|CHOP|

Homeless Healthcare Initiative

About

The Homeless Health Initiative provides free health and health-related services to families living in local emergency housing shelters. It is a volunteer outreach program run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dedicated volunteers from the HHI — including doctors, nurses, dentists, social workers and students — work to improve the health of families experiencing homelessness by:

  • Providing high-quality, acute medical and dental care
  • Connecting families with health insurance as well as primary and specialty care providers
  • Providing health education on topics such as nutrition and fitness to shelter residents and staff members
  • Collaborating with local and national partners to effectively advocate for the healthcare of children in shelters
  • Assisting others in replicating the HHI model of collaboration, partnership and care

Programs

  • People
    CHOP attending physicians, pediatric residents, dental fellows, nurses and nurse practitioners, social workers, PARC outpatient registration volunteers, as well as local university students in nursing, social work, dentistry and medicine
  • Shelters
    The People’s Emergency Center, Episcopal Community Services/St. Barnabas Mission, and Families Forward
  • Services
    Sick visits, referrals to specialists, connection to primary care, education and dental exams

A six-week curriculum in a homeless shelter to train parents through attachment and trauma theory and help break the cycle of abuse and neglect.

  • Curriculum
    • Week One: Creating the Framework — Attachment Theory
    • Week Two: Child Development
    • Week Three: Lessons from the Past
    • Week Four: Join the Club — We all have Ghosts from the Past
    • Week Five: Paradigm Shift — Learning New Skills
    • Week Six: Celebrating Next Steps
    • Workshops: Parents choose the topics

Monthly health education workshops for parents experiencing homelessness to help them be effective parents and advocates for their family’s health.

  • Workshop Locations
    • People's Emergency Center
    • St. Barnabas Mission and HomeFront
  • Topics
    • Emergency room use
    • Chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and autism spectrum disorders
    • Child development, including the impact of stress on infant development, individual education plans (IEPs), and how to organize a child's care
    • Understanding ear infections and hearing issues
    • Advocating for your child's school success
    • Oral and hand hygiene
    • Healthy lifestyle choices, including eating right and inexpensive and safe ways to remain physically fit
    • Common youth behavioral health topics, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Reaches out to hundreds of families in shelters through nutrition and fitness opportunities

  • Adopt-a-Shelter Project
    • Law firms or corporate legal departments staff a HAP legal clinic on a monthly or bimonthly basis.
  • Children, Youth, and Families Project
    • Clinics are conducted at shelters to attempt to address some of the most urgent legal needs of homeless children, including access to federal disability funds and special education services.
  • SSI Outreach Access & Recovery (SOAR) Project
    • Homeless disabled adults and youth aging out of foster care are helped to obtain Supplemental Security Income/SSDI benefits on a rapid basis.
  • Veterans Project
    • This is the only legal assistance program in Philadelphia that specifically targets homeless veterans.

Be Involved

Donate

Donate money to the Health Care for the Homeless Program! You can fundraise through a club, start a gofundme page, or even request friends to donate for your birthday. In addition, you can organize a donation drive for the three sites. Organize a donation drive for the arts programs. Items that can be collected include

  • Canvases (large sizes preferred)
  • Paint brushes of all sizes
  • Acrylic paints
  • Wooden crafts (to be painted)
  • Glitter
  • Jewelry making items (wires, beads, etc.)
  • Yarn
  • Knitting needles
  • Sketch pads
  • Palettes
  • Gift cards to AC Moore or Michaels

Volunteer

Taking Charge of Your Child’s Health
  • This is a weekly, hourlong discussion workshop in which parents/caregivers can talk with pediatric healthcare providers about various common health topics, including acute illnesses, when to go to the ER, vaccinations, child development, infant care, dermatology, teen health, behavior health, mental health, safnba ety, etc. You can:
    • Work with the CHOP Medical Advisor to determine learning objectives related to the selected topic
    • Help generate discussion
    • Answer caregivers’ questions
Art Programs
  • Programs
    • Art with Adults and Machine Sewing: Fun Friday Art is a therapeutic weekly art program where mothers in shelters find joy, healing, creativity, skills, empowerment and entrepreneurship through classes in art, crafts, jewelry, knitting and, in the future, sewing.
    • Art with Kids: Kids Art Program is a therapeutic weekly program where children in shelter find joy, healing, creativity, problem solving skills, empowerment and teamwork through classes in art and crafts
  • How you can help
    • Gathering necessary supplies for projects
    • Assisting with cleanup
    • Helping participants complete projects when necessary
    • Attending art shows and assisting mothers in selling their artwork, if available
    • Attending art advisory council meetings to brainstorm activities, if available
Operation CHOICES
  • Safe Physical Activity & Recreation for Kids (SPARK): a weekly fitness and nutrition program for children, empowering them to make healthy choices during their time in shelter and beyond
  • How you can help
    • Maintaining a safe learning environment for kids to play
    • Supervising and monitoring children during activities
    • Contributing innovative ideas for programming
    • Demonstrating comfort working with kids ages 5 and up
    • Aiding as walking escorts for children out of the facility to a nearby park/gym (PEC/Families Forward)
    • Understanding trauma informed care practices (taught in HHI training)
    • Being prepared and excited about active play
    • Being flexible —sometimes we shift plans based on what the kids need that day
    • Demonstrating cooperation, teamwork and fair play
Special Events
  • Locations
    • People’s Emergency Center (PEC)
      Gloria’s Place, 3902 Spring Garden Street
    • St. Barnabas Mission
      6006 W Girard Avenue
    • Families Forward Philadelphia
      111 N 48th Street
    • Red Cross House
      4000 Powelton Avenue
    • Salvation Army Red Shield Family Residence
      715 North Broad Street
  • Help organize, plan, and run events such as
    • HHI’s Annual Family Fun and Fitness Day
    • MLK Day
    • Back to School Celebrations
    • Holiday Celebrations