Barclay Place & Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc.
Title: Community Resource Navigation and Wellness Education Initiative
Student Interns:
Thomas Uranga
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Academic Preceptor:
Jennifer Cummings, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Mary Haus, MD, FAAOS, FASAM
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Victoria L. Hrach, PhD
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Dana Slezak
Director, SBC Barclay Place
Samantha Wright, MS
Case Management Supervisor, Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission
Community Site:
Barclay Place is a 14-bed personal care home that serves adults with significant mental health needs. Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, a service of SPHS Behavioral Health, helps individuals with substance use disorders achieve self-sufficiency through case management and recovery support.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps intern focused on improving access to healthcare, digital resources, and wellness education for vulnerable populations. To help case managers efficiently connect clients to primary care, dental services, and employment resources, the intern developed targeted resource guides. For the personal care home, the intern created an interactive “Wellness Warriors” curriculum to promote healthy snack choices, basic nutrition facts, and personal hygiene. To streamline the medical intake process for clients, the intern established practical clinical intake tools, including appointment checklists and medication logs. Lastly, to address the physical and basic needs of individuals at both sites, the intern secured a sustainable clothing voucher pipeline and distributed dental health supply kits.
Reflections
My experience served as a powerful reminder of the humanity we must consider when serving vulnerable populations. I learned that meeting an individual exactly where they are and prioritizing compassionate support and flexibility over judgment is an essential step in supporting their recovery journey and keeping them connected to care.
Thomas Uranga
