Public Health Corps member discovers how policy affects her participants

Public Health Corps members boost the capacity of organizations to increase the quality and reach of services across the public health sector.

During the sharp uprise of COVID-19 cases in March of 2020, isolation caused more Americans to reflect on mental health – both on a personal and systematic level. For Claire, however, this crisis not only led to more consideration of mental health, but concrete efforts to help those experiencing barriers in the public health system.  

With over a decade of experience in the culinary industry, the decision to return to school to focus on psychology was a big career shift. As she began to learn more about issues like the social determinants of mental health and systematic inequalities, she was inspired to serve with Public Health Corps.  

“I wanted to understand better how high-level change in legislation and public programs was going to be affecting the people that I will be working with,” Claire says, adding that she saw countless overlaps between mental health and social work in her term as a Public Health Project Coordinator in Duluth. 

While serving at St. Louis County Public Health & Human Services, Claire was primarily responsible for contacting families who were eligible for Minnesota’s Child and Teen Checkup Program. With a goal of ensuring that children got in for their regular health checkups, she often worked with families to help them understand their benefits, access clinics and ensure they were connected to available resources.  

In Minnesota and across the country, navigating public health resources can be a daunting and time consuming process. “It’s very difficult to track down all the resources that you need and all of the pieces of paperwork required,” Claire says.  

Many of the families she worked with were facing pressing health issues that needed attention but went untreated due to financial challenges. Although every family was different, Claire helped families access low-cost dentures for children, services for those experiencing partial blindness, and other supports. As she worked to connect people to needed resources, her interest in policy and legislation grew.  

“Things that happen at the federal level or state levels have real impacts on the lives of a lot of people,” she says. Seeing this firsthand pushed Claire to think about the bigger picture and consider how federal laws impacted those she served. Those experiences have inspired her to become more active in following public policy and advocacy.  

Having completed her term of service with Public Health Corps, Claire is now pursuing a graduate degree in social work. She plans to become a clinical social worker in Minnesota and hopes to focus on integrated health and normalizing mental health checkups.  

Communities across Minnesota are still looking for people to serve with Public Health Corps and relocation assistance is available for those interested in serving in greater Minnesota. To learn more and find current opportunities beginning in January, visit ampact.us/public-health.