ok so I'm not exactly a nomad, but it sure feels like it.
Living an extra month in the PULSE house, I was waiting for the opportunity to move into a new house in Garfield. The place is being renovated, so patience was being my teacher for some time. As I had the opportunity to extend my stay in the PULSE house, I was asked to help create the new PULSE house with moving furniture (moving the furniture in, not magical furniture that moves). On the day we moved the furniture, I was also finally given the chance to move all my possesions into my new house. Talk about a tiring day. Best part? I could move my stuff in-- but not myself. (Of note, this has been a situation for me and my housemates, so we moved a whole house-load of possesions in.) So now I am in my last week of being taught by my wonderful friend named patience. As I await this fateful day of moving in to my new place, I am residing now with good ole Bluffton friends. The time with them has been a blessing. It has been great to catch up, relive memories, and be ourselves. This is probably the least hectic part in the whole moving process, for obvious reasons. Soon and very soon my nomadic life will come to an end though, and then I will be a full-fledge adult living and working in Pittsburgh.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Organizing Health Services for Homeless People
a book by McMurray-Avila... I feel like I am in college again. On one of my first days of work, I was handed this book and told to read it. Here's what it says about my job...
[Issues of substance use and mental illness] were common problems for people being seen [at clinics] and were often the underlying cause of physical health complaints.
In response to the growing awareness of the problem of homlessness, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act on July 22, 1987 to provide "urgently needed assistance to protect and improve the lives and safety of the homeless." The McKinney Act (McKinney-Vento Act) provided for a wide range of programs for people who are homeless including emergency food and shelter, transitional and long-term housing, primary health care, mental health care, mental health services, education and job training.
Specifically, HCH programs:
-provide for primary health care and substance abuse services at locations accessible to homeless people;
-provide for emergency care with referrals to hospitals for in-patient care services and/or to needed mental health services; and
-provide for outreach services to access difficult to reach homeless persons, and for aid in establishing eligibility for entitlement programs and housing
*most of my job is the third point
HCH projects are unique in that they directly attack the access barriers by taking the services out to where homeless people are found, at times that make the most sense.
HCH projects are known for their hallmark approach to aggressive outreach.
HCH staff make sure that their clients do not face additional obstacles to getting what they need.
*another very noticeable point of my job
A final aspect of improving accessibility is perhaps one of the simplest, but most essential -- providing services without regard to ability to pay. Given that homelessness represents the lowest end of the poverty spectrum, most HCH clients recieve their care at no charge. When Medicaid reimbursement is available, HCH projects bill the Medicaid agency for payment. HCH staff also work to assure that any homeless person who is eligible for Medicaid has access to this valuable resource for recieving medical care.
Effective implementation of this approach depends upon the attitude of those involved in the work itself. It is the philosophy of HCH projects that people who are homeless deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and with sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity. Another common theme running through all aspects of HCH services is an understanding of homelessness as a social, political and economic phenomenon, and not simply the result of people making mistakes in their lives.
What makes HCH projects more than just "clinics that serve homeless people" is the philosophy that their ultimate goal is to help people escape homelessness. This means collaborating with others in the movement to change the policies, circumstances, and attitudes that cause homelessness in the first place. It also requires intensive work with coalitions dedicated to coordinating and expanding the continuum of services available for people experiencing homelessness.
Sometimes the needed resources do not exist, while those that do exist are rarely coordinated sufficiently to consitute an understandable and easily accessible continuum of care.
Barriers are:
lack of awareness of available services
lack of financial resources or health insurance
lack of documentation
language and cultural barriers
attitude of providers
scheduling difficulties
lack of transportation
fear or distrust of large institutions
lack of comprehensive services
Case management is distinguished from other health care activities in that it addressess the well-being and quality of life of the client as that person defines it, not as defined by diagnostic categories chosen by health care providers. Seen in this light, any improvement in the quality of life of a person who is homeless is a move toward health. In this process the person's own perception of what consititutes health plays a major role. The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Case management is a tool to achieve that state of health.
Hope is to shape the nature of healthcare systems so that they become more responsive and relevant.
Case management has potential to become a source of human support for those who have none.
