It isn’t uncommon for families to change geographic locations because of job or educational opportunities. Most people don’t think twice about going where the jobs are in order to provide for themselves and their families. In fact, it is far less common for people to remain in one place for the duration of their lives. Upward mobility and the opportunity to move freely between states is one of the hallmarks of the American way of life. Why is it then, that the term “migrant” is often met with misunderstanding and even disdain? The term “migrant” simply refers to a person who moves from place to place to get work, especially those who work as farm laborers. By definition, is a migrant worker any different than someone who moves across the country because of a job opportunity? The only difference is in the way such people are perceived, and those perceptions are rooted in centuries of misconception and even oppression.
One organization that knows first-hand that fallacies often accompany the term “migrant” is Moorhead’s Community Health Service Inc. (CHSI). Formerly known as Migrant Health Service, Inc., CHSI has recently changed their organization’s moniker, in part because of society’s misconceptions and biases. The word “migrant” often comes with a preconceived notion of what that term means. In order to fight those preconceptions, the organization is undergoing a rebranding. “As a migrant health center, we are charged with serving agricultural workers regardless of race, ethnicity, income level, insurance status, and the like,” explained CHSI Executive Director Kristi Halvarson. “The word ‘migrant’ sometimes served as an unintentional barrier to folks who definitely qualify for services but felt they didn’t because they weren’t Hispanic, didn’t travel, or didn’t speak Spanish.”
Migrant Health Service, Inc. was established in 1973 as a private, non-profit organization that serves the health needs of migrant and seasonal farm workers and their family members. The organization currently operates seven nurse-managed clinics and two advocacy program centers in Minnesota and North Dakota. The mission of CHSI is “to serve targeted populations living in Minnesota and North Dakota in an effective, dignified and culturally sensitive manner regardless of: ability to pay, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or status with regard to public assistance.” The organization’s primary goal is to improve the health status of its clients through expanded access to health care and high-quality, affordable services that are culturally appropriate for the target population.
According to Halvarson, CHSI served 4,500 patients in 2013 who resided in over 300 ZIP codes. The agency has noticed a gradual demographic shift in terms of patients. “Although 85% of our patients were Hispanic in 2013, we are seeing increasing numbers of patients from Somalia and other parts of the word,” Halvarson explained. That changing demographic is another factor that contributed to the decision to change the organization’s name. As with any change, the decision wasn’t made lightly. In fact, the ultimate decision took several years. “Having been a migrant center and focusing on migrant families for 40 years, there were board members that wanted to hold onto and not lose sight of those true migrant patients,” Halvarson said. “Ultimately a decreasing number of migrant families and the misunderstanding surrounding the use of “migrant” were major factors in the change.”
The misconceptions regarding the term “migrant” may also be preventing some people from getting the help they are qualified to receive. One may qualify for services at CHSI if he/she or someone in the household has been employed in agriculture during the past 24 months. Retired and disabled farmworkers also qualify. In addition, the emergence of the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid in both ND and MN have increased the number of patients that are eligible. The ACA has also made it possible for CHSI to hire four Outreach and Enrollment workers who are certified to assist individuals with enrolling in Medicaid or selecting coverage on the health exchange. “In the past 12 months, CHSI assisted over 4,700 individuals and enrolled approximately 1,400 into coverage,” Halvarson said. “People who need enrollment assistance do not have to be patients – anyone who needs help can walk in or call for an appointment.”
People like Halvarson have dedicated their lives to ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to have their basic needs met. She understands, however, that sometimes the first step is educating people and removing misconceptions. She would like people to know that CHSI is a private nonprofit organization. Although the organization’s primary source of income is federal grants, the staff is not federal employees. “Our federal grant is intended to subsidize the cost of care we provide on a sliding fee scale based on household size and income,” she explained. “We are not an insurance program or a free clinic.”
The desire to provide for one’s family is one of life’s most innate drives, regardless of race. Sometimes this desire requires a geographical change or “migration.” Rarely does the work come to the worker. This is a universal fact. Unfortunately, the differences among people often become more important than their similarities. Words are powerful and one particular word or phrase can lead to wide-spread misconceptions and stereotypes. Such is the case with the word “migrant.” By changing its name to Community Health Service Inc., the leaders of the organization hope to alleviate the impact of those misconceptions and instead allow members of the community to focus on and understand their true mission. Change yields growth, and with growth invariably comes understanding and compassion. We are all more than the words that define us.
More information about Community Health Service Inc. can be found at http://chsiclinics.org/.
