Such language barriers, she added, are nothing new for a country founded by immigrants. It's certainly always been that way for immigrant families. Growing need, limited access Because immigrants often lack necessary vaccines, they need shots and tuberculosis tests before they can attend many schools. Penney Schwab, executive director of the Mexican-American Ministries clinic in Garden City, oversees several programs that provide health care to immigrants. Garden City's Mexican-American Ministries Clinic gives 10,000 shots a year to local children.
Payment is by donation, although no one is turned away.
Access is certainly a problem in this community. We're generally full. Many immigrants, who often work in low-income jobs, don't qualify for public health insurance and lack private insurance from their employers. In addition, as part of welfare reform in 1996, Congress cut Medicaid benefits for new immigrants. People legalized as U.S. residents after mid-1996 in Kansas must wait five years to apply for Medicaid.