Vice President

Jamaica We Care, Inc

Keisha Andrews, RN/BSN

Birth Place: Lethe, St. James  

Early Life: I grew up in a home where my family's philosophy was "we might not have a lot, but there is always enough to share when someone else is in need." Everyone was welcomed into my grandmother's home. I soon realized that I too had the desire to help others.  However, it wasn't until the age of 12, when I was accepted to Mt. Alvernia High School, that I realized the possibility of my dreams becoming a reality.   By the age of 13, my sister and I migrated to the US to join my father in New York City.  Despite being a very shy child, I was selected as the Valedictorian of my Middle School and was also an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club while in High School (Springfield Gardens High).  

 

After leaving High School, I attended Hunter College and acquired a Bachelor's degree in English and Biology (I learned how to express myself and developed a strong interest in the human body). However, I was still hungry for more and decided to pursue a career in nursing.   It was via Medgar Evers College that I was able to work full time as a Case Manager /Family Support Worker and earn my Associates in Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) and my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN). During my tenure with MEC, I managed to gain the reputation as a student advocate, and was elected by my peers to represent them on the college's Personnel and Budgeting Committee.

 

Career Life: I began with the Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, a federally qualified Health Center located in the heart of Brooklyn.   I was a Family Support Worker/Case Manager with the Healthy Families Successful Start program. I was tasked with providing health education and parenting support to new and expecting parents.  I loved it and it showed.  After two years, I was promoted to program supervisor and after a year in the supervisor's position, I was offered the Program Director's role.  

I spent 8 years managing the Healthy Families program (an evidenced-based home visiting model that provides new and expecting parents with education and support to improve birth outcomes and encourage parental self sufficiency).  I was able to create many health forums for community based organizations to network, share resources, educate the community and subsequently increased access to care. I believe that It's best to be "proactive, not reactive," so after  noticing  that resources were limited for homeless families, I was able to assist  the health center with obtaining additional funding to increase our service to homeless parents.  I was also an active member of both the Quality Improvement Committee and Healthy Families advisory board. Via community meetings, I was able to increase the agency's partnerships by creating linkages with WIC centers, homeless shelters, schools, churches, hospitals and other local health centers.     

I am currently a Registered Nurse (RN) with the Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center.  Prior to my current position, I worked per diem as a visiting nurse with Josel Care agency.  Via this agency, I was able to provide personalized care to our most vulnerable group, the pediatric population.   I bring to the corporation a record of exceptional leadership and strategic vision from a community-based and preventive care perspective.  I look forward to seeing our dream of supporting Jamaica come to fruition.

“Caring People, Caring for Others”