I'm pregnant, apparently

[ZenGum]

Oh this should so go viral.

[SamIam]

Well, that was quick! I got my reply this morning:

Good morning,
Thank you for contacting us today. I will list the locations and contact information below for the area you are in.

Food Stamps, Cash Assistance, and AHCCCS (Health Insurance)
Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Benefits & Medical Eligibility Family Assistance

Main: 928-697-3509

1 mile north of Junction 160 & 163
Kayenta, AZ 86033

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Intake / Application Process: Call

WIC

WIC - Winslow
Description: Provides nutritious supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children ages 0-5. Serves as an adjunct to health care during critical times of growth and development to prevent the occurrence of health problems and improve the health and nutritional status of the participants.

Main: 928-289-6834
619 E 3rd St
Winslow, AZ 86047-4003
Intake / Application Process: Call

If you need anything else, feel free to write back or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by dialing 2-1-1.

Thank you,
Marcos Morales, CIRS

Hey, Marcos! You be my man! What's an undocumented individual such as yourself doing in Arizona? Same thing as me, probably - causing trouble.

So, I have an aquaintance who is a reporter for the Durango Herald. I'm thinking of calling him and asking him if he would like to accompany me to my appointment in Kayenta. Could be interesting. What do you all think?

[infinite monkey]

I think you could wind up on 60 Minutes, as one of the good guys!

[Cyber Wolf]

They put forth a lot of talk and now we get to see if they walk the walk too. I'm definitely going to be watching out for this one.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Cyber Wolf

They put forth a lot of talk and now we get to see if they walk the walk too. I'm definitely going to be watching out for this one.

It looks to me as though the Arizona Department of Social Services
has already shown that it walks the walk.

No questions or judgments...
Specific organizations for specific needs, addresses, phones, day/time of intake,
etc. all provided in one email within 24 hours, and ending
with person's name, phone, and an offer of additional help if needed.

That response seems like a pretty efficient government service.
Now, each of the referred agencies get to show their metal.

In the meantime, good on the Arizona Department of Social Services

[Sundae]

I assumed it was an automated response, triggered by set words.
I get similarly helpful answers from eBay.

Not about my pregnancy though.

[Razzmatazz13]

It may have been a copy-and-paste reply depending on what she asked for. I did emails for my last job and had a zillion templates for the most regularly asked questions and then just stitched them together as needed...

[ZenGum]

It does occur to me that messing too much with the system - especially embarrassing a bureaucrat - might endanger your existing social support and/or your PASS plan.

Or maybe not. Your call.

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by Sundae

I assumed it was an automated response, triggered by set words.
I get similarly helpful answers from eBay.

Not about my pregnancy though.

I'm pretty sure it was automated, since Winslow is actually one hell of a trek for a homeless, pregnant, disabled woman to make from Kayenta. There's surely a closer WIC office than Winslow. I do give Marcos brownie points though for being right on top of his e-mails. He must have read it and replied first thing he got into the office this morning.

Originally Posted by Zen Gum

It does occur to me that messing too much with the system - especially embarrassing a bureaucrat - might endanger your existing social support and/or your PASS plan.

Or maybe not. Your call.

That IS a bit of a problem. The system currently has me tucked into a slot as a Colorado resident who already receives the few crumbs of assistance Colorado throws at its disabled population - no doubt hoping that we will all crawl away and die soon.

I'd have to divest myself of Colorado's clutches and give myself over to the tender mercies of the state of Arizona if I wanted to make a legal stand against the Arizona legislature.

On the other hand, I could make a quick hit and run on the Kayenta office just to see how the folks there would respond. I'm sure a good time would be had by all, especially if I had a little voice activated tape recorder in my pocket. They'd have a real hard time finding me afterward with an address like "10 miles down the road from the Chinle Chapter house, then 2 miles west up the wash toward Jim Chee's hogan. Follow the path from there up to the ridge where Old Lady Begay of the Born to Water Clan grazes her sheep." They wouldn't need to know my real name or SSN either, since it would only be a single guerilla strike.

I'll need to plot a strategy for sure. The person I really need is that brat Cicero. I have e-mailed her with an invitation to conduct some civil obediance - it's right up her ally, but she's a hard gal to pin down these days. I don't suppose anyone here has been in touch with her recently?