Shay Zapata has been a longtime DIP-IN team member serving the Near West community and now assisting with supervising the Eskenazi DIP-IN CHWs. Read on to learn more about Shay’s role and her experience working in the DIP-IN and greater Indianapolis communities.
How long have you been a part of the DIP-IN team and what is your role?
I have been with the DIP-IN project since 2018. I started as a Community Health Worker (CHW) assisting clients in locating community resources such as housing, employment, transportation, medical or legal assistance, and other services. In 2021 I was promoted as CHW supervisor, and my role is to supervise the activities of (CHWs) and provide them with coaching and support to ensure the quality of their work and the accuracy of their monthly reports.
Tell us more about your background working with Indianapolis communities.
Working in the healthcare/social services world for 14 years, I have participated in several health fairs and community events around the city, providing education and resources and serving as an advocate. I have spent the last several years delivering food boxes, assisting at food pantries, and I have had the opportunity to meet with patients and their families in the comfort of their homes who needed assistance with overcoming social determinant barriers. It has its challenges, but it is even more rewarding.
Has there been a particular moment in the project you felt like you made a significant impact?
There have been many moments where I felt I made a significant impact in the lives of my patients. Most recently, I worked with a patient who was having trouble managing her diabetes. Diagnosed a few years ago, she was dealing with some other life challenges and didn’t pay much attention to her blood sugar.
When I received a referral from her doctor, her A1C was very high. During the next few months, I was able to build a rapport with her by assisting her with health insurance options and diabetes resources, while also connecting her with assistance to address those other life challenges. I made sure to check in on her weekly; something she greatly appreciated because her family did not check on her.
Fast forward today, my patient has better control of life issues, has reconnected with her family, is following her medication regimen, and her most recent A1C test showed a drop of nearly 40 percent. As a CHW, I feel beyond blessed that I am able to provide social support and connect my patients to so many resources that are out in the community.
What are you looking forward to in the coming years of DIP-IN?
In the upcoming years, I am looking forward to being able to expand our DIP-IN program to other neighborhoods in Indianapolis and continue to be an advocate for the communities that I serve. I want community members to feel supported and it is important to me that my patients know that I am here for them and aspire to make positive impacts in the lives of my patients who are facing adversity.
When you are not working, what are you up to?
When I am not working, my 6-year-old daughter and I enjoy going to the gym and attending our favorite classes. We also love to travel, shop at the outlet malls, go to church, and dine at local restaurants in the city. I am also a part-time (service agency) contractor with DCS assisting families with the reunification process. I can also be found having fun at a local winery with my best friends or hanging out at home watching my favorite Netflix series.