A Community Initiative to Help Children Who Are Homeless

Abstract

Children experiencing homelessness (CEH) have several health-related needs. It is necessary to address barriers posed by homelessness to improve health outcomes. Our objectives were to (1) conduct a health-related needs assessment and (2) determine acceptability/feasibility of the community-based initiative designed to identify and address health-related needs for CEH. The initiative involved a mobile care center, a health-focused education series for CEH, and resource provision, which included establishing connections with a stable source of health care. The needs assessment included standardized screening questions assessing health-related needs. We surveyed guardians of CEH who attended Summer360 between June and July 2022. Guardians were invited to evaluate our intervention via survey. We used descriptive statistics to characterize health-related needs. A needs assessment was completed on 36 of 100 children (42% white persons, 64% male), with 94% reporting at least 1 health-related need, and 61% with ≥3 needs. The most common needs identified were dental health and food insecurity. Twenty-four (24%) campers participated in a mobile health clinic that included hearing and vision screening, fluoride application, and vaccinations. The education series included dental hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. All families who desired assistance (73%) were connected to resources, and 91% of guardians agreed that the initiative helped meet their children’s health-related needs and provided helpful resources. Implementation required planning with contributors including dental partners, mobile clinic operators, and school leadership. A community-based health initiative may serve as a unique opportunity to identify and address health-related needs for CEH.