From Silence to Success: Bronx Families Overcome Barriers with Support from Community Health Workers
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx team improves lives of immigrant children struggling with developmental delays
Feb 05, 2026
Bronx, NY — Two Bronx families—one from Ecuador and one from Togo—found life-changing support for their young children with speech and developmental delays, thanks to the persistence of NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx Community Health Workers (CHWs) Mariam Diakite and Desiree Martinez.
Four-year-old Mateo arrived from Ecuador, unable to speak, relying only on gestures. Diakite and Martinez spent seven months navigating obstacles until he began receiving speech and occupational therapy twice a week.
“We worked to ensure the parents felt comfortable sharing their concerns in their own language,” said Diakite.
Today, Mateo is happy, verbal, and thriving in preschool. His mother showed appreciation: “My child can now communicate and play with others. Without CHW support, this would not have been possible.”
Similarly, Koffi, a five-year-old boy from Togo, could not hold a spoon or pencil and struggled to speak after his family entered the shelter system.
Over three years, Martinez and Diakite coordinated referrals, escorted the family to appointments, and overcame missed evaluations and language barriers. “Every obstacle meant finding another solution,” Martinez said.
A turning point happened when Diakite, fluent in French, began accompanying the family to visits that finally led to consistent speech therapy and special education support. Koffi now attends kindergarten and after-school programs while his family lives stably in the Bronx.
Both families have requested anonymity due to ongoing immigration issues.
CHW program support services include connecting patients and sending referrals to appropriate agencies, such as Early Intervention (EI), the Committee for Pre-School on Special Education (CPSE), and the Committee on Special Education (CSE).
“Our community health workers play a vital role connecting families to developmental, behavioral, and social services,” said Dr. Elisa Karp, Attending Physician at North Central Bronx Hospital. “For immigrant families learning to navigate complex systems, their advocacy is transformative.”
North Central Bronx Hospital CHW Supervisor Hilda Reyes added, “These stories show how CHWs empower families and prevent delays in care that can change a child’s life forever.”
In 2025 alone, the Pediatric CHW Program at North Central Bronx Hospital connected more than 460 at-risk children to critical services—proof that determination, partnership, and cultural understanding might turn isolation into opportunity.
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Contact: Rawle Titus, NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, 332-259-2512, titusr@nychhc.org
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NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women’s and children’s services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
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