Imagine arriving in a new country, not knowing the culture or the language. Now imagine you and your husband also face complex health challenges.
That was Thi B., a 66-year-old Vietnamese immigrant who came to the U.S. about three and a half years ago to live with her adult daughter.
But after getting the care coordination she needed, Thi turned her fear of the unknown into advocacy for fellow Vietnamese residents by volunteering for IEHP’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
THE STRUGGLE
When Thi first came to the U.S., she suffered with depression due to culture shock, a new environment and language barriers. Plus, most of Thi’s time was spent at home with her husband, struggling with his physical health.
Thankfully, Thi’s primary care provider, Josephine Corona, MD, in Victorville, noticed the signs and referred Thi to a Vietnamese-speaking mental health specialist at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
With the mental health support Thi received in her native language as a member of Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), she opened up, built trust and felt heard, no longer feeling so lonely and isolated.
“I feel much happier and healthier,” said Thi in Vietnamese. “I encourage other immigrants to get the help and encouragement they need and to stay positive – people do care and want to help.”
FINDING HER VOICE
In fact, Thi wanted to help, too.
So, in 2025, she joined the CAC, a volunteer group made up of community groups, care providers and Medi-Cal members to gather feedback and help improve programs, healthcare access and care itself. The CAC meets quarterly, online and in person, throughout the Inland Empire.
“It took some time for Thi to feel comfortable,” said Jannette Zito, IEHP program manager for the CAC. “Providing an interpreter, translated materials, and the option to join meetings virtually helped her participate more easily.”
It’s a win-win arrangement because while Thi finds serving on the CAC rewarding, IEHP appreciates the additional cultural representation. Specifically, it can be challenging to recruit Vietnamese residents willing to serve, according to Zito.
“Cultural specialists have shared that some individuals in the Vietnamese community may be more reserved and may not feel comfortable stepping into a public-facing or advocacy role,” she said. “It’s important to have representation from many cultures on the CAC because our members’ experiences vary widely based on their language needs, cultural beliefs and traditions.”
As a CAC representative, Thi reviews and offers valuable input on IEHP’s health education and marketing materials, including her recent positive feedback about larger, easy-to-read font for members with vision challenges.
“When we include individuals who actively use IEHP’s language services, we gain a clearer understanding of the barriers they may face when coordinating or receiving care,” Zito said. “When members from various cultural backgrounds share their perspectives, it helps us better understand how cultural values influence health behaviors. This insight guides us in learning how to effectively reach, engage and support our diverse membership in ways that make them feel respected and comfortable.”
For Thi, serving on the CAC as a voice for the Vietnamese community provided a productive reason to interact outside her home, socialize with others and connect to her community.
And in the process of her volunteer work, Thi became more knowledgeable about IEHP as well as the benefits offered to her and other members.
“IEHP supports the community so much, from mental health to physical health,” Thi said. “Thank you, IEHP!”
To learn more about the CAC and how to join: https://www.iehp.org/en/learning-center/understanding-insurance/additional-iehp-services/member-advisory-committees