Hopefully this gives you a bit more of an educated idea of what it's like to be a social work case manager within health care for the homeless. The toughest part thus far has been becoming acquainted with all the opportunities in pittsburgh. No wonder nobody knows about services-- its hard for even social workers to keep up with all of them!! Continue to pray for me as I am adjusting to this job. Continue to pray for the homeless.
[Issues of substance use and mental illness] were common problems for people being seen [at clinics] and were often the underlying cause of physical health complaints.
In response to the growing awareness of the problem of homlessness, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act on July 22, 1987 to provide "urgently needed assistance to protect and improve the lives and safety of the homeless." The McKinney Act (McKinney-Vento Act) provided for a wide range of programs for people who are homeless including emergency food and shelter, transitional and long-term housing, primary health care, mental health care, mental health services, education and job training.
Specifically, HCH programs:
-provide for primary health care and substance abuse services at locations accessible to homeless people;
-provide for emergency care with referrals to hospitals for in-patient care services and/or to needed mental health services; and
-provide for outreach services to access difficult to reach homeless persons, and for aid in establishing eligibility for entitlement programs and housing
*most of my job is the third point
HCH projects are unique in that they directly attack the access barriers by taking the services out to where homeless people are found, at times that make the most sense.
HCH projects are known for their hallmark approach to aggressive outreach.
HCH staff make sure that their clients do not face additional obstacles to getting what they need.
*another very noticeable point of my job
A final aspect of improving accessibility is perhaps one of the simplest, but most essential -- providing services without regard to ability to pay. Given that homelessness represents the lowest end of the poverty spectrum, most HCH clients recieve their care at no charge. When Medicaid reimbursement is available, HCH projects bill the Medicaid agency for payment. HCH staff also work to assure that any homeless person who is eligible for Medicaid has access to this valuable resource for recieving medical care.
Effective implementation of this approach depends upon the attitude of those involved in the work itself. It is the philosophy of HCH projects that people who are homeless deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and with sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity. Another common theme running through all aspects of HCH services is an understanding of homelessness as a social, political and economic phenomenon, and not simply the result of people making mistakes in their lives.
What makes HCH projects more than just "clinics that serve homeless people" is the philosophy that their ultimate goal is to help people escape homelessness. This means collaborating with others in the movement to change the policies, circumstances, and attitudes that cause homelessness in the first place. It also requires intensive work with coalitions dedicated to coordinating and expanding the continuum of services available for people experiencing homelessness.
Sometimes the needed resources do not exist, while those that do exist are rarely coordinated sufficiently to consitute an understandable and easily accessible continuum of care.
Barriers are:
lack of awareness of available services
lack of financial resources or health insurance
lack of documentation
language and cultural barriers
attitude of providers
scheduling difficulties
lack of transportation
fear or distrust of large institutions
lack of comprehensive services
Case management is distinguished from other health care activities in that it addressess the well-being and quality of life of the client as that person defines it, not as defined by diagnostic categories chosen by health care providers. Seen in this light, any improvement in the quality of life of a person who is homeless is a move toward health. In this process the person's own perception of what consititutes health plays a major role. The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Case management is a tool to achieve that state of health.
Hope is to shape the nature of healthcare systems so that they become more responsive and relevant.
Case management has potential to become a source of human support for those who have none.
Hopefully this gives you a bit more of an educated idea of what it's like to be a social work case manager within health care for the homeless. The toughest part thus far has been becoming acquainted with all the opportunities in pittsburgh. No wonder nobody knows about services-- its hard for even social workers to keep up with all of them!! Continue to pray for me as I am adjusting to this job. Continue to pray for the homeless.
Friday, August 5, 2011
recent events
The ladies at Bethlehem Haven got me a going away cake....
The largest harvest I have had yet from our community garden...
The largest harvest I have had yet from our community garden...
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
HCH
Abigail Stern, BSW
Case Manager
Or so that's what it reads on my new business cards :) Today was my first day of work, but I've had first days before on the job. First day of camp. First day of being a store clerk. First day of catering, of calling alumni, of library work, of waitressing, and of voluntary service. So the idea of "first job" was not fully on my mind, despite my lovely parents and Shawn both instilling this thought into me. So to be completely fair, this was my first day of work at a full time professional paid job -- try writing that on a resume.
