Robin Pfohman, Public Health- Seattle & King County Susan Vaughn, Catholic Community Services

Transcription

1 Homeless Planning for Emergencies: Seattle & King County Heather Barr RN, Public Health Seattle & King County Robin Pfohman, Public Health- Seattle & King County Susan Vaughn, Catholic Community Services

2 Overview Health Care for the Homeless background Public Health Preparedness and vulnerable population planning Ci Crises and opportunities for action Community partner perspective- Catholic Community Services Challenges Sustaining the partnerships

3 Mission of HCHN The Health Care for the Homeless Network (HCHN) provides health care services for people experiencing homelessness in King County and provides leadership to help change the conditions that deprive our neighbors of home and health

4 What is Health Care for the Homeless (HCHN) Project? Sited at Public Health- Seattle & King County in the mid 80 s Federal Grant -180 nation wide Contract with 12 agencies at various service sites (40 +) Sites serve variety of population groups A range of clinical i l providers and staff who provide outreach peer counseling

5 HCHN Team Locations Shelters - women, men, youth, families Drop-in centers, hygiene centers Transitional and permanent housing Sobering Center Mobile Medical Van Direct outreach - encampments, street Countywide services

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7 How do HCHN teams work? Trauma informed care- working with a wounded population Meet the person "where they are Build trusting relationships Use harm reduction and motivational interviewing techniques Build relationships with the agencies that host them

8 HCHN Health and Safety Project Established best practice guidelines, model policies Provided training and technical assistance to any agency serving homeless residents in King County Environmental Health, EMS, CD-Epi Assured basic standards were met at City of Seattle funded shelters Provided consultation Provided d Health education to clients Focused on Communicable Disease Education and Prevention

9 Why are homeless and poor people p more vulnerable to communicable diseases than are people who live in homes and have decent incomes?

10 Factors that Increase Vulnerability Access - transportation, insurance, $, lack of knowledge Fear - of sickness, of hospitals, of mortality, CPS, judgement Past experiences with system Mental health issues Drug and alcohol issues Oppression, racism, poverty Shelters over-crowded Lack of access to hygiene facilities Poor nutrition Stress Sleep deprivation Chronic health conditions

11 Established a Foundation Concepts of disease prevention applicable to dealing with pandemic flu History of providing flu vaccine clinics on site at shelters Considering i the needs of sick people at shelters Expanding hours to accommodate and isolate sick people, establishing flu room

12 Crisis Creates Opportunity & New germs Interest Identified case at a site -MRSA, bird flu, etc Key prevention measures cover many diseases

13 Alcohol Based Hand Gel Early resistance to putting up dispensers - now common practice

14 Wash em em, wash em em, wash em

15 Vulnerability of Homeless People in Emergencies/Disasters Transportation issues Communication Unpredictable patterns Lack of social support Inability to achieve isolation in public places Fear of system Live in a constant state of emergency

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17 Consider the particular vulnerability of all population groups of homeless people

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19 Small Disasters are Helpful! Fresh interest in preparedness Reality check Training g opportunity Get to use those emergency kits

20 Barriers to Emergency Preparedness Disaster fatigue - emergency upon emergency Management concerned, but busy coping with day- to-day emergencies Lack of funds, time, resources, storage Denial Short staffed

21 Nisqually Earthquake February 28, 2001 Pioneer Square

22 2002 TB Outbreak - Homeless in Seattle Over 1 year, many shelters Health Dept TB Clinic and Health care for the Homeless played a major role Established TB Coalition, a group of stake- holders (shelter providers, City and County staff) that continue to meet quarterly

23 February 2003

24 Avian Flu H5N Led to the development of: An Influenza Pandemic Planning Guide for Homeless and Housing Service Providers

25 In this case, a near crisis offered an opportunity to begin planning

26 Vulnerable Populations Action Team 2006 "When your disaster plans protect and serve the most vulnerable in your community, all people are better positioned to survive, thrive and prosper. " Âna-Marie Jones Executive Director CARD (Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters) Oakland, California

27 Vulnerable Populations Action Team Included. Connected. Prepared. Vision: By working collaboratively with community partners, Public Health s VPAT initiative ensures that no one group is more impacted than another in an emergency.

