Resource Search Results

Why Homeless Populations Are a High-Risk Group — COVID-19 (2020). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This shareable infographic explains why people experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable to to the coronavirus pandemic. More Details...

Things to Do During the COVID-19 Crisis if You Have Diabetes (2020). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This fact sheet synthesizes the distinct advice people with diabetes who experience homelessness need to know about the COVID-19 pandemic. More Details...

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Homeless Shelters and Homeless Service Providers (2020). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This infographic is meant for clients experiencing homelessness and the people who serve them to learn more about COVID-19 and measures to prevent its spread. More Details...

Intersection on Homelessness and Human Trafficking: A Case Study on End Slavery Tennessee (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The purpose of this case study is to provide an example of quality services for individuals with the experience of both homelessness and human trafficking. It is also intended to share signs providers can use to identify a history of trafficking and additional health considerations. More Details...

Recommendations for the Care of Patients Experiencing Homelessness at Risk for or Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes: Adapted Clinical Guidelines (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Clinicians providing health care to people experiencing homelessness routinely adapt their practice to foster better outcomes for their patients. This document has been developed to serve as a reference for members of multi-disciplinary care teams including administrators, and students serving people experiencing homelessness and are at risk for, diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. More Details...

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention: Considerations for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Despite major advancements in HIV testing, treatment, and prevention, HIV diagnoses in the United States have remained stable since 2013. The introduction of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has offered an opportunity to significantly reduce HIV transmission rates, yet those most at risk are not the ones utilizing this method of prevention. This fact sheet explores the intersection of HIV and homelessness, focusing on subpopulations with disproportionate rates of infection. It also provides promising practices in prevention and treatment, including recommendations around the initiation of PrEP in the Health Care for the Homeless setting. More Details...

Treatment Models for Non-Opioid Substance Use Amongst Populations Experiencing Homelessness: Healing Hands (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This edition of Healing Hands complements a previous issue of Healing Hands, “Non-Opioid Substance Use, Mental Health, and Homelessness,” which contained information about the health impacts and demographic variance of substances that are commonly used by people experiencing homelessness, as well as guidance on confronting and reducing social stigmas about substance use. This issue focuses a lens on treatment by first examining treatment models and pharmacological interventions for substance use disorder, followed by information about additional tools that may assist care providers in providing comprehensive client-centered, trauma-informed physical and mental health care and harm reduction interventions. More Details...

Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Medication-Assisted Treatment at Health Care for the Homeless Programs (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This paper outlines strategies for how Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) programs can start or expand medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services to address the opioid epidemic. While HCH programs serve only four percent of all health center patients nationally, they are responsible for serving nearly 40 percent of all patients receiving MAT. More Details...

Non-Opioid Substance Use, Mental Health, & Homelessness: Healing Hands (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This issue of "Healing Hands" highlights the relationship between non-opioid substance use disorder, mental health, and homelessness. Approximately half of people experiencing homelessness have diagnosable substance use disorders at some point in their lives and experience stigma, serious mental illness, and poor health outcomes as a result. More Details...

Medical Respite Care Programs & the IHI Triple Aim Framework (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This policy brief takes a look at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Triple Aim framework and how medical respite care programs can add value to help health centers meet the three improvement goals of this model—population health, the patient’s experience of care, and the per capita cost of health care. More Details...

Nutrition and Diabetes Guide: How Medical Nutrition Therapy Can Improve Diabetes Management (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: For people experiencing homelessness, diabetes management remains challenging. This new guide explores the role of Medical Nutrition Therapy and Registered Dietitians in managing diabetes with people without homes and overcoming challenges related to nutrition. Learn more about how other providers are implementing this intervention and how you can bring this back to your own health center in this new resource. More Details...

Homelessness & Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Health and Behavioral Health Consequences of Childhood Trauma (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Childhood trauma is a predictor of poor health outcomes and people experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience adverse experiences in childhood. Learn more about how you can screen for and address ACEs in our new resource. More Details...

Strategies for Using PRAPARE and other Tools to Address Homelessness: Quick Guide and Recommendations (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Social determinants of health are an important piece of the health care continuum, and identifying what social determinants patients are experiencing is key to addressing their health care needs. The Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) tool is one screening method used to assess the needs of individuals seeking care. The National HCH Council and the Corporation for Supportive Housing recently conducted a learning collaborative that identified key challenges and strategies from state and local health center perspectives. Emerging from these discussions, our new publication provides recommendations for addressing these challenges and lessons learned from the project. More Details...

Addressing Diabetes in the Homeless Population: The Audacity to Be Bold (2018). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This presentation discusses how a community health center, which includes Health Care for the Homeless funding, tracked and improved the health outcomes of their diabetic patients. The use of process improvement tools, team-based care, and additional clinical care activities were targeted to improve the A1C. This improvement journey was highlighted in the health center’s recent HRSA operational site visit. More Details...

ADAPTING YOUR PRACTICE: Recommendations for the Care of Patients who are Homeless or Unstably Housed Living with the Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This document is for health care professionals, program administrators, other staff, and students serving individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. Its purpose is to improve patient care by enhancing understanding of recommended strategies for the successful screening, treatment, and management of traumatic brain injury in unstably housed populations. Some clinicians may be reluctant to screen for a history of traumatic brain injury, feeling that there is little they can do to help. We hope the information in this guideline will persuade clinicians that simple accommodations will not only increase access to care, but also improve patient outcomes. More Details...

Housing is Health Care: A Case Study of Housing Development at an HCH Program (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Many health centers are prioritizing housing as an essential component of the health services they provide to vulnerable populations. This publication details the site-based housing development, property management, and integrated supportive services at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) in Denver, CO. Learn how CCH became a national leader in the integration of health and housing. More Details...

Supplemental Anticipatory Guidance: For Children and Adolescents Experiencing Homelessness (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: A key component of well-child visits, anticipatory guidance—a proactive, age-based education and counseling technique—provides an opportunity for health care professionals, parents, and the child to ask questions and discuss issues of concern. This publication supplements standard anticipatory guidance to account for the unique challenges presented by homelessness that may affect a child’s health and development. More Details...

Shelter-Based Care for Homeless Populations: Healing Hands (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This issue explores innovative shelter-based health care programs and highlights best practices and lessons learned for effective collaborations with shelter staff and providing person-centered, trauma-informed health care in a shelter. More Details...

Recommendations for End-of-Life Care for People Experiencing Homelessness: Adapting Your Practice (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: These recommended practice adaptations reflect HCH Clinicians' Network steering committee's collective judgment about end-of-life care for this population, with the realistic understanding that limited resource availability in local areas, fragmented health care delivery systems, and lack of follow-up often compromise adherence to optimal clinical practices. These recommendations are intended to contribute to improvements in both quality of care and quality of life for people experiencing homelessness. More Details...

Assessment and Treatment of People with Asthma Who Are Experiencing Homelessness: Adapting Your Practice (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Part of the NHCHC's Adapted Clinical Guidelines series, this edition promotes continued improvement in the quality of asthma care provided to adults and children whose lack of financial and social resources complicate the treatment and self-management of their chronic disease. More Details...