An hour of help.
A day of wages.
Dr. Venera Bekteshi, PhD, MSW, MPA, MA, LCSW
Before an appointment reaches someone’s calendar, it may already be competing with rent, groceries, or a shift they cannot afford to lose.
Imagine needing that conversation—and knowing that attending could mean bringing less money home.
The appointment takes an hour on our calendar. Its cost may follow someone through the rest of the week.
For attorneys and clinicians, one question can open a different conversation:
“What would coming to this appointment cost you—in time, income, or job security?”
Listen. Explore what can change. Agree on a next step the person can realistically take.
Care begins with understanding what it takes to reach us.
Explore the CIAS Practitioner Toolkit: the toolkit · Section 1, Table 1: Economic context (p. 6) ↗ · training video: Economic Context
Research informing this reflection: paid sick leave and access to preventive medical care. Peipins et al. (2012). stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/10903
