC area who are facing foreclosure through a new pro bono initiative – a Foreclosure Advice and Assistance Clinic (the “Clinic”).

The Clinic will provide housing counseling assistance to those homeowners who are in foreclosure or are concerned about it affecting them in the near future. We expect that the clients will mainly be drawn from the immigrant communities in Northern Virginia, particularly the Vietnamese-American community.

If you are interested in volunteering to support this endeavor, please contact Ducchi T. Quan (ducchi.quan@gmail.com), Lisa Lynn Chapman (lisalynn.chapman@bpsos.org), or Loan T. Hanlon (loan.hanlon@bpsos.org). Thanks!

July 15, 2009: Are you worried about losing your home during this economic downturn? Many people and programs are offering help for seniors – but where should you turn?

Click here for some basic information from the National Consumer Law Center to get you started as you try to think through the process of saving your home from foreclosure.

July 13, 2009: The Hurricane Ike Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) is proud to welcome Jaclyn Truong to our team!

Truong, who will be working as a case manager from the newly opened DCMP office in Port Arthur, Texas, has 10 years of administrative experience. As a former champion chess player and the mother of two children, a 12-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old boy, she is well-equipped to strategize and multitask!

“We’re glad that Jaclyn is lending her talents to BPSOS and the Ike recovery effort,” said Danielle Bolks, DCMP director. “With the opening of our new office in Port Arthur, people like Jaclyn are poised to give our case management program a real boost.”

On behalf of BPSOS, and especially the DCMP and the Houston branch, welcome aboard!

July 10, 2009: The Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging, a BPSOS-Falls Church partner, is currently seeking a volunteer to support their Vietnamese Senior Information Line. By volunteering, you will be providing a critically needed service to the community by connecting older Vietnamese adults to social services such as housing, insurance, and transportation. BPSOS is seeking good-hearted, bilingual people who can commit to shifts of two or more hours at regular times during the week.

Responsibilities

1. Evaluate clients’ needs to determine eligibility for various programs.
2. Advocate or intercede on behalf of clients to achieve desired result or to obtain the desired information from another agency.
3. Follow-up with clients to ensure that that they have received appropriate information or service.
4. Identify and respond to clients who are in crisis.
5. Provide translation and/or interpretation services.
6. Maintain client records.
7. Attending meetings, trainings, and workshops.

Qualifications

1. Fluency in Vietnamese.
2. Basic knowledge about social services and eligibility requirements or willingness to learn about these services.
3. Strong listening and interpersonal skills.
4. Counseling or case management skills are desirable but not required.

For more information, please send a brief note describing your interest in this volunteer position to Amy Trang, multicultural outreach and program coordinator at the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging, at amy.trang@fairfaxcounty.gov.

July 9, 2009: Một vòng tham quan não bộ giải thích cơ chế hoạt động của não và sự tác động của bệnh Alzheimer lên não như thế nào.

Xin quý vị bấm vào đây để tìm hiểu thêm chi tiết.

July 8, 2009: BPSOS-Houston is proud to welcome Lien Tran to the Hurricane Ike Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP).

Tran, a graduate of the University of Texas in Houston, received her BS in Medical Technology and will serve as a DCMP case manager.

“We’re excited that someone with such deep expertise in medical technology is adding that knowledge to our team,” said Danielle Bolks, director of the DCMP. “This is a great opportunity for us to add depth to our work, which frequently overlaps with the healthcare sector.”

Tran takes part in many volunteer opportunities through her church, and was especially active following Hurricane Ike, when she helped seniors fill out applications for assistance and food stamps. To take her community service to a new level, she joined BPSOS.

“We’re excited that Lien is on our team,” said Bolks. “Welcome to BPSOS and the Hurricane Ike recovery effort!”