The Caucus on Homelessness invites abstracts on research, clinical practice, epidemiology, policy, legislation, advocacy, and service delivery issues pertaining to health and homeless populations. We look forward to highlighting abstracts to be submitted that fall under any of the tracks of this year’s theme: Creating the Healthiest Nation: Preventing Violence. The Caucus looks forward to highlighting these themes as they relate to health care for the homeless (HCH) research and the marginalized groups we work with. Potential relevant topic areas may include "Stigma and Targeted Violence toward People Experiencing Homelessness," "Intimate/Interpersonal Partner Violence," "Homelessness and Suicide/Self-Violence," "Adverse Childhood Events," "Behavioral and Mental Health," "Victimization" and more.

Under which track should I submit? After reviewing the track descriptions below, please submit under the one most appropriate for your proposal’s content; If you think your proposal could be used in multiple tracks, please note this with your submission. Submitters who would prefer oral presentations or who have no preference should submit under one of the themed categories. Those who ONLY want to be considered for poster presentations should submit under “Poster Session.”

Submission tracks for this year's program include, but are not limited to:

• COH Poster Session
  Only submit under this track if you know that you do not want to be accepted as an oral presentation. Those that have no preference may still submit under any other track and may still be accepted as poster presentations.
• Clinical Track: Clinical Best Practices and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Address Homelessness and Violence
  This track should reflect research that supports clinical best practices, particularly those that highlight a unique approach to confront the multiple and complex problems associated with homelessness and violence. Practices that address behavioral health, substance use, and social determinants of health are encouraged.
• Policy Track: Creating Better Public Policy to Achieve Solutions to Poverty, Homelessness, and Violence
  This track is intended to highlight the efforts within the healthcare community that aim to create better public policy and achieve solutions to poverty and homelessness, particularly those that address systemic causes of poverty, justice, inequity, and homelessness or that address current events and/or policy issues that are widespread and significant within the field. In many cases those experiencing homelessness and violence may be both victim and perpetrator, each role having criminal justice and/or other implications that can reinforce or perpetuate homelessness on an individual and systems level.
• Research Design Track: Innovative Research, Design, and Methodology in Areas Related to Homelessness and Violence
  This track provides a venue for researchers to: (1) share rigorous study findings that contribute to our knowledge and understanding of homelessness and violence or ways to improve the quality of care for individuals who are homeless; or (2) describe novel research methods, designs, or approaches to studying homelessness and violence or homeless services.
• Other: Proposals That May Not Align with the Above Track Descriptions May be Submitted Under This Track.
  If you are unsure of which track is best for your proposal, please submit here. High scoring submissions may be placed in one of the other relevant tracks or grouped with other submissions of similar topic areas. Topics related to this year's theme will be prioritized. Potential relevant topic areas may include "Stigma and Targeted Violence toward People Experiencing Homelessness," "Intimate/Interpersonal Partner Violence," "Homelessness and Suicide/Self-Violence," "Adverse Childhood Events," "Behavioral and Mental Health," "Victimization" and more. 

Abstracts may be 250 - 400 words. Abstracts will be reviewed anonymously and rated based on the following criteria:

• Quality and description of subject matter
• Innovative/Original nature of topic
• Sophistication/rigor of methodology or program approach used
• Results, conclusions, or program outcomes adequately discussed and based on sufficient data
• Importance/Relevance of topic to the field
• Ability to be CE accredited (see guidelines below)

IMPORTANT! You do not need to be an APHA member to submit an abstract. However, if your abstract is accepted for presentation, the presenting author MUST become an APHA Individual Member, and you MUST register for the Annual Meeting by the September pre-registration deadline. (APHA Learning Institute faculty excluded.) Submission of an abstract implies a commitment to make the presentation at the annual meeting, therefore please make sure you understand what is required of you before submitting.

Abstracts with student researchers as senior authors are encouraged. The Caucus on Homelessness will present an award for the best student abstract submitted. The abstract will be selected by a committee. Please notify the program committee in the comments section if you are submitting a student abstract, so that it can be considered for this award. For additional information contact the program chair.

Continuing Education Credit

APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, veterinarians, and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials.

For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter must provide:

• An abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names
• At least one MEASURABLE outcomes (DO NOT USE “To understand” or “To learn” as objectives, they are not measurable). Examples of acceptable Measurable Action Words:  Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.
• A signed Conflict of Interest (Disclosure) form with a relevant Qualification Statement. See an example of an acceptable Qualification Statement on the online Disclosure form.

Contact Mighty Fine at mighty.fine@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education credit. Please contact the program planner for all other questions.

Technology-based/Technology-dependent Presentations

All scientific session rooms are equipped with an LCD projector, computer (no Internet access) and screen.

If your presentation is dependent on additional technology (i.e., internet, video projection) do not submit to a Section, SPIG, Caucus or Forum. Submit your presentation to the Health Informatics Information Technology Theater (HIIT) Center. The HIIT Center is an environment for live presentations of information and computer technology applications for public health. The meeting room is equipped with Internet access, and theater-quality video projection and stereo audio. For more information and detailed requirements click on the program below. (Please note there are a very limited number of openings environment).

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Brett Poe
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
PO Box 60427
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: 615-226-2292
bpoe@nhchc.org