Q&A With Intake Coordinator Helen Hidalgo

Helen has volunteered with RILA as an interpreter for several years. Last fall, she joined our staff as our Intake Coordinator.

What do you do as the Intake Coordinator?
I manage requests from potential clients and coordinate communication with existing clients. We get any where from 40-50 inquiries per month. People often hear about RILA through referrals from current clients, other organizations, or an internet search. 

What's the process once someone contacts us? 
We do a phone intake screening asking clients about the circumstances of how they came here, income, and current legal status. And if we can't help them, we refer them to other organizations in the area that could possibly assist them. 

How did you first get involved with RILA, and why were you interested in its work?
A friend introduced me to RILA several years ago. It was exactly what I had been looking for so I reached out and started volunteering right away. Being an immigrant myself, I connected right way to the culture shock and language struggles our clients experience. But I soon learned that those struggles were nothing compared to everything else they have gone though to get here. The first clinic broke my heart, but listening to the stories and witnessing their bravery, confirmed this was exactly where God wanted me to be. 

What were some of the biggest culture shocks for you when you first immigrated to the U.S.? 
Language and school. I didn't speak English when I moved to the States, but going to school made it 10x harder. Everyday I felt behind, even when I could finally understand what people were telling me. I didn't know the material in English and US History. The terminology in Science was different, and I didn't know the games in Gym class. Before moving, math was my worse subject, and after moving it became my best subject, because it was the only constant. I remember thinking, thank God the numbers are the same! 

What have you learned in the past few months in this role?
The need for legal assistance high, but the need for love and compassion in this world is extreme. 

How has this work impacted your faith?
It's a constant reminder that we must love our neighbors and help those in need.