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Improving the Lives of Families Experiencing Homelessness

Learn about the CHOP Homeless Health Initiative and its efforts to provide comprehensive medical services, access to important resources, education, and advocacy for homeless families. Also, explore a study on the involvement of non-residential fathers in parenting their children while residing in shelters.

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Improving the Lives of Families Experiencing Homelessness

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  1. Improving the Lives of Families Experiencing Homelessness Karen Hudson, PhD, MSW, LSW, Program Leader Melissa Bennett, MD, Medical Director Melissa Berrios Johnson, MSW, Social Work Trainer Della Harris Joshua Park

  2. Today’s Agenda • To describe the CHOP Homeless Health Initiative through its services & programming, research and advocacy lens • Five program efforts will be showcased • CHOP Night- health care in shelters • SPARK and Women’s Wellness • Father Inclusion Advocacy • Therapeutic Art Programs • Keys2 Success Employment Initiative

  3. Homelessness in the US ONEin 30 children is homeless National Center on Family Homelessness. (2014). America’s Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness. Available at http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/reportcard.php

  4. Who are the children experiencing homelessness? National Center on Family Homelessness. (2009). America’s Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness. Available at http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/pdf/rc_full_report.pdf

  5. Homelessness in Philadelphia Philadelphia serves 42% of Pennsylvania’s homeless ONE in 94 children is homeless Children’s Work Group Report Subcommittee. (2010). Philadelphia children and youth experiencing homelessness. Available at http://www.chop.edu/export/download/pdfs/articles/homeless-health-initiative/youth-experiencing-homelessness.pdf

  6. Race of Population Served in FY18

  7. Health of children experiencing homelessness in Pennsylvania National Center on Family Homelessness. (2009). America’s Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness. Available at http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/pdf/rc_full_report.pdf

  8. Obesity & Homelessness The New York Children’s Health Project, a program of The Children’s Health Fund, assessed obesity rates among a sample of 520 children experiencing homeless in NYC Grant, R., et al. (2007). The health of homeless children revisited. Advances in Pediatrics, 54, 173-178. Available at: http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/sites/default/files/publications/HealthStatusofHomelessChildrenRevisited.pdf

  9. CHOP’s Response-Homeless Health Initiative • To provide comprehensive medical services to children in emergency housing • To assist families in accessing important services including health insurance, primary care, and specialty care • To enhance healthcare providers’ knowledge of and exposure to homelessness and its impact on children’s lives and their health • To provide education and advocacy • Collaboration, Partnerships & Replication

  10. The Homeless Health Initiative

  11. SPARK

  12. Homeless Health Initiative and Sesame St. in Communities

  13. Families Experiencing Homelessness What about the fathers?

  14. Non-Residential Fathers Parenting their Children Residing in Shelters:A Phenomenological Study Karen D. Hudson, PhD, MSW, LSW

  15. Research Question(s) • RQ1- How do non-residential fathers describe their parenting role with their children while their children are residing in shelters? • RQ2- How and what do these non-residential fathers perceive their contributions to be to their children while their children are residing in shelters? If the fathers are involved, do they participate in any specific health related activities with their children and how? • RQ3- What factors do these non-residential fathers perceive to be facilitators of their parenting their children in shelters? • RQ4- What barriers or challenges discourage these non-residential fathers from parenting their children while their children are residing in shelters?

  16. Study Sample

  17. Summary of Study Findings Non- Residential Fathers reported: • being involved in their children’s lives while their children resided in shelters • being engaged in parenting tasks including: • talking and advising children • demonstrating care, concern, an emotional connection and interest in their lives • helping with homework • providing socialization experiences • securing necessary health care • encouraging healthy behaviors and promoting good nutrition • taking action to provide physical and mental health of the children

  18. RQ1- Interpretation of Findings RQ1- How do non-residential fathers describe their parenting role with their children while their children are residing in shelters? • All fathers began their description of their parenting role by describing their children • They also described their relationship with their children • All of the fathers expressed pleasure and delight from their children “I see that they're a lot happier. They're a lot happier because they see that I'm around and just because they're in a shelter that I just don't want nothing to do with them. They see that I haven't brushed them to the side.”

  19. RQ2- Interpretation of Findings RQ2- How and what do these non-residential fathers perceive their contributions to be to their children while their children are residing in shelters? If the fathers are involved, do they participate in any specific health related activities with their children and how? • The fathers described “being present” and not abandoning their children “I'm a role model. Everything I do, she's like, "I want to do it. Can I do it? Can I get on your shoulders, Dada?" I want to be a positive influence to her.” • All expressed wanting to give their children a better life • All of the fathers discussed being involved in the health care of their children

  20. RQ3- Interpretation of Findings RQ3- What factors do these non-residential fathers perceive to be facilitators of their parenting their children in shelters? • Both internal and external facilitators were identified • Faith in God • Mothers serving as a source of strength “If a child sees their parent going through a hard time, not saying that it's easy, but we have faith, so it's not like the end of the road for us, she is more inclined to stay faithful, as well. We're teaching her that. Just like I said before, just keep pushing through it, positive reinforcement, and things of that nature.” “Just keep looking to God. That's literally where it starts and where it ends.” “I don't know, I think if anything it's more me and her against the world at this point.

  21. RQ4- Interpretation of Findings RQ4- What barriers or challenges discourage these non-residential fathers from parenting their children while their children are residing in shelters? • Shelter rules, financial challenges, communication challenges, shelter staff serving as gatekeepers “I think they could allow the fathers ... Give us a time limit that we're allowed there to be with our family for dinner and tucking them in and the little things. I always tucked the kids in, every night since they we're the babies. I'd do it. I guess if I think about it, it bothers me. I don't think about it much.”

  22. Another Dream Therapeutic Art Programming for Parents Experiencing Homelessness: Creating Safe Spaces for Exploration and Skill Building

  23. Preparing for the Dream • Researched benefits of art therapy • 2013- Need for healing through creative arts expressed by moms at PEC; MB led Friday Fun with Art Classes • HHI desired to address parents psychosocial health, well-being and economic development • 2016- PEC agreed that the space of two rooms could be offered for use of