2024 in Review: Outreach Team Highlight
2024 was a year of growth for First Shift. In addition to new staff filling open positions, we also promoted our Medical Legal Advocate, C Nickel, to the Community Health Outreach Manager position. With a Masters Degree in Public Health, First Shift’s Community Health Outreach Manager trains medical providers about workplace accommodations for pregnancy and breastfeeding and family medical leave; and lead the outreach team, coordinating its activities, with community partners and the other components of First Shift’s program, including legal services and policy advocacy. We knew C would contribute a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position, and that the restructuring of our outreach team with C in the lead would have a positive impact on our outreach efforts - but we couldn’t have imagined just how much.
From 2023 to 2024, when C moved into the role, our outreach capacity approximately doubled: in 2024, we gave 58 Know Your Rights presentations to 815 attendees and 19 medical presentations to 470 attendees, compared to 27 Know Your Rights presentations to 462 attendees and 12 medical trainings to 185 attendees in 2023. We also distributed 5,351 materials in comparison to 2,054 in 2023. The additional trainings and presentations are a product of new partnerships with community organizations all over the city and beyond, including Community of Hope, Inova Health System, and Mary’s Center.
In addition to C’s experience and efforts, we can also thank Jennie Saldana, our DC Outreach Coordinator, who came to us with significant community connections that have expanded our reach. Jennie is bilingual in English and Spanish and conducts Know Your Rights presentations in both languages. Our outreach team is rounded out by an AVODAH Service Corp Member, who contributes to our staff for a year as a stipended volunteer and makes it possible for us to reach families in Northern Virginia as well as D.C.
The information we disseminate through Know Your Rights presentations and medical provider trainings, including the accompanying print materials, is shared among communities and family members. It is common for First Shift to receive referrals from the connections we’re able to make through outreach. In 2024, 54% of our referrals came from medical providers, community organizations, and people connecting with us at outreach events. Another 25% came from family members, friends, coworkers, and current/former clients referring workers to us.
Because of access to First Shift’s legal information and legal services, family breadwinners are able to exercise their rights, maintain employment, and secure the economic stability and health of their families.
By P. Browne
