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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Juan L. Rodriguez, BS¹, Kristin Brown, BS², Melissa Cinanni, BA², Doris Soulinthavong³, Nancy Winterbauer, PhD⁴, and David L. Wood, MD, MPH⁵. (1) College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, PO Box 100182, Gainesville, FL 32610, 786-554-0771, juanr0821@gmail.com, (2) University of North Florida, College of Health, School of Nursing, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, South, Jacksonville, FL 32224, (3) Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, (4) Division of Health Policy Research and Evaluation, Duval County Department of Health and University of North Florida, 900 University Blvd N. Ste 604, Jacksonville, FL 32211, (5) Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida/Jacksonville & Duval County Health Department, 515 W. 6th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206

Homelessness is one of the many complex social problems facing many communities in the United States. It is estimated that there are as many as 1 to 2 million homeless people on any given night in the US, and about 40% of them are families with children. Being homeless puts children at a much greater risk for poor health outcomes and developmental delays. Although many of these families do have access to social welfare programs, there are often barriers that prevent children from receiving the medical care they need, such as difficulty with paper work and negotiating the health care system. The Medical Home for Homeless Children Program (MHHCP) in Jacksonville, Florida is designed to address these issues. Through nurse care coordinators, the MHHCP provides health outreach for homeless children residing in area shelters. Aside from providing clinical care, the MHHCP also provides referral services, health education programs, full health screenings and assessments, and case management services. By targeting key issues that disproportionately affect the homeless population, the MHHCP is not only affecting the quality of life of children and families, but also working at reducing the health disparities that exist within the homeless population. This presentation describes the MHCCP and provides insight into the benefits the program has provided and the challenges it has faced. In addition, the resources necessary to effectively and efficiently run such a program will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: It is expected that those who attend the presentation will be able to

• Recognize the key barriers that are affecting access to care for homeless families
• Describe the issues that public health practitioners face when dealing with this specific population
• Prioritize the services and needs that these types of programs work with
• Apply the lessons that the Medical Home for Homeless Children Program has learned to other programs that work with this population

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered