A Public Health Approach to Addressing the Opioid Epidemic and Substance Use Disorders in Public Housing Rural Communities
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury death in the United States. A recent CDC report shows a slightly higher rate of substance use disorders in rural areas compared to urban areas. Rural communities face major barriers to treatment for substance use disorders. These include limited resources and lack of transportation, as rural areas have fewer providers and facilities that serve a wider geographic area compared to urban and suburban areas. In some ways, public housing residents share those challenges. This webinar will explore federal and local efforts to address this public health crisis in rural communities and the role of Health Center Programs to address the opioid epidemic and substance use disorders in rural communities.
Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults Living in Public Housing
This webinar from the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) and the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders (NCECE) reviewed the continued impact of social isolation and loneliness on the health and well-being of an aging population, particularly for those living in public housing.
Addressing Tobacco Dependency to Reduce COVID-19 Risks and Complications Webinar Series
Smoking is a major risk factor for most respiratory related infections. The early evidence in this area found that compared with non-smokers, smokers are more likely to develop serious COVID-19 disease. Recent studies also show that current smokers have been more likely to access various forms of smoking cessation assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This offers an opportunity for Health Centers to offer smoking cessation services, referrals, and in-house psychological and pharmacological interventions. These two webinars provided examples of cessation plans and resources that can be shared with patients trying to stop smoking.
Addressing Violence in Public Housing Communities
Social, economic, and environmental factors, such as safe and healthy environments play a large role in determining the health status of public housing residents. Health Centers located in or immediately accessible to public housing developments are more likely to be in areas with higher rates of violent crime, defined as murder, rape, robbery, and assault. As a result, Health Centers serving public housing residents have developed violence prevention and intervention programs critical to improving the physical and mental health of their patients. The purpose of this webinar was to present findings from a case study report that documented best practices and examples of violence prevention and intervention programs in public housing communities. Guest speakers from Opportunities Industrialization Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Genesee Health Systems in Flint, Michigan discussed lessons learned and successful strategies they used to address and prevent violence at their Health Center.
Bridging the Gap: Behavioral Health and Oral Health in Public Housing
Oral health and behavioral health are intimately connected, which can impact health outcomes. Individuals with behavioral health concerns are more likely to have poor oral health. Poor oral health can also result in behavioral health impacts. Individuals in public housing are at risk of experiencing both poor behavioral and oral health outcomes. Dental providers have a unique opportunity during dental appointments to assess behavioral health status and link patients to behavioral health care. In partnership with the National Center for Health in Public Housing, this webinar reviewed behavioral health data and resources from a recent survey of residents of public housing. The webinar will also highlighted how a health center dental program located in public housing integrates behavioral health screening and referral into oral health care.
Building Resilience in the Midst of a Pandemic: What Health Care Workers and Leaders Can Do During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis has required health centers to focus on the challenges of achieving effective healthcare delivery during shortages of staff, equipment and funding. A lot of energy has been devoted to the urgent and critical need for personal protective equipment, the impending lack of respirators and tests, and the pressure on health centers to help “flatten the curve.” This crisis has left little time to address the impact of workplace and personal stressors on providers and other staff as they try to balance the fear of contracting the virus while carrying a heavy, complex workload. There is a real risk of a mental health crisis facing health care workers on the front lines of this pandemic. This webinar provided tips and recommendations for leadership, clinical and non-clinical staff working at health center clinical sites on how to create a healthy environment and cope with anxiety, depression and other behavioral disorders caused by COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2).
Coping with Stress and Compassion Fatigue in Health Center Settings Webinar Series
Although the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated stress symptoms in primary care settings, a healthcare professional may face stress on the job under usual conditions due to long shifts, competing responsibilities, and witnessing or hearing about difficult patient experiences. The National Center for Health in Public Housing hosted webinars that explained how compassion fatigue affects all health care workers, how to determine the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue and provided management and self-help tools to help negate and avoid re-occurrence of severe fatigue.
