Interpretation Services - Sharing understanding , spreading hope
Anyone who has lived in Houston for a little over a week has come across people who speak a language other than English . As one of the most diverse cities of the world , Houston is home to people from all the continents , and a substantial portion of them are not fluent in English . These individuals make up a significant amount of Harris Center clientele .
For this population , professional interpretation is just as crucial as adequate mental health treatment and intellectual and developmental disability supports to improve their lives . Each language is so complex that a bilingual dictionary or online translation services are simply not enough .
David Rodriguez is one of five full-time interpreters at The Harris Center . Over two decades , he has held different roles at the Center and has served the majority of this time as an Agency interpreter . David describes his assistance to clients as " a teaching tool that will help them have the knowledge they need to make progress ."
" I love what I do ," David says .
While there are staff members who are certified bilingual speakers in The Harris Center clinics , Agency Interpreters
support treatment teams by providing a smooth conversation between providers and clients during appointments when certified staff are not available .
" Whether a therapist , a nurse or a service coordinator , clinicians really want to help their clients ," David says . " You have to be calm and explain exactly what the clinician says in a way that clients will understand . If they don ' t , I try to explain it in a different way ."
Besides being proficient in another language , interpreters must also master a wide knowledge of medical terminology , The Harris Center programs and treatment plans of care , and its mission . They each interpret for up to eight patients per day , and travel all across Harris County : to clinics , homes , apartments and even the Harris County jail .
Working with a population with special needs requires passion and devotion . Clients of The Harris Center often have life-long serious conditions . As an interpreter , David has witnessed firsthand the need and desperation of individuals and family members . But , David believes that his service is making a difference .
" They came here because they need help ," David says . " My job is to help them understand that there is hope for progress , and that they can become a family . I want them to thrive and succeed ."
In addition to the five full-time interpreters , The Harris Center Rights Office also includes three part time employees . A contract with MasterWord Services also provides interpretation services in over 40 languages , including sign language .
Texans Recovering Together - Helping flood survivors
Most people experience stress reactions following a traumatic event such as the recent flood events . Texans Recovering Together ( TRT ) is a team of licensed counselors from The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD who reach out to survivors to offer free grief and loss crisis counseling , disaster education and resource referrals to help meet immediate needs .
Crisis counseling helps reduce the intensity of an individual ’ s emotional , mental and physical behavioral reactions to this type of trauma , which is essential for recovery . TRT provided services to approximately 39,000 survivors of the May 2015 flood event . The team has plans to continue providing this assistance to more individuals affected by other floods .
Through canvassing affected neighborhoods , participating in community outreach events and by utilizing the FEMA registration list provided by state partners , the team continues to complete follow-up visits with survivors to ensure that needs have been met .
As part of their outreach and awareness activities , TRT held educational groups in Spring Independent School District . A Spring ISD representative shared his experience with the TRT team .
“ Spring ISD loves TRT . Jermaine and the rest of the team have been wonderful . They have provided parents , students , faculty and staff with all of the tools necessary to be ready when disaster strikes . Thank you all for educating Spring ISD .”
Texans Recovering Together works under the auspices of The Harris Center , through the Texas Department of State Health Services . Funds for this program are provided by FEMA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration .
Individuals who would like more details about TRT may contact 844-279-6036 or send an email to trt @ mhmraharris . org for more information .