Social Work Breaks Barriers That Prevent People and Communities from Thriving

AIHSC’s Social Work team of Ana Fuentes, Shandiin Begay and Peter Kim provide a foundation for the wellness of the Native American community through counseling, providing resources, outreach and education. They are here to help you in your time of need.

As part of raising awareness about National Social Work Month (March) here are some of the ways in which social work can build communities, strengthen families and provide direction for individuals facing any kind of obstacle.

The city of Chicago is utilizing mental health professionals to manage certain emergency calls. Chicago Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program can provide social workers who can distinguish a mental health crisis from a violent one and de-escalate a potential incident.

Social work has existed for more than a century. The profession can trace a large part of its origin to Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Star, who in 1889 opened Hull House in Chicago to provide social services to the area, which had a large immigrant population. Other social work pioneers include anti-lynching advocate and women’s rights activist Ida B. Wells, and George Edmund Haynes, a social worker who was co-founder of the National Urban League.

These and other social workers in history also were barrier breakers. Frances Perkins, the first female Labor Secretary during the Great Depression, and others helped secure benefits we continue to use today, such as the 40-hour workweek, minimum wage and Social Security benefits. Other social workers, like past NASW President Whitney M. Young Jr., worked in collaboration with President Lyndon B. Johnson and other leaders during the turbulent Civil Rights era to break down the barrier of employment discrimination so Black people could gain access to better paying jobs. 


Thanks to the paths paved by such pioneers, social work is now one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 715,000 social workers in the nation in 2020 and that number is expected to grow to more than 800,000 by the end of this decade.

Visit Social Workers.org

Peter completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Wheaton College where he received a full ride scholarship as a Colson Scholar. He then went on to attend University of Chicago where he received his Master’s in Social Work. Peter has worked in the mental health field for over 5 years and was recently the lead therapist at the Adult Residential Addiction Treatment Center at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

About Sarina Tȟaté Otȟúŋwahé (Windy City) DiMaso

Sarina Thate Othunwahe (Windy City) DiMaso is a Recovery Relapse Peer Support Prevention Counselor at AIHSC. Sarina is a 52-year-old mother of four and grandmother of one. She is a citizen of the Chiricahua Apache and Taino nations and in 2016 was adopted by Oglala Lakota at Standing Rock, North Dakota and given the spirit name “Windy City”; and on Christmas 2021 given the name Wamackha Ognake Icante Win “woman with heart of everything that is”. Sarina has worked in the medical field for more than 20 years, beginning her career as a Home Health Assistant (HSA) in 1990, and obtained her MAA (Medical Administrative Assistant) Degree from Everest College in 2007. In the last 2 years, Sarina began training as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Community Health Worker, Relapse Recovery Coach, Suicide Prevention, Instructor and Facilitator Trainer with White Bison. Sarina has coordinated peer, addiction, recovery, mental health, behavioral health and wellness programs. She recently received her certification as Personal Fitness Trainer with Native American Fitness Council and received a license from the state of Illinois as a Notary.

Currently, Sarina chairs Wellbriety/White Bison Recovery meetings both virtually and in person. Sarina focuses on youth empowerment, and works with adults and elders, mental/behavioral health, recovery, suicidal ideation, treatment plans, harm reduction and traditional Indigenous teachings and ceremonies. She works with supporting partners in planning, implementing and sustaining value based support, through consultation, training, resource sharing, webinar facilitation and hosting communities of practice at places such as The American Indian Center of Chicago, Midwest Soarring (Lockport, Illinois) St. Kateri of Chicago, Standing Rock Oceti Sakowin (Cannonball, ND), Parent Support Network, Victa Recovery Center, and Brown University (Providence, RI).

Sarina’s hobbies are Craft Work Like making Ribbon skirts and Shawls, Hand Crafted Genuine Native Beadwork, Dreamcatchers, Jewelry, Crocheting blankets, and hanging out with her grandson Hugo.

More About Sarina

In her role as Relapse Recovery Prevention/Peer Support Specialist Counselor, Sarina’s primary focus is on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Mental and Behavioral Health and Wellness, Suicide Prevention, Inter-generational Trauma, Domestic Violence, Sexual and Lateral Assault. She also is an activist and takes great pride with her participation in these interests:

• Activist for Missing Murdered Indigenous Relatives
• Windy City Indigenous Anonymous Recovery Meeting Facilitator
• Lakota Language Speaker
• Activist for Indigenous Peoples Rights
• ILKB (I Love Kickboxing) Kickboxer Training

Sarina has also recently received her certification as a professional coder through AAPC, certified as a Personal Fitness Trainer through the Native American Fitness Council and as a Licensed State of Illinois Notary, also being cross trained within AIHSC MH, BH and Diabetes clinical setting. Sarina has been working in the Native community since the Early 1990’s. Quote; “All I Know is that I want to be one who gives back, pay it forward, knowing what my purpose is NOW, knowing what The Creator has a path for me, and that’s to help those that still suffer. Letting them know they have a chance to change their lives for the better too. To be able to give people the opportunity to get well, to heal mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically is a gift, and that is why I am able to help those who are hurting. I go about spreading joy, love and beauty to all around me. I have a high energy and a spirit that must be free, I expend energy to those I meet, sharing my heart, my love and my wisdom. My Hummingbird Medicine reminds me to always find joy in what I do and to spread it to those relatives all around me.”

Meet Sharon Holt, AIHSC’s Patient Benefit Coordinator

Meet Sharon Holt, AIHSC’s Patient Benefit Coordinator. As the PBC Sharon aids and advises patients in applying for or maintaining their Medicaid or federally funded marketplace insurance. She can answer your questions about insurance to assist you with your AIHSC clinic appointment. Sharon has years of collections, payment authorization and billing experience as an accounts receivable coordinator in the healthcare field. Please call AIHSC at 773.883.9100 to schedule an appointment with Sharon if you need help.

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