Online Program

289294
Utilizing a harm reduction approach in outreach work


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 3:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.

James Kowalsky, BA in Communication, Heartland Health Outreach PATH Team, Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL
Susie Bernero, Licensed Professional Counselor, Heartland Health Outreach PATH Team, Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL
In an atmosphere of dwindling resources, outreach workers are challenged to allocate resources to broaden clients' networks of support and provide linkage to remaining services. When working with such limited housing resources, offering clients options, information, tools, and additional support becomes a critical way of maintaining hope, engagement, and stability until housing becomes available. The flexibility to literally meet clients where they are at enhances opportunities for engagement with healthcare treatment and case management support. Our agency utilizes a harm reduction and trauma informed approach across programs . This institutionalized support bolsters our efforts to work with the most disconnected and most vulnerable of the homeless population, including those who are actively engaged in high risk behaviors. We are connected to a Healthcare for the Homeless site that offers a broad spectrum of primary care and mental health services. As health care reform moves toward a more integrated approach to service delivery with the use of Coordinated Care Entities, service providers will adopt practices that more closely resemble our agency's current practices. Outreach work will also become increasingly important as elements of the Affordable Care Act come into effect, particularly with the expansion and enrollment in Medicaid coverage based on income eligibility. As such, we have a unique perspective which puts us ahead of the curve relative to other homeless care providers.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the importance of outreach work to initiate engagement while informing the perspective of service providers. Explain the effectiveness of utilizing a harm reduction approach to outreach work with people experiencing homelessness, particularly among the most vulnerable. Identify strategies for preserving engagement with outpatient health centers and case management.

Keyword(s): Homeless Health Care, Outreach Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have practiced outreach work for an agency which incorporates harm reduction into its Philosophy of Care. I have attended and presented at conferences focused on harm reduction strategies. I have presented on the topic of harm reduction to community groups, students, and other providers.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.