Earlier this year, two staff members were recognized for their leadership with a grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. The grant supports leaders of color from organizations supported by the Foundation.
01.28.16
We are making substance use screenings a standard and regular part of our care. They are strengthening our client relationships and better positioning us to provide them with high-quality, whole-person care. They are a case study here at Health Care for the Homeless in performance improvement.
In April, 2015, Health Care for the Homeless providers began administering a substance use screening process called SBIRT to clients. This is a simple set of questions that identifies people who might be abusing alcohol or drugs and offers opportunities for an intervention. This screening process presents a huge—and important—opportunity in our work with people experiencing homelessness:
It can be administered by almost any health care professional; at Health Care for the Homeless, our medical, mental health, case management, housing and outreach providers all use the SBIRTscreen with clients.
It creates the opening for providers and clients to have difficult conversations about substance use, a topic many find uncomfortable.
By the end of 2015, 79% of eligible clients were receiving the SBIRT screen each month, a number that far exceeds the rates at most other health centers in the Mid-Atlantic.
Our goal in 2016 is to continue to improve our screenings for substance use and ensure that all our lients receive help when they need it.
Earlier this year, two staff members were recognized for their leadership with a grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. The grant supports leaders of color from organizations supported by the Foundation.
May is Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of these communities.
Gregory Rogers is a Senior Community Health Worker (CHW) with years of experience in addiction counseling. A vital part of a client’s care team, CHWs work with clients to navigate care both in the clinic and out in the community. See how Greg spends his days!
An artist, gamer, and movie lover, Curtis McLaughlin has been part of the Health Care for the Homeless Art Group for more than five years. Get to know Curtis in the lasted edition of "Pass the Mic".