Acting on Climate Change for a Healthier Future: The Role of Health Centers
The health community recognizes the climate crisis as an existential threat to humanity and human health, requiring immediate and effective action across all sectors. Health centers are the first point of contact intended to provide comprehensive and coordinated health services and contribute to both climate change adaptation and mitigation via preventive health measures and integrated health services. This webinar series, presented by NNCC and the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH), explored health hazard exposures and their impacts on the health of vulnerable populations.
Addressing Barriers to Diabetes Management for Residents of Public Housing
Public housing residents have worse health than the general population including chronic diseases such as diabetes. Knowledge of which specific populations within public housing residents have chronic conditions is essential for health centers to implement efficient health promotion programs. In additions, adults living in communities with limited access to healthy foods or safe places to exercise can be at an increased risk for diabetes complications. This Facebook Live session reviewed behavioral interventions that incorporate promising practices for public housing residents to manage diabetes and its complications.
Addressing Health Disparities for LGBTQIA+ People and People with HIV in Public Housing
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and The National Center for Health in Public Housing held a webinar on addressing health disparities for LGBTQIA+ people and people with HIV in public housing. In the first session, Dr. Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research at The Fenway Institute and Jose Leon, Chief Medical Officer at National Center for Health in Public Housing, discussed the prevalence of health disparities in public housing that the LGBTQIA+ community faces and provided insight on how health centers can address these disparities.
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 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 Value and Return On Investment in Housing and Health Partnerships
Building and maintaining effective community partnerships is a critical component of health center management and community involvement. Local partners help integrate important stakeholders into organizational processes and empower health centers to better understand and care for the communities they serve. But can health centers design and evaluate their partnerships? In this webinar, we reviewed tools and procedures for designing, evaluating, and strengthening community partnerships with a focus on pragmatic, practical and innovative solutions.
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.
Debunk the Myths and Know the Facts: The COVID-19 Vaccine
This conference presentation by NCHPH and NNCC answers commonly asked questions in reference to the COVID-19 vaccines and its effects.
Enhancing Healthcare Access for Special Populations Through Telehealth and Home Visitation Services
Hosted by the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium and the National Center for Health in Public Housing, this 2-part webinar series discussed promising practices in home visitation and telehealth as ways to support improved access to comprehensive primary care for communities with high levels of disability, and isolation, lack of adequate transportation, and other social drivers of health that contribute to health inequities, particularly residents of public housing.
In the first session, we examined how home visitation can be integrated into the provider panel to expand access for aging and disabled patients residing in public housing. In the second session we addressed the benefits of telehealth, recent changes to utilization, and how to implement telehealth services to expand access in health centers.
EnVision Centers, PHAs, and FQHCs–Opportunities for Collaboration to Improve Resident Health
During this webinar, members of the Health Care Resilience Work Group (HRWG), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) offered an informational session to describe the Flu LEAD (Linkages to End Access Disparities) new pilot project from HUD and HRSA. The goal of the pilot is to increase influenza vaccination coverage among residents of Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), to reduce the risk of respiratory disease transmission, and improve access to healthcare and health resiliency among residents of HUD-assisted communities. During the session, the pilot was described in detail, potential Health Center (HC) participants were identified and questions from HC participants were answered. Direct contact information related to the project are provided in slide deck.
Flu LEAD (Linkages to End Access Disparities) Informational Session
During this webinar, members of the Health Care Resilience Work Group (HRWG), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) offered an informational session to describe the Flu LEAD (Linkages to End Access Disparities) new pilot project from HUD and HRSA. The goal of the pilot is to increase influenza vaccination coverage among residents of Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), to reduce the risk of respiratory disease transmission, and improve access to healthcare and health resiliency among residents of HUD-assisted communities. During the session, the pilot was described in detail, potential Health Center (HC) participants were identified and questions from HC participants were answered. Direct contact information related to the project are provided in slide deck.
Healthy Together: A Toolkit for Health Center Collaborations with HUD-Assisted Housing and Community-Based Organizations
This webinar by NCHPH and NNCC walked through an updated resource toolkit for partnerships with organizations, e.g., Public Housing Agencies, managing current HUD-Assisted housing programs, including Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Multifamily, and resident services programs, including FSS, ROSS, Jobs Plus and Connect Home; as well as partnerships with other community-based organizations. It illustrated how health center staff can (a) identify housing partners, (b) create common language and goals to ensure partnership success, and (c) sustain partnerships over time.
Housing is Health Care: Prevalence and Considerations Across the Housing Spectrum
This webinar will highlight the importance of housing as a social determinant of health by describing the health care needs and challenges of individuals that are homeless, live in supportive housing, or are public housing residents. Panelists will report and compare health care utilization and prevalence of diseases for these vulnerable populations and offer best practices on ways to improve access to care. This activity is part of an ongoing effort to provide training and technical assistance on issues related to housing and health.
Impacts of Housing Instability on the Health of Vulnerable Populations
Research increasingly shows the deep impact that housing instability has on the physical and mental health of our patients. Scholarship has indicated the primary role that promoting housing stability has on improving outcomes in vulnerable communities and the unique strategies that institutions and providers can use to network individuals to housing opportunities as well as to wholistically support the unhoused, HUD-assisted families and residents of public housing.
In this webinar, Dr. Kevin Lombardi MD, MPH, the NCHPH team and colleagues presented a unique perspective to supporting these vulnerable populations. Through the lens of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) we engaged with case studies, promising practices and the latest research and clinical recommendations to provide a wholistic perspective of how providers and institutions can promote the health and wellbeing of the unhoused, HUD-assisted families and residents of public housing.
