Michelle (Palafox) van Beek was interested in serving at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center because of its “mission to serve.”
She will play a big role in that mission as Promise’s behavioral health coordinator/interpreter.
“I am very excited to be a part of Promise,” Michelle said. “Their mission to provide accessible care to the community is inspiring, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Michelle grew up in Rock Valley and graduated from Rock Valley High School in 2014. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish translation and interpreting from Northwestern College in Orange City in December 2017 and holds National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters in Spanish. Before starting at Promise, she served as an interpreter and translator at Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley for nearly a year.
In her behavioral health coordinator/interpreter role at Promise, Michelle will work directly with behavioral health therapist Jo Thyr. Among her duties, she will interpret for Spanish-speaking patients, serve as a health coach for behavioral health patients to support positive change with motivation, and conduct outreach into the community.
“I was interested in this position because behavioral/mental health is such an important part of our health, and I would like to help others in this essential aspect of their health,” she said. “I hope I can bring a positive attitude and willingness to work as a team in order to provide the best care for the people in our community.”
Michelle has been impressed with the health center.
“Promise is such a welcoming place where people genuinely care about you as a person,” she said.