The day didn't start as ideal as one would create in their dreams. I woke up to a sore throat and rainy day outside. The positive side of that? I slept till my alarm went off because the sun didn't wake me up and it was a cooler day overall. :)
It was great taking my time, doing devotions and eating breakfast, and not worrying about when to catch the bus in the morning. For PULSE, I had a 40 minute bus ride to work and had to be at the bus stop at a certain time to make sure to be at work in decent time (sorry, that was a mouthful). The bus also was chaotic in many ways-- seat shuffling, lots of stops, jammed packed days, lots of distractions, etc. I actually got use to my time on the bus this past year, but for once I enjoyed the fact I didn't need it. Today was me driving to work in ten minutes. (Of note, there is a reason I am driving, but that would be getting ahead of my story...)
I am the new case manager for Health Care for the Homeless, an agency that is supported through a bigger non-profit health system. As the sole full-time case manager, my job is to go to the free clinics across the city (ie. why I need to drive to my office, so I can then drive to clinics) and provide case management for those who seek it. Stay tuned for more of what my job entails, as I will be learning on the spot these coming weeks, but basically I am there to fill the holes. People who are living on the street don't as easily know about the opportunities out there to help them get back on their feet, so I will provide referrals, goal planning, etc. to bring about renewal. Renewal. I like that word.
You can for sure be praying for me. People are going to be looking to me for help and I want so desperately to have all the answers, which I know I won't always. And sometimes, there just isn't an answer to life's problems, but that can't slow (us) down. I am not one to give up easily, and I know someone greater who isn't one to give up-- ever...
As a final note, my day is going to end on a very positive note-- my housemates informed me they are making me dinner in celebration of my first day! When I heard this, I was so touched- how thoughtful! I am so blessed to have such caring friends. Thanks Anna and Maggie :) Best first-day-of-work-at-a-full-time-professional-paid-job, ever! :D
Case Manager
Or so that's what it reads on my new business cards :) Today was my first day of work, but I've had first days before on the job. First day of camp. First day of being a store clerk. First day of catering, of calling alumni, of library work, of waitressing, and of voluntary service. So the idea of "first job" was not fully on my mind, despite my lovely parents and Shawn both instilling this thought into me. So to be completely fair, this was my first day of work at a full time professional paid job -- try writing that on a resume.
The day didn't start as ideal as one would create in their dreams. I woke up to a sore throat and rainy day outside. The positive side of that? I slept till my alarm went off because the sun didn't wake me up and it was a cooler day overall. :)
It was great taking my time, doing devotions and eating breakfast, and not worrying about when to catch the bus in the morning. For PULSE, I had a 40 minute bus ride to work and had to be at the bus stop at a certain time to make sure to be at work in decent time (sorry, that was a mouthful). The bus also was chaotic in many ways-- seat shuffling, lots of stops, jammed packed days, lots of distractions, etc. I actually got use to my time on the bus this past year, but for once I enjoyed the fact I didn't need it. Today was me driving to work in ten minutes. (Of note, there is a reason I am driving, but that would be getting ahead of my story...)
I am the new case manager for Health Care for the Homeless, an agency that is supported through a bigger non-profit health system. As the sole full-time case manager, my job is to go to the free clinics across the city (ie. why I need to drive to my office, so I can then drive to clinics) and provide case management for those who seek it. Stay tuned for more of what my job entails, as I will be learning on the spot these coming weeks, but basically I am there to fill the holes. People who are living on the street don't as easily know about the opportunities out there to help them get back on their feet, so I will provide referrals, goal planning, etc. to bring about renewal. Renewal. I like that word.
You can for sure be praying for me. People are going to be looking to me for help and I want so desperately to have all the answers, which I know I won't always. And sometimes, there just isn't an answer to life's problems, but that can't slow (us) down. I am not one to give up easily, and I know someone greater who isn't one to give up-- ever...
As a final note, my day is going to end on a very positive note-- my housemates informed me they are making me dinner in celebration of my first day! When I heard this, I was so touched- how thoughtful! I am so blessed to have such caring friends. Thanks Anna and Maggie :) Best first-day-of-work-at-a-full-time-professional-paid-job, ever! :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)