Dot Chaplin was trained as a peer to peer home health educator for YWCA Northern Rhode Island's Sister to Sister program during its inaugural year. Launched in 2002, this is a home-based program that promotes cancer awareness among African American and Latina women in the northern Rhode Island community. Educators share key health related information to their peers in a fun and easy to learn format. The goal is to reach, teach, and serve this ethnic population regarding their risks, while focusing on language barriers, education, prevention, detection, and access issues.

health outreach

As a peer to peer home health educator, where do you outreach? "The first couple of classes I did were groups of women from the church . . . and in the community, I reach out to relatives and friends." Chaplin is a member of St. James Baptist Church in Woonsocket.

What kind of response do you get when you approach people about their health? "I'm finding now that they talk about health more. In the last few years we have experienced so much of the illnesses and things close at home. People are really concerned about them, so they are opening up more."

What barriers exist in getting information into the community? "Sometimes it is just the timing or the places . . . We do health fairs. We do screenings. They are so afraid that they are going to be charged something. They don’t have the medical to do it. To get them to understand there are certain things that can get done free."

What health topics do you find tune people in? "Diabetes and cancer."

Have you seen any positive outcomes from your outreach? "A mother had been layed off from work and had no health insurance . . . she did go and get the free mammogram."

Tell me about your connection to YWCA Northern Rhode Island? "I was on their board a long time before I worked there." Chaplin was on the board of directors from 1990 to 1993. She worked as a public service assistant from 2000 to 2005.

While on YWCA's board of directors, what issue did you work on? "Helping single women with children."

Where else have you worked? "I worked at A.T. Cross Company for 18 years. I worked at area banks for 10 years. And the shelter for 8 years - my most rewarding job I ever experienced." Her bank jobs and at A.T. Cross Company were in customer service. At the local shelter that services the northern Rhode Island area, she worked as an advocate.

Of what are you most proud? "Being able to just help people . . . whether it is to give them a meal, or a warm pillow, or information on something they need."

extended family

Did you always live in Rhode Island? "My parents moved to Rhode Island [from South Carolina] when I was a baby . . . for most of my youth years I lived in Providence." Chaplin has spent her adulthood in Woonsocket. She has a sister, a brother, two daughters, and a large extended family.

Describe your family dynamic? "Everyone in the family calls me Auntie Dot . . . my doors are always open . . . If they was to take a shower, they feel comfortable coming in and doing that. If they come in and want to get something to eat, they feel comfortable in doing that . . . It's like a welcome mat is always out for them."

What were the biggest challenges in raising your own children? "Financially supporting them and also staying active in the community."

You took care of other children too, right? "I always had children in the home - my own children and I used to babysit for this lady, a single mom struggling like me. She worked the third shift job so her daughter used to spend the night with me. She would pick her up in the morning and then I would go to work . . . I've kept other children, most until they became teenagers . . . and these were all single moms. I enjoyed it. I love the kids. I really really do . . . I really feel good about being able to be there for them."

Do you still take care of children? "Yes . . . I enjoy them. They brighten my day." Chaplin's voice and face lit up when telling me about a preschool boy currently in her care, "He came one day, had this book and said 'I have to keep this with me everywhere I go because it's my dream book. I put all my dreams in here.'"

If you could speak to your younger self, what wisdom would you share? "I would have developed my relationship with God more." Chaplin is 61 years old.

“In talking with a lot of people about health care . . . somehow the health care [system] has to get the trust back.” - Dot Chaplin