In this webinar series, NCHPH also explored strategies and ideas to understand the importance of manifesting safety and self-compassion, learn how taking a resiliency and design thinking approach will allow us to navigate crisis and uncertainty, and practice the tools to develop wellness in ourselves and those we serve alongside throughout this challenging time.
Current and Emerging Issues in Public Housing Primary Care
Access to comprehensive, quality health care services is important for promoting and maintaining health, preventing diseases, reducing disabilities, and achieving health equity. On this call, Public Housing Primary Care Health Centers (PHPCs) and NCHPH discuss current and emerging issues in PHPC settings, including the two HUD’s most recent initiatives: Envision Center Demonstration and Smoke-Free Public Housing.
Data Discovery, Behavioral Health and Public Housing Communities
The burden of behavioral health conditions on individuals in traditionally marginalized communities is significant. These conditions impact health center patients in a variety of ways that are cumulative, insidious and often difficult to address. In this webinar, we sought to gain a greater understanding of the behavioral health burden on community health centers through data visualization. Specifically, using interactive maps we examined the main metrics related to behavioral health, the social determinants of health and their interaction. Using this understanding we discussed data-driven interventions and program creation efforts that can be used to better address the behavioral health burden in your community.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and COVID-19
Misinformation and disinformation related to COVID-19 and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are increasing. Some of this may stem from early reports suggesting a lower risk of severe COVID-19 in nicotine users. During this webinar, participants reviewed the variety of ENDS, revised the current science on ENDS and their role on cessation, and learned about how vaping can increase the likelihood of severe COVID-19 symptoms, and clearly counsel patients on the efficacy and safety of using vaping for tobacco cessation.
Evidence-Based Tobacco Cessation Programs: Ten Successful Steps for a Successful Quit
In this webinar, participants learned the ten essential steps anyone wanting to quit smoking should take to ensure success. We also discussed how to help patients implement these steps as they prepare for and engage in their quitting journey.
The Impact of Public Health Emergencies on Community Mental Health: Preparation and Response
The burden of preparation and response to Public Health Emergencies is expected to be a prominent aspect of health center operations for the foreseeable future. In this webinar, Dr. Kevin Lombardi MD, MPH, the NCHPH team and Tom Vu from La Maestra Community Health Centers presented an epidemiological perspective of the effect of PHEs on the provision of behavioral/addiction services. Additionally, in this session we examined the impact of these events on the mental health and wellbeing of traditionally underserviced communities, with special attention given to Residents of Public Housing and HUD-assisted families. The material covered in this webinar was high-yield and pragmatic, with a focus on validated screening/organizational tools, processes and promising practices to manage patient and community needs during PHE’s. Session format included case studies and discussion portions designed to illicit a meaningful, enjoyable and collective interdisciplinary learning experience.
Integrating Behavioral Health During a Pandemic
Mental Health is an important topic for patients living in public housing, particularly during the crisis of a pandemic. In this webinar NCHPH discussed findings from research on the mental health of public housing residents and the medical director from La Maestra Community Health Center will discuss their innovative integrated behavioral health program.
Leveraging Telehealth for use in Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation
Recent studies have indicated that telehealth can serve as a critical tool in providing nicotine and tobacco-use cessation counseling. However, organizations often struggle to promote, market and provide these resources in an efficient manner. Fortunately, there are frameworks, research and protocols available that can help us to leverage and promote our telehealth resources while maximally supporting our patients and taking full advantage of staff resources.
In this webinar, Dr. Kevin Lombardi and the NCHPH research and clinical quality team provided a comprehensive overview for utilizing telehealth to provide and promote tobacco and nicotine cessation counseling. Covered material included deploying and utilizing telehealth resources, marketing and promotion of telehealth resources and frameworks for the use of CHW to provide and promote telehealth services.
