Episode 48: Trusted Navigators - Community Health at Work in Lawrence

Collaborative Solutions Podcast

Today’s guests are three frontline community health champions: Raul Saenz-Escarcega of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, a certified CHW who builds trust through relentless outreach—from encampments to home visits with Mobile Integrated Health—connecting neighbors to food, transportation, and care while advocating for equitable systems; Jenn Kessler of Heartland Community Health Center, who leads CHW efforts that remove real-world barriers (think flexible appointment policies, rapid warm handoffs, and a volunteer-powered care cupboard) and weave tight partnerships across agencies; and Shawna Davis, also at Heartland, a pediatric-focused CHW whose lived experience fuels compassionate, rapid response for families—spotting crises early, rallying supports, and meeting parents and kids exactly where they are. Together, they’re the relationship-driven navigators turning “a place for everyone” from slogan into daily practice in Lawrence and Douglas County.