In March, FHP Health Center and TakeCare celebrated National Social Worker Month.

Arthur W.J.M Paulino is a licensed medical home health and hospice social worker at FHP Health Center. He believes creating human relationships honors a patient’s life and the dignity. One of Paulino’s responsibilities is to guide the patient back to a positive quality of life, in a holistic approach, with the social services geared to specific problems unique to each person’s environment. Paulino stresses that being a medical social worker means honoring someone’s final stages of life by making death beautiful, surrounded by one’s family, and the faith they practice.

Kristina Silva has been a case manager associate with the TakeCare medical management department for the last 19 years. She has worked with members who do not having enough food, are being neglected, or live in a home that is inhabitable because of black mold. All of these situations required her to think of solutions so the member can maintain their independence, dignity and improve their quality of life. Silva knows she can not help members alone. She creates relationships with colleagues working in various government agencies or non-profit groups to obtain services and/or supplies. Social work is multi-faceted. Silvia’s satisfaction is that she was able to help another person.