Table 2A.

Barriers to Resource Connection

Theme	Representative Quotations
1. Competing priorities related to caring for a medically complex child	“It’s just as a parent, while you’re dealing with a sick kid, you don’t want to do this. Even if you know you need it…it’s like, this is taking 30 to 40 minutes away from [my son], just to tell somebody I need help and then for them to tell you, “We’ll let you know.” …It’s like you’re drowning, and someone is telling you [that] you have homework. The homework’s not getting done if you can’t breathe.” “I went through a really rough postpartum experience, also with having a baby that had issues. But for me, personally, I’m going to make sure my baby has everything they need before I take care of myself. And that’s not the way you’re supposed to do it, but that’s the honest answer…Therapy for me, that’s not really what comes first.”
2. Difficulty enrolling in and utilizing government benefit programs	“It’s hard trying to get on LIHEAP or any other program because you still have to go to the office in person and fill out paperwork. I have twins and a kindergartener so my hands are really, really, tied up. So if I could do it over the phone, it would be good. But to actually go there, I have to figure out who’s going to watch [my kids]. It’s just a lot.” “With WIC, it’s just hard to use, cause you got to really kind of do a scavenger hunt in the grocery store…You can only buy certain foods, so you have to find the label, and in some grocery stores they don’t even have that, so then you have to ask someone, “What can I buy with WIC?” And that’s really difficult.” “The only thing I didn’t like about WIC is the checks…Checks are kind of exhausting in the store. After you figure out what you can have, what’s on your check, what you can’t have, and then get to the register, it’s like, I hope you’re trained, because if you’re not, we’re going to be here all day. Close the line now, sorry. It’s an experience. It’s not an easy one though.”