Homeless Health Initiative
Start Date
5-19-2012 1:30 PM
End Date
5-19-2012 1:45 PM
Description
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Homeless Health Initiative (HHI) collaborates across professional boundaries to serve vulnerable populations living in emergency or transitional housing in the city ofPhiladelphia. Since HHI’s inception in 1988, multiple healthcare disciplines have joined forces to provide comprehensive medical services and enhance healthcare providers’ cultural competency regarding homelessness. Through regular evening visits at three women and children shelters, doctors, nurses, social workers, dentists, and students break free from an institutional setting and assess needs on the front lines. In addition, partnerships with shelter staff facilitate communication and develop new initiatives. All stakeholders have input into the methods and outcomes of these interventions. For families in fragile circumstances, HHI champions healthy nutrition and fitness programs, free dental exams and oral health education, health education workshops and provides parenting support through educational session and lactation consultation. In 2010, 235 children benefited from physician services through HHI and 175 children benefited from dental services. Children and their families are connected with health insurance, as needed, and other existing community resources. Health professionals are educated in understanding the family’s social reality and fostering trust in the healthcare community.
HHI brings a multidisciplinary approach to improving health and access to healthcare among families experiencing homelessness in an urban setting. The shared leadership model between social work and medicine values patient centered care through interdisciplinary education and practice. Students from the various healthcare fields participate in learning and serving together. Healthy collaboration and community partnerships lead the way in a growing movement of advocacy for a healthier population of families experiencing homelessness.
Learning Objectives:
1. The learner will identify the key components of interdisciplinary collaboration within HHI.
2. The learner will appraise the need for interprofessional education in teaching cultural competence, as it relates to families experiencing homelessness.
Homeless Health Initiative
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Homeless Health Initiative (HHI) collaborates across professional boundaries to serve vulnerable populations living in emergency or transitional housing in the city ofPhiladelphia. Since HHI’s inception in 1988, multiple healthcare disciplines have joined forces to provide comprehensive medical services and enhance healthcare providers’ cultural competency regarding homelessness. Through regular evening visits at three women and children shelters, doctors, nurses, social workers, dentists, and students break free from an institutional setting and assess needs on the front lines. In addition, partnerships with shelter staff facilitate communication and develop new initiatives. All stakeholders have input into the methods and outcomes of these interventions. For families in fragile circumstances, HHI champions healthy nutrition and fitness programs, free dental exams and oral health education, health education workshops and provides parenting support through educational session and lactation consultation. In 2010, 235 children benefited from physician services through HHI and 175 children benefited from dental services. Children and their families are connected with health insurance, as needed, and other existing community resources. Health professionals are educated in understanding the family’s social reality and fostering trust in the healthcare community.
HHI brings a multidisciplinary approach to improving health and access to healthcare among families experiencing homelessness in an urban setting. The shared leadership model between social work and medicine values patient centered care through interdisciplinary education and practice. Students from the various healthcare fields participate in learning and serving together. Healthy collaboration and community partnerships lead the way in a growing movement of advocacy for a healthier population of families experiencing homelessness.
Learning Objectives:
1. The learner will identify the key components of interdisciplinary collaboration within HHI.
2. The learner will appraise the need for interprofessional education in teaching cultural competence, as it relates to families experiencing homelessness.