Among the interventions covered were how institutions can utilize Community Health Workers (CHWs), inter-organizational partnerships and trauma-informed care to improve their quality of care.
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.
Lived Experiences: Health Disparities For LGBTQIA+ People and People with HIV In Public Housing
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and The National Center for Health in Public Housing held a webinar on addressing health disparities for LGBTQIA+ people and people with HIV in public housing. In this session, a panel of community members will share their lived experiences in public housing and the challenges they faced in receiving health care.
Partnership Opportunities for Health Centers, EnVision Centers, and Public Housing Agencies
The recent COVID-19 crisis his highlighted the magnitude of health inequities faced by public housing residents and the need for a coordinated approach in providing health prevention and treatment, as well as the basic goods and services needed to survive, e.g., food, medicine and shelter. This webinar focused on the importance of collaboration between Health Centers, Public Housing Agencies, and EnVision to improve the overall health and well-being of public housing residents.
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.
Promoting CDC Tips from Former Smokers to Public Housing Residents
The National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) is working with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health (CDC OSH) and their national tobacco education campaign contractors at the PlowShare Group to increase access to smoking cessation counseling in patients served at Health Centers. NCHPH is recruiting 3-5 Health Centers located in or immediately accessible to public housing developments to participate in a pilot project that promotes the use of the CDC Tips campaign materials. Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®), launched in 2012, features individuals living with the serious health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. During 2012–2015, the CDC’s Tips® campaign was associated with over half a million sustained quits among U.S. adult smokers, and over 9 million quit attempts. Participants in the pilot project will receive free technical assistance and coaching on how to make the most of these materials.
Removing Barriers and Facilitating Access: Improving Health Care Access for People with Disabilities
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability, and 1 in 5 of them did not have a routine check-up in the last year. Disability inclusion allows for people with disabilities to take advantage of the benefits of the same health promotion and prevention activities experienced by people who do not have a disability. Challenges to community integration for people with disabilities also need to be addressed through innovative integrated care programs in the community. This webinar explored health centers’ and public housing authorities’ initiatives to improve access to primary care and addressed social determinants of health affecting people with disabilities.
Screening for Broadband Access and Digital Health Literacy in Public Housing Patients
In the 21st century, broadband internet is vitally important for education, employment, health, and connection to others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its critical role in helping Americans conduct transactions of daily life has become even more apparent. Yet many low-income Americans, especially those served by HUD’s public housing program, have less access to broadband internet, devices, and the training to use them. NCHPH hosted a webinar describing the importance of screening digital health literacy and broadband access; listed potential screening tools; and highlighted a health center that is screening for these issues and can provide promising practices for other health centers.
Screening for Public Housing Community-Specific Safe Sleep Risks
Sleep-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity in infants, a relationship which disproportionately impacts residents of public housing. In this webinar, we reviewed how health and housing are independent and specifically how this interdependence can lead to higher risks of sleep-related injuries in infants. We presented an overview of key interventions and resources that can be used to manage this risk.
Screening for Safe Infant Sleep Habits in Public Housing
Sleep-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in infants, this is disproportionately true for traditionally marginalized groups, including residents of public housing. In this webinar, we reviewed the current epidemiological landscape of sleep-related injuries, emerging trends and screening tools that can be utilized to improve early intervention. We also presented an overview of key interventions and resources that can be used to improve outcomes in achieving safe sleep habits.
Smoke Free Public Housing Webinar
The National Center for Health in Public Housing and two PHPC Health Centers recently presented a webinar on smoke-free public housing hosted by HRSA. The purpose of the webinar was to provide information on how PHPCs and PHAs can work together to support smoke-free policy implementation and improve health outcomes within their communities. This webinar highlighted innovation and promising practices from Health Centers in Alabama and New York and identified helpful smoking cessation resources for PHPCs.
Stories from the Field: How Health Centers are Addressing Health Disparities for LGBTQIA+ People and People with HIV in Public Housing
In this webinar by NCHPH and the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, we featured health centers who have developed best practices for addressing this challenge and shared lessons learned from the field.
The Challenges in the Development of Diabetes Prevention in Public Housing Settings
Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it. Prediabetes puts people at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Patients with prediabetes living in public housing communities face unique challenges related to lack of awareness, difficulty in accessing health care systems and medications, and consequently failure in achieving optimal diabetes management and preventing complications. This webinar explored the challenges in the development of diabetes prevention in public housing settings and interventions to address these challenges.
The Impact of EHR Use on Health Center Staffing and Productivity
With the evolution of technology and the growth of Health Center Programs in the United States, the use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology to improve the provision of patient care in a Health Center setting has grown tremendously in recent years. However, At least 70% of physicians using EHRs continue to attribute their administrative burdens to their EHR use. A recent research Report from GWU Health Workforce Research Center shows how the introduction of new technology influences staffing models, staff roles and workflow, and how these changes in turn influence productivity, coordination between providers and quality of care. This webinar will present the recent study conducted by GWU and its findings, and will provide the perceptions of EHRs effects on staffing and productivity from a Public Housing Primary Care Program Perspective.
The Oral Health Impact: Tobacco, Marijuana, and Vaping in Patients in Public Housing
This webinar was presented in partnership with the National Network for Oral Health Access. Tobacco, marijuana and vaping have long-term effects on health, including oral health. Tobacco use is an ongoing challenge for patients who live in public housing. With emerging issues like marijuana and e-cigarettes, health centers who serve patients in public housing need to learn how to address these issues to improve health outcomes. This webinar reviewed data of tobacco use in public housing and the oral health effects of tobacco use. During the presentation, Zufall Health Center discussed their programs to reduce smoking and vaping within their patient population.
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. staff. 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 Trauma Informed Primary Care, 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
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.