In July 2025, Graciela Alvarez Leon, a Cleveland Clinic Community Health Worker (CHW) working with the Better Health Pathways HUB, received a referral for a pregnant patient. Khaliyah Shropshire (patient has authorized the use of her name) was unhoused and sleeping on couches at the homes of friends and family members. Because she was frequently changing locations for her obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) appointments, the Cleveland Clinic team missed several opportunities to connect with her.
Due to close communication with the Better Health Pathways HUB coordination team, Matt Rosenblum, Pathways HUB Director, informed Graciela that Buckeye Health Plan had reached out to help this patient. Graciela then reconnected with Khaliyah, who shared that she was still unhoused. Graciela asked if she would be interested in a referral to Zelie’s Home, a shelter for pregnant women. When they had previously discussed this option, the patient had declined. This time, Khaliyah agreed that it was a good idea.
This led Graciela to begin the housing pathway in the HUB, which included a referral to a housing agency and the ability for Khaliyah to maintain this housing for 30 days. The same day that Graciela placed a referral to Zelie’s Home to discuss her case, the agency reached out to Khaliyah, and she was able to move in the following day.
Graciela visited Khaliyah a few days later during one of her OB/GYN appointments to deliver a Pack ‘n Play provided by Cleveland Clinic’s Mother Baby Resource Center. During the visit, she also offered safe sleep and breastfeeding education. Khaliyah was accompanied by her doula, who had been referred by Cleveland Clinic’s Obstetrics (OB) Navigation Team. This visit provided a great opportunity for Graciela to also connect with Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC) and for the two organizations to collaborate in offering resources and education. BBC contributed a travel system for Khaliyah and provided transportation not only to her appointment but also to other destinations she needed to reach that day.
Less than a week after this visit, and now having the stability of housing at Zelie’s Home, Khaliyah delivered a beautiful baby girl. During this time, a newly assigned Cleveland Clinic CHW, Mayra Tostado, began working with Khaliyah. She visited her at Zelie's Home and helped her focus on getting back on her feet. Recently, Khaliyah transitioned out of Zelie’s Home and moved back in with her family in Summit County. Cleveland Clinic is very happy to have met Khaliyah and to have supported her during such an important stage in her life.