.png)
Updated: Dec 5, 2022
November 15, 2022
(ALBANY, NEW YORK)
The RBC Foundation, in collaboration with RBC Wealth Management, recently announced St. Catherine’s Center for Children was awarded $5,000 to support its Pathways to Health program. Pathways to Health is a dynamic street outreach program connecting vulnerable populations to health services through a mobile Care-A-Van unit. The Pathways to Health program, now in its third year of operations, connects individuals experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless, struggling with food insecurity, poverty, and economic instability, who typically do not seek primary and behavioral healthcare services.
“RBC Wealth Management’s culture is deeply rooted in helping our communities and offering aid to those who need it most,” said James Watkinson, First Vice President – Branch Director, at RBC Wealth Management – U.S. “We are honored to partner with St. Catherine's Center for Children and support the Pathways to Health program, as it plays a critical role in bringing basic necessities to vulnerable children, adults and families in the Albany region.”
Pathways to Health is managed by a well-trained homeless-outreach team that uses the Social Determinants of Health to make assessments and suggest care continuums. With the mobile Care-A-Van unit, the team is able to reach people where they are in the community. The van is equipped to provide on-the-spot healthcare resources, including access to telehealth and telemedicine, benefits, appointment scheduling, transportation, and provides food, household essentials, and hygiene supplies. Meeting families and individuals where they are helps the team establish a positive presence in the community, bridging gaps that build trust and respect. In the first six months of 2022, St. Catherine’s Pathways program served over 1,600 individuals.
“Our work does not just happen when a situation becomes acute, and someone goes to an emergency room or a police station. We are on the streets, in the parking lots, and wherever there is a need,” says Frank Pindiak, Executive Director of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
“Securing sustainable funding ensures consistent and timely delivery of services, which is especially important in a program such as Pathways. Our clients come to rely not only on the resources, but the familiarity with the program’s personnel,” adds Michele Puleo O’Hare, Executive Director of the Foundation of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
Related Link
Pathways to Health Connects Vulnerable Populations to Vital Health Access
About St. Catherine’s Center for Children Homeless Services
St. Catherine’s homeless and housing services are designed to promote independence and stability. The Marillac Family Shelter serves up to 24 families at a time, providing emergency shelter and supplemental services for families in need of permanent housing. Michael’s House, an apartment-style living facility, provides supportive housing services for up to 20 families and single adults who need transitional support as they work towards lifestyle sustainability. Through the Galvin Motel, St. Catherine’s is able to facilitate immediate stays for those experiencing a housing emergency. Additional programs include Project HOST, connecting families and adults to health care services, counseling and employment assistance, and Pathways to Health. For more information or to make a referral, visit www.st-cath.org/homeless-services.
About St. Catherine’s Center for Children
St. Catherine’s Center for Children was founded by the Daughters of Charity in Albany in 1886 as a home for sick orphans. Today, the agency is a haven for hope, offering a comprehensive range of human services for Capital Region children and families coping with issues of abuse, neglect, mental illness, homelessness, and trauma. In addition to offering extensive services to the homeless and those who are at risk of becoming homeless, St. Catherine’s offers residential services for children ages 5 to 13, therapeutic foster care services, an elementary school for children with special educational needs, and community-based prevention services and programs designed to strengthen vulnerable families. Last year, St. Catherine’s services reached nearly 3,000 children and families in the Capital Region. For more information, visit www.st-cath.org.
Media Contact
SCCC Social Media
Office: 518-453-6700
Email: scccsm@st-cath.org
Web: www.st-cath.org/news
Photo Credit © St. Catherine’s Center for Children