28 Vulnerable Populations Blind Chemically dependent Children Clients of criminal justice system Deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing Developmentally disabled Emerging or transient special needs Homeless and shelter dependent Impoverished Limited English Proficient Medically Dependent, Medically Compromised Mentally Ill Physically Disabled Refugees and Immigrants Seniors Undocumented persons

29 Reaching our Vulnerable Residents Requires PARTNERSHIPS Emergency Management Preparedness Resources Technical Assistance Communication Response Resources CBO & FBO/Networks Key Human Services Knows Vulnerable Clients Trusted Entities Situational Awareness

30 Resources and Technical Assistance Agency Emergency Planning: thservices/health/prepare dness/vpat/standards Vulnerable Populations Planning Toolkit: www apctoolkits com/vuln erablepopulation

31 Communication Community Communication Network (CCN) Receive Report Redistribute Messaging: Health Advisories: winter storm, H1N1, heat Health Alerts (activate after hours contact): Carbon Monoxide

32 Howard Hanson Dam & H1N1 January 2009 April 2009

33 The Dam Flu Meeting Weekly Homeless Provider Stakeholder Group established Summer 2009 Leveraged resources to hire a planner to support work Howard Hanson Dam Notification and Warning, Mass Care H1N1 Flu- Situational Awareness, Tier Two Shelter Plan, Vaccine Clinics

34 Howard Hanson Dam Homeless residents are: Living outside in very temporary structures, camps, cars Living in flood prone areas Living in areas that are difficult to access- intentionally

35 Howard Hanson Dam Homeless considerations for: Notification and Warning Transportation and Evacuation Pre-messaging Sheltering Challenges: raising awareness, competing priorities, city by city planning

36 Flu surveillance Tami flu distribution Flu vaccine clinics Tier Two Shelter H1N1 Communicable Disease Video h i l h /personal/hchn/videos Challenges: logistical issues, resources

37 Activation Plan Goals: Advise regarding the needs of homeless people in plans Advocate on behalf of homeless residents Activities: Two-way way communication system Meet twice annually Mobilize quickly to respond in an emergency, when necessary

38 Catholic Community Services (CCS) 12 Family Centers across western Washington 45 emergency shelters and transitional housing programs Over 1.9 million hours of home care for the elderly/disabled Over 1.4 million meals served 1,900 + affordable permanent housing units including housing for migrant farm workers Family Preservation and Foster Care Services Addiction recovery services Catholic Immigration Services Homeless Prevention Statewide Literacy and early learning programs Over 139,000 hours of Volunteer Chore Services

39 CCS Core Values Compassion - Providing care, understanding and concern for those we serve in order to honor the God-given life and sacredness of each person at every stage and condition of life. Diversity - Welcoming the differences of race, culture, faith, and thought with a strong commitment to naming and combating institutional racism and discrimination. Excellence - Providing high quality, professionally competent services with integrity, using best practices. Justice - Defending and advocating for the rights of poor and vulnerable people while working toward the common good. Stewardship - Prudently developing and using the gifts and talents of employees and volunteers and the financial resources needed to live out our mission.

40 Partnership with Public Health- Communications Seattle & King County Vaccine distribution Community Communication Network- Health Advisories Projects/programs Disaster Case Management Tier II Sheltering Training Mobile Medical Van Outreach Public Health nurse

41 Benefits of Public - Private Partnership Serving the same target populations Leverage resources Leverage skill sets Ability to disseminate quickly to the community Ability to respond quickly Increased respect and understanding of the work we both do - true collaboration

42 Steps You Can Take Build a foundation of trust Use Mini crises to encourage planning and partnership Cultivate partnerships with agencies serving vulnerable populations Plan together Sustain and improve partnerships Be poised to respond to future crises