Gaby Andrade- Teacher

KINE 4353 Cumulative Experience

Stakeholder Interview Sample Questions
Please use these questions as a guide for your stakeholder interview. Some of these questions
might not apply to your project, so it is acceptable to make changes to the questions as
needed.

1. What are the “best things” about your community?

The best things about my community are the culture, the safety, and the location are close to
most major highways and city attractions.
2. What are the major challenges facing your community?

Theft is probably the biggest challenge.

3. Do you think the community as a whole is aware of these locally available services at our
hospitals?

I will say most people are aware of the resources available if they have access to internet
and know how to use it. They may also have access to these resources of they know
someone who works in health care.

4. What specific services, if any, do you think local Hospitals needs to add? Why?

Some suggestions would be transportation to those underserved populations that don’t have
access to cars. Also, maybe discounted healthcare or payments plans that work for those
who have minimal or no health insurance.
5. What suggestions do you have for health-related organizations to work together to
provide
better services and improve the overall health of the area population?

My suggestion would be for health organizations to provide more free services to people.
This can include free health checkups maybe a few times a month. They can also work with
business or other organizations to fund health programs that could be beneficial to the
community.

6. Where do people find out what health services are available in the area?

They find out by doing research and talking to people they know who might have access to
health resources.

7. Where do you think people turn for trusted health information?

They might go to their primary doctor, or people they might know who healthcare
professionals are. They might take advise from trusted friends and family.
8. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being no collaboration and 5 being excellent collaboration,
how
would you rate the collaboration in the community among these various organizations?

a. Business and industry (3)

b. Clinics (4)
c. Economic development organizations (3)
d. Emergency services, including ambulance and fire (4)
e. Health and human services agencies (examples: mental health, human development
the commission, area on aging, department of human services) (4)

f. Hospital(s) (4)
g. Indian Health Service and/or veterans affairs (3)
h. Law enforcement (3)
i. long-term care, including nursing homes and assisted living (4)
j. Other local health providers, such as dentists and chiropractors (4)
k. Pharmacies (4)
l. Public Health (4)
m. Schools (4)
10. What community health concerns do you perceive are top priorities in your community?
The top health concerns are probably cardiovascular diseases related to obesity or unhealthy
living practices.
11. Even though most insurance’s now cover basic preventive health services like wellness
visits,
many people do not use those services. Why do you think that may be?

They might not be aware of the specifics of their insurance plan. They might think that they
will have to spend additional money.

12. What would help to remove barriers that may be affecting the use of local health
services by the
community as a whole?

Reducing prices can probably be the biggest help. Healthcare is expensive and if costs were
less people would be more prone to seeking healthcare services.

13. What are some of the resources or assets that exist in the area that might be able to help
meet
these needs and concerns?

Recreation sports and activity centers, parks available to the public, food banks that give out
nutritional foods, and free programs that educate people on healthy eating.

14. What are the reasons that community members use our local Hospitals rather than
providers
outside of their local community for health care needs?

Many people do not have access to doctors. They seek healthcare in hospitals because they
know that is the place you go for healthcare.

15. What are the reasons that community members use other health care providers rather
than use
their local Hospital?

Hospital can get expensive. An emergency visit can cost thousands of dollars. Many people
are afraid to even step inside a hospital

16. Are you aware of particular populations or groups in the area that are medically
underserved?
a. If so, are there any health concerns of those groups?
People who are facing poverty.
b. Are their certain resources or assets currently available that could help meet these
needs?
I am sure they are, but it takes research to know where to go.

17. How are low-income and/or minority populations in the community impacted differently
by
these potential needs?

They do not have the financial stability to afford healthcare. They might already be in debt
and do not want additional expenses.

18. If you were to give one piece of advice to improve the health of the community, what
would it
be? Is there other advice you would offer?

I would say education is essential for the well-being of a person. A person must find ways to
improve their health. This can be done by healthy eating and exercise. Finding a support
group that has the same goals is also important.

19. How can the services or support that your organization has to offer to impact the
services provided at National Alliance on Mental Health?

I can help teach those who are unaware of the services provided by NAMI. I can also help
bring awareness to mental health, especially in children.

20. How can you better leverage your services to provide a maximum impact at National
Alliance of Mental Health?
I can contribute more to my community. Mental health is so important, and I want to help
spread the message that everyone needs to seek mental health if need be.
 Gaby Andrade – Teacher

Gaby Andrade has been a teacher for six years. She shares that she has been a

kindergarten teacher for all her teaching career. This upcoming year will be a little different as she

will start to teach first graders. She is excited. She became a teacher because she wanted to improve

the lives of children through teaching. She grew up with great role models who were teachers, and

she wants to have the same impact on her students. She hopes she can progress one day and become

a principal or a leader within the public school system. Gaby’s perspective in this interview provided

a teacher’s input on what teachers might feel about introducing mental health to the school system.

Our interview centered on the school system. She shared that the school system is like a

second home for many students as it is for teachers. There are many teachers that get invested in the

student’s success and essentially their life. In her opinion, all teachers want the best for the student.

It is hard not to get personal with students. She shares that throughout the years there have been

occasions where you get to experience the family life of a student. It is not always pretty she says.

There have been occasions where she has had to make some reports against families in

circumstances, she felt like the child was in danger. It is the part of the job that is not so rewarding

she says. Teachers have a duty to put the child’s best interests. I asked her if the school should get

involved in resolving mental health concerns in children. She said that it is already part of her job.

There can be situations where the family does not provide these services to the child, and it is up to

the school to step in. The role of the teacher is to report behavioral or mental health issues to the

counselor and the counselor’s job is to report it to the parents. It is essentially the job of the parent to

give that child the help they need. The school’s job as of now is just to let the parents know and

facilitate receiving of resources by referrals. The American School Counselor Association

recommends that counselors spend at least seventy percent of their services on student mental health
(The Texas Guide to School Health Programs, n,d.). Instead, many counselors are delegated other

roles such as completing student schedules or prepping students for college readiness. Gaby also

shares a personal experience. She experienced going to the school counselor when she was a teen.

The teacher noticed behavior that was not normal. At that time Gaby was experiencing family

trauma and she was quiet most of the time in class participation. The teacher noticed this behavior

and advised the counselor to intervene. At the counselor’s office, the counselor asked various

questions that would determine mental or behavioral issues. Gaby was silent. She did not share any

information that would let the counselor know of any family issues going on. That was the end of

this attempt to help Gaby. She never went back to the counselor’s office, her parents were never

notified, and nothing was done. Gaby was not experiencing mental illness, but she was going

through some family trauma due to her parent’s divorce. I am glad Gaby shared this information.

This might not be the case for every student who gets sent to the counselor’s office, but it is for

many. Many students’ mental and behavioral issues are overlooked. Sometimes the teachers do not

notice behaviors in children or adolescents that give an indication of mental illness and other times

counselors do not pursue the student’s cases. Even if it is reported to the family. Many families do

not give their children the mental health resources they need.

Gaby’s perspective made me realize the complexity of a teacher’s role in the school

system. A teacher’s roles are not only to provide student education but also finding ways to improve

the lives of students. The school system’s role is to provide students with all the resources necessary

to excel academically and mentally. With the collaboration of parents, school staff, and government

there can be a massive change to improve mental health outcomes for students. Gaby’s experience

serves as a story to take into consideration for the school system to do better. A counselor’s role is to

solely dedicate their services to students’ mental well-being.

 References

The Texas Guide to School Health Programs. (n.d). Mental Health in Schools.

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/schoolhealth/shpguide/chap6.pdf