Poverty, Housing and Stigma: The Profound Effects of the Social Determinants of Health on Addiction Management
In the coming years, FQHCs and PHPCs are expected to take an increasing share of the country’s addiction management caseload. This is particularly true of health centers serving disadvantaged populations.
In this webinar, the National Center for Health in Public Housing team presented an epidemiological perspective of addiction management with a focus on the impact that housing, poverty, and historical marginalization has had on the lived experience of residents of public housing and other marginalized groups.
Additionally, through the lens of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), we examined the models, practices, and care interventions which can assist FQHCs and PHPCs in supporting addiction management programs and promoting the staff and patient experience at their organization.
Ready to Respond: Behavioral Health and Addiction Management Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the frequency of addiction and behavioral health conditions observed by FQHC’s and PHPC’s. Moreover, many aspects of the COVID-19 response and recovery complicated the treatment of existing patients and increased the number of individuals seeking care.
In the webinar, the National Center for Health in Public Housing team looked at the models and practices used by health centers to manage patients and organizations in that complex environment. The content focused on promising practices, workflow management, and recent industry advancements. Additionally, from the perspective of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), the patient experience was examined by reviewing case studies and real-world examples with a focus on demographic disparities and the experience of Residents of Public Housing.
Recognizing and Responding to Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking in Health Center Settings
Domestic violence can be physical or psychological, and it can affect anyone of any age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. 10 percent of American women will be sexually assaulted by intimate partners in their lifetime, and intimate partners. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide. Recognizing key indicators of domestic violence and human trafficking is the first step in identifying persons at risk and provide the mental and physical support they need before it is too late.
Secondary Traumatic Stress Identification, Mitigation and Improving Work Satisfaction for HC Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This webinar educates staff on the concept of traumatic stress. It identifies terms, risk factors, and symptoms associated with compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress and burnout. The concept of self-care is introduced, and participants learn about building skills that can mitigate traumatic stress responses and improve work satisfaction and resilience.
The Road to Trauma-Informed Care in Primary Care
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach in the human service field that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma may play in an individual’s health and wellbeing inclusive of both staff and patients. The National Council for Behavioral Health in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente is leading a three-year initiative, Trauma-Informed Primary Care: Fostering Resilience and Recovery, to educate health care providers on the importance of trauma-informed approaches and to create a change package for implementation of standardized and scalable trauma-informed care practices in the primary care setting. Zufall health center in Dover, NJ, has been working with National Council experts to pilot resources, tools and processes, developed by a multidisciplinary team of health care stakeholders, designed to guide the planning, implementation and evaluation of a trauma-informed approach in primary care. During this webinar, we will hear from the National Council and Zufall Health Center about this program, lessons learned and resources for Health Centers on how to implement a trauma-informed care program.
Tobacco Cessation for Homeless Individuals and Public Housing Residents: A Brief Review
This webinar presented by National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) and National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) focused on introducing clinicians, health educators and CHWs to the rationale for doing smoking cessation with public housing and homeless individuals served by health center programs. This webinar also provided information on the seven FDA approved cessation medications as well as proven behavioral counseling techniques to help individuals stay quit permanently.
Tobacco Cessation: From Evidence to Practice
This webinar presented by NHCHC and NCHPH focused on the epidemiology of tobacco use behaviors, tobacco-related inequities, and culturally-relevant tobacco use interventions and ways to integrate them into practice.
Vaping: Talk to Youths About the Risks
Considerable progress has been made in reducing cigarette smoking among youth. However, the tobacco product landscape continues to evolve to include a variety of tobacco products, including smoked, smokeless, and electronic products, such as e-cigarettes. According to CDC, since 2014, e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among US middle and high school students. As of October 8, 2019, 1,299 lung injury cases associated with the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products have been reported to CDC from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 1 U.S. territory. This Webinar will discuss the health risks of e-cigarettes and vaping, updates on the vaping-related illnesses, and what South Boston Health Center Youth Program is doing to keep its young patients from vaping.