Pathways

Pathways service helps people navigate healthcare and social systems

Care coordination available in Skamania and Klickitat Counties

Bingen, WA (May 19, 2021) – Maintaining good health can be difficult, especially if one is living within limited means and facing additional challenges. To alleviate stress and provide a comprehensive approach to navigate a multitude of services, Pathways HealthConnect has been established in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. 

The Pathways care coordination program connects adults, 18 and over, and their families to a Community Health Worker (CHW)/Peer who knows their way around healthcare, social services, and other systems. It starts with a one-on-one conversation to get a good understanding of what is going on in the participant’s life so that the worker can establish a complete picture of the situation and begin to make referrals.

“Our program is free and confidential,” said Tonya Willett, Pathways supervisor. “We have a great team in place with some shared experiences that really help them relate to participants. Our Community Health Workers are wonderful at talking with participants to gauge their unique circumstances and then help them find assistance locally to improve their situation.”

When asked what services participants can be linked to, Willett said it can include a wide variety of support: signing up for health insurance, medical, dental, or mental healthcare, housing, food, clothing, transportation, treatment for substance misuse, childcare, and parenting education, utility and financial assistance, legal assistance, education and employment, domestic violence support and more. 

Sara Sanderson is a CHW/Peer who works with school districts in Klickitat County to help connect families in need of services. She said she feels good about the opportunity to assist people, like a single mom who came from Mexico when she was just 13, who lost her job at the beginning of COVID and was unable to utilize traditional services. Sanderson linked her with a rental assistance program, found funding to help pay outstanding medical bills, and connected the family with an employment program, People for People. The woman’s son, who recently graduated from high school, was accepted to a training program and was just hired. “The family is doing well and is grateful that we were all able to connect.” Sanderson said.

The Pathways program has grown throughout the pandemic from a staff of two in 2019 to five in 2021 and now includes CHW/Peers that are also representative of Latino and Native communities. There are two phone lines available, one in English at 509-261-1291 and one in Spanish at 509-281-2331. For more information email tonya@wagap.org. 

Pathways operates under Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) and is funded by the Klickitat County Link Group (K-LINK) through a grant by Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health (SWACH), and a COVID Care (CARES Act) grant. Staff at WAGAP can also directly connect someone to the Pathways program at their offices in Bingen, Goldendale and Stevenson.

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Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and much more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.