|
|
| |
The State of COVID-19 and Homeless Health Care
| |
As the spread of coronavirus grips our nation, the HCH community is entering emergency preparedness mode. Programs are stepping up infection control, assessing workflows and staff leave policies, and establishing protocols that govern the care of patients who may be symptomatic and/or test positive. Working together with their community response system, HCH programs are well-poised to continue providing high-quality care and to identify quarantine options for people with no homes.
Since last week’s Solidarity, HUD and CDC have released more guidance specific to homeless service providers and public health authorities—both of which incorporated input from the Council—while Seattle-King County has made available many of the resources they are developing in their local response (to include assessments for those staying in supportive housing, encampments, and shelters). Use these resources to inform your own planning! For easy access, the National HCH Council is centralizing these materials on a dedicated coronavirus page.
We want to learn more about how your programs are preparing and identify the issues that HCH programs may be experiencing. Mark your calendar for Friday, March 20, from 12:30-2 ET for a webinar on coronavirus and HCH programs. As a community, we have so much to learn from one another. In the meantime, please contact Communications Manager Rick Brown with press inquiries and Technical Assistance Manager Michael Durham with TA requests or local policies you’d like us to host on our site.
| |
| |
Upcoming Webinar: Coronavirus and the HCH Community: Status Updates, Available Guidance, Local Preparations, and Outstanding IssuesFriday, March 20: 12:30-2 p.m. ET | Presented by the National HCH Council
| |
| The coronavirus outbreak is evolving rapidly, raising many concerns about the impact on people experiencing homelessness. As health care providers who work at the intersection of health and the homeless services system, the HCH community is in a unique position to care for an especially vulnerable population during an infectious disease outbreak.
At this 90-minute webinar you will hear from HUD and CDC staff as well as HCH clinical and administrative leaders who will discuss the current status of the outbreak, the available guidance that is specific to homeless service venues, the preparations that homeless health care providers are making, and the myriad outstanding issues being identified.
| |
| |
New Local COVID-19 Policies and Guidance
| |
As more information emerges on coronavirus, we are collecting local resources from our community to help HCH programs and their patients respond to this public health crisis. Some of these new materials include:
| |
| |
Clinicians’ Coffee Chat Will Explore the Role of Community Health Workers in Diabetes CareWednesday, March 25: 12-1 p.m. CT | Presented by the National HCH Council
| |
Community Health Workers (CHWs) can help remove barriers to care, build relationships, and make health care connections for patients experiencing homelessness. In this second webinar of a four-part “Clinicians’ Coffee Chat” series on diabetes, participants will hear about how CHWs are providing diabetes care and education in their communities.
Join us for an interactive conversation that will foster peer learning and support across the homeless health care field, and stay tuned for additional diabetes coffee chats on co-morbidities and nutrition in the spring of 2020.
| |
| |
Council in Media Focus: The Threat of COVID-19 to People Without Homes
| |
“For the general public that contracts [coronavirus], they’re told to quarantine, rest and recuperate at home. What does that mean if you don’t have a home or a service provider who can accommodate them 24/7?" Senior Director of Policy Barbara DiPietro and Council CEO Bobby Watts lent their perspectives to recent national media coverage in Reuters on the particular risk that COVID-19 poses to people without homes.
Learn more in the story, which also features commentary from Central City Concern's Rachel Solotaroff. The Council is always available to inform coverage of homelessness and health care. Contact us for more information.
| |
|
| March 11, 2020 | Volume 3, Issue 11 | Archives
Copyright © 2020 National Health Care for the Homeless Council
| |
|
|
|
|
