San Jose agencies help provide health care for low-income residents

Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Workshop for Bay Area high school students, a two-week intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.

For some San Jose residents, accessing proper medical care is a difficult challenge. The Healthier Kids Foundation, Gardner Health Services and the Vietnamese American Service Center are just a few organizations that strive to better the lives of children and adults. These organizations are focused on offering programs to those who stumble upon economic difficulties.

The Healthier Kids Foundation aims to eliminate health barriers affecting today’s youth. Program Director Patricia Alonso said a variety of programs are offered for families such as 10 Steps to a Healthier You, as well as free pregnancy, dental, hearing and vision care.

“We also have a program that identifies uninsured families, and assists them through the application process,” she said.

The foundation screens children and follows up with them to provide care where they need it. Parent advocates assist foster parents in accessing timely medical and dental appointments. The Baby Gateway program enrolls newborns into Medi-Cal, offering parenting and health resources before being discharged from their hospital.

“Pre-pandemic, we supported the community in many different ways, one of them being through our diaper distribution program,” Alonso said.

The Healthier Kids Foundation has three main strategies: improving health care access and utilization, changing health behavior through education and advocating for health policy and systems change.

“Our main focus is the overall well-being of the child,” Alonso said. “We call parents and communicate with partnered clinics in order to carry out medical appointments necessary for the child’s well-being.”

The newly built Vietnamese American Service Center aims to serve San Jose’s Vietnamese residents with medical assistance. VASC is a “one-stop shop,” said Senior Manager Liem Ly. The clinical staff helps with food and nutrition programs, and guides individuals through the Medi-Cal and Medicaid application process.

“VASC is a government program, free of charge, that includes laboratory services, a pharmacy, dental and behavioral health clinics,” Ly said. “We have a variety of different community-based organizations. Occasionally, we’ve worked with our team to provide services at no cost. Our main goal is to offer a one-stop shop program, so that our community does not have to visit multiple different places for vital safety net services that the county is providing.”

More information is available on the VASC website, such as resources and information about health and human services like bilingual translation, health coverage enrollment and benefit assistance.

Gardner Health Services helps low-income families by supplying them with the resources needed at a minimal cost. Santa Clara County and San Mateo County residents receive access to primary care, immunization, no- to low-cost pharmacy items, emergency and specialty care. This organization also provides specialty behavioral programs, serves the unhoused population and provides aid to all regardless of legal status.

According to Director of Development Maribel Montanez, Gardner helps people without access to medical assistance, with a sliding scale fee based on how much a client makes.

“Accessing the Gardner Health Services comes with options,” Montanez said. “One can get into contact with one of our clinics, or contact one of the enrollment counselors.”

Additional resources include: 

• Santa Clara County Information & Referral Services: Dial 2-1-1
• Blanca Alvarado Community Resource Center: 408-376-2000
• Community Health Partnership’s Health Coverage Line: 408-579-6028
• Gardner Health Services’ Health Insurance Enrollment: 408-457-7100