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The first-ever Consumer Leadership Summit brought together people with lived experience and others from throughout the nation to develop strategies to improve and increase patient leadership and share promising practices, resources, successes, challenges, and lessons learned to increase and improve consumer engagement in the governance of health centers. Approximately 80 people, including more than 60 consumers, met in Nashville in June for the two-day summit.
"We have people here from around the country learning from each other about how people with lived experience of homelessness can use their voices more effectively and how health centers and medical respite programs can build the structures to make sure those voices are built into developing programs," said Council CEO Bobby Watts.
NCAB chair Deidre Young added, "This is a great event to grow relationships among consumers from across the nation. It's an opportunity to build a stronger foundation for consumers to truly be leaders."
"We value lived experience and the unique impact lived experience has," said Cindy Mangianelli, the Council's Director of Consumer Engagement. "I'm in a room full of people with lived experience, but that's not why you're here. You're here because you're leaders."
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| | Amy Grassette is 2022-2023 NHCHC Board President
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History was made recently when Amy Grassette stepped into the role of president of the NHCHC 2022-2023 Board of Directors. Grassette, an active member of the National Consumer Advisory Board, is the first person with lived experience of homelessness to serve as Board president.
After losing an airport shuttle business and becoming homeless following 9/11, Grassette and her family were connected with the Homeless Families Program at Family Health Center of Worcester (MA) in 2003. After receiving medical and supportive services through the program for more than a year and ultimately obtaining housing, Grassette began to volunteer as the shelter's volunteer project coordinator in the summer of 2004, and was then hired in November of the same year. Grassette has held various roles at the health center, and has served as the OB/perinatal scheduler for the past five years.
Grassette became involved with the NCAB in 2004, and is the group's longest-serving member. She has previously served as co-chair for two years and chair for four years, and currently is an NCAB peer mentor. In addition, she served on the Clinicians' Network Steering Committee for six years, just rolling off on July 1. Prior to serving as president of the NHCHC Board, she served as secretary for a combined total of three years at different times.
"I am honored, humbled, and excited to be serving as president of the Board as the first person with lived experience of homelessness for a few reasons," said Grassette. "One is that this truly shows the commitment of the Council to involve consumers in all aspects of the Council’s work, and it paves the way for other consumers to serve in these types of roles. My hope is to continue to support and further the work of the Council and encourage consumers to use their voices and stories to make change in their communities and across the country."
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Join Us for Our Next Community Conversation on Clinicians' Interactions with Law Enforcement
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The Counci'ls Community Conversations are discussions informed by real-life cases meant to improve the well-being of HCH providers through mutual support and problem-solving. Attendees are expected to share openly and encourage others -- not just listen. To facilitate a safer space, the conversations will not be recorded.
Plan to join our next Community Conversation, on Thursday, July 21, at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. MT / 12 p.m. PT / 11 a.m. AT / 10 a.m. HAT, which will explore the ethical challenges surrounding interactions between clinicians and law enforcement, particularly in instances of client crisis. What roles do we play when our clients interact with law enforcement? When, if ever, is it necessary to include law enforcement in our clinical interventions? How do we address the trauma that may occur as a result of interactions that include law enforcement? What role as HCH clinicians can we play to change the experience our clients have with law enforcement in crisis situations?
Register at the link below to join us as we explore these and other difficult questions.
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Report and Learning Opportunities Focus on Social Determinants of Health
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The Council, along with Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Health Outreach Partners (HOP), and MHP Salud, has released a report (Social Determinants of Health Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Barriers: A Resource for Health Centers, Vol. 2) on lessons learned, challenges, barriers, and impact stories shared from the four sessions of the “Screening Methods and Strategies for Using Data on Outreach and Enabling Services to Address Social Determinants of Health” learning collaborative.
This learning collaborative explored strategies to screen special and vulnerable populations for social determinants of health (SDOH) and successfully utilize data to build effective practices to begin addressing SDOH through outreach and enabling services. With these lessons learned, AAPCHO, HOP, MHP Salud, and NHCHC will continue this work with a webinar and another learning collaborative in 2022-2023.
The webinar, which will take place on July 28, and the learning collaborative, which will launch in August, will create opportunities for health centers to learn effective strategies to screen for SDOH and use the data to address them effectively through outreach and enabling services.
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New Publication: "Rebuilding Systems: Adapting Housing Assessments to Prioritize Health, Equity, and Belonging"
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There is a significant lack of affordable housing within the United States. The process of accessing housing resources for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness is complicated, lengthy, and filled with inequities. Communities are seeking guidance on how to create equity within the housing process while balancing the pressures to focus on outcomes and cost. Health centers may be requested to participate in this process, especially to include those with high medical needs.
The Council is helping communities address inequities and focus on the essential goal of accessing affordable and accessible housing. A new publication, "Rebuilding Systems: Adapting Housing Assessments to Prioritize Health, Equity, and Belonging," is designed to provide a framework communities can use to create equity within their coordinated entry process. Although there is no one tool that can accommodate the unique needs of all communities, this guidance can assist in achieving equity in the process.
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Council Welcomes New Health Policy Manager
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Corinne Lovett has joined the Council as health policy manager. She is responsible for representing our interests in Washington, D.C.; working with the Council's Policy Committee to advance the advocacy agenda; and mobilizing NHCHC member organizations, other advocates and service providers, and consumers for the amelioration of poverty and homelessness.
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Council Voices in the News
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NHCHC Corporate Affiliate
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Health is at the core of everything we do. We are proud to lead healthcare innovations and community wellness.
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Follow us for the most up-to-date information on Council news and programs!
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National Health Care for the Homeless Council
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National Institute for Medical Respite Care
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| July 6, 2022 | Volume 4, Issue 6| Archives
Copyright © 2022 National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc.
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