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2010 Conference
2011 Conference
Council Research Activities
Successes in Outreach
Caucus on Homelessness
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NOVEMBER 2010
HCH RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
New HCH Research Updates Available Online
The Council searches several research databases quarterly for publications related to health care and homelessness. Two new issues of the HCH Research Update include summaries of relevant research articles from approximately April 2010 through September 2010. Summaries are categorized into themes that vary by quarter. Click on the links below to access the latest issues.
2010 NATIONAL HCH CONFERENCE & POLICY SYMPOSIUM
JUNE 2-5, 2010 | SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Pre-Conference Institute Materials Online
If you were unable to attend the 2010 National HCH Conference in San Francisco this past June, you missed the research pre-conference institute - Conducting Practice-Based Health Care for the Homeless Research: Implications for Health Practice, Policy and Advocacy. The institute covered the basics of practice-based research, examples of real research experiences from the HCH field and a large group discussion on the relationship between research and policy. Materials from the entire conference, including this research pre-conference institute, are available at www.nhchc.org. Feel free to review the materials and forward them on to your colleagues.
2011 NATIONAL HCH CONFERENCE & POLICY SYMPOSIUM
JUNE 22-25, 2011 | WASHINGTON, DC
Save the Date!
The 2011 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference and Policy Symposium will take place June 22-25, at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, DC. Please mark your calendars!

Poster Sessions 
To submit a proposal for a poster session at the conference, visit www.nhchc.org. Poster presentations are display materials which serve to educate attendees about programs, services, and initiatives which benefit both providers and consumers of health care services. The Call for Proposals Guidelines have all the details you will need to submit a proposal; if you have questions, please contact Conference Planner Wade Munday at wmunday@nhchc.org.

> > Read the Call for Proposals Guidelines

> > 2011 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference & Policy Symposium

Reminder: Poster proposal submissions are due by January 12, 2011!
COUNCIL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
2010 Council Needs Assessment
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council recently conducted its first ever comprehensive needs assessment. The Council Research team interviewed key stakeholders, conducted focus groups with organizational member representatives and surveyed the three major constituency groups within the organization - administrators, consumers and clinicians. The surveys covered demographics, learning modality preferences, gaps in knowledge and skills and much more. Results of the needs assessment will help the Council develop trainings and technical assistance opportunities that meet the needs of the HCH field. A report of the results is available on the Council website.

> > Read the Needs Assessment Report

Chronic Pain Management
The Clinicians' Network collaborated with the Research Coordinating Committee to survey HCH clinicians nationwide regarding chronic pain management practices, knowledge, attitudes and resources. Preliminary data from the survey were presented during a workshop at the 2010 National HCH Conference in San Francisco. Materials from that workshop are posted online, and a report of the survey results will be posted to www.nhchc.org. Based on the survey results, the Chronic Pain Management Task Force recommends the following:
  • Develop programmatic and clinical guidelines for chronic pain management with individuals who are homeless
  • Prepare a manuscript for publication in a scholarly journal
  • Conduct qualitative interviews or a survey with individuals who are homeless regarding their experiences of chronic pain management
  • Evaluate a model chronic pain management program in collaboration with the HCH PBRN
  • Write a policy statement on chronic pain management in collaboration with the Council Policy Committee
> > See Materials from the Chronic Pain Management Workshop
 
Clinical Outcome Measures

The Council received funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to conduct a feasibility study to identify supplemental clinical outcome measures specific to homeless individuals who seek care at HCH projects and Medical Respite Care facilities. A survey was conducted and representatives from 11 projects participated in focus groups for the study. Results of the survey and focus groups are documented in the Clinical Outcomes Feasibility Study Report posted on www.nhchc.org.


> > Read the Clinical Outcomes Feasibility Study Report


Traumatic Brain Injury
 In February, the HCH PBRN submitted a research proposal to the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (ARHQ) for a $100,000 grant to study the prevalence and impact of traumatic brain injuries in homeless patients. Although the HCH PBRN did not receive the desired grant, the key investigators will revise the proposal based on reviewer comments and resubmit to AHRQ in March 2011.


Violence on the Streets
 This past summer, the National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB) conducted its fifth Consumer Participation Outreach survey, on the topic of violence. Consumer Advisory Board members from six HCH projects across the country took to the streets and surveyed individuals about their experiences of violence while homeless. Surveying is now complete and Council research staff are entering the data so that analysis can begin. NCAB will publish a report of results to the Council website once finalized and hopes to submit a manuscript to be published in a scholarly journal.

SUCCESSES IN OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
Retaining Patients in Care
The HIV/AIDS Bureau of the US Department of Health and Human Services recently funded a study called the Outreach Initiative, which examined the relationship between outreach encounters with patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and appointment adherence. Results of the Outreach Initiative showed that encounters with medical professionals increased appointment adherence while multiple encounters with non-medical outreach workers improved HAART use. Considering the similar barriers to care and vulnerable nature of patients who have HIV/AIDS and patients who are homeless, the Outreach Initiative findings could be applied to an outreach model of care for patients who are experiencing homelessness. Click on the link below to read the report of findings.

> > View the HIV Outreach Article
AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
Caucus on Homelessness
The 138th Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association (APHA) will take place next week in Denver, Colorado. The Caucus on Homelessness is a special interest group that provides a space for APHA meeting attendees to learn and share knowledge about the issues surrounding homelessness and health. Visit the APHA website to read more about the upcoming Caucus on Homelessness presentations at this year's meeting.

Ben King is the 2010 Chair of the Caucus on Homelessness and also serves on the Council's Research Coordinating Committee. For more information about the Caucus on Homelessness and how to get involved, email Ben at btking@seton.org.

> > View Details of the 2010 Caucus on Homelessness Presentations
Molly Meinbresse, MPH | Program & Research Specialist
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
615/226-2292 | www.nhchc.org | mmeinbresse@nhchc.org

Patrina Twilley, MSW | Research Assistant
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
615/226-2292 | www.nhchc.org | ptwilley@nhchc.org
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HEALTH CARE AND HOUSING ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the HCH Clinicians' Network produce and distribute this publication with support from the Health Resources & Services Administration. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the editor and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.