Meet Dr. Holly

Dr. Holly enjoys helping her patients in Uinta County. She has always been known to go “the extra mile” for those in her care. Recently, during a routine check-up, Dr. Holly learned that one of her patient was struggling with several things that was adding stress and a decrease in his mental health. She knew she needed to step in and try to help him out.

Dr. Holly remembered a presentation made by a Wyoming 211’s staff member at her medical office. She was hopeful that calling 2-1-1 would be a good place to start. Dr. Holly asked several questions of her patient to try to get to the bottom of the real issues that he was dealing with. She learned that he would go days without food and he was having difficulty covering his rent and utilities monthly.

Knowing what her patient’s presenting needs were now, Dr. Holly called 2-1-1 and was greeted with a kind voice on the other end of the line. Kim, a Wyoming 211 Community Resource Specialist, was eager to help Dr. Holly come up with some information and referrals to accommodate her patient’s needs. She first informed Kim of her patient’s lack of food in the house. She knew this was causing moments of depression and thought this was his most immediate need.

Kim told her about The Lord’s Storehouse Food Bank in Evanston. She learned that her patient could get groceries on Tuesdays from 4-6pm and Fridays from 8am-12pm. With the hours of operation and the physical address of the food bank, Dr. Holly was looking forward to sharing this referral with her patient.

She also shared with Kim that her patient couldn’t afford to cover his rent and utilities payments this next month. She informed Dr. Holly, that through the Community Services Block Grant monies, Uinta County Human Services might be able to help with rent assistance (up to $600) and utility assistance (up to $500). Dr. Holly learned that her patient can either call and fill the application out over the phone or walk-in to be helped.

Kim asked Dr. Holly if her patient might be in need of better paying job due to the struggles he was having making ends meet every month. Dr. Holly was shocked that Wyoming 211 would have resources to assist with finding a job. Kim gave her several resources in the database, including Workforce Center- Evanston, that would start her patient off on the right track to finding a better job.

A week later, Kim called Dr. Holly to follow up on the referrals given and to see if she needed any more assistance for her patient. Kim was thrilled to learn that Dr. Holly told her patient about the food available to him at The Lord’s Storehouse Food Bank. He had already stopped by and received some groceries for the week. Dr. Holly also informed Kim that her patient had received some help to complete an application at Uinta County Human Services and should hear back next week if they have some funding left to help with his rent and utilities. Kim asked if the referral for the Workforce Center- Evanston had been helpful. Dr. Holly told her that her patient had signed up for a work training program that would include classes on financial literacy, credit recovery, job seeking skills, and more.

Dr. Holly was so glad she called Wyoming 211. She knew she was connected to more that just resources for her patient. She was connected with options that could provide him with hope for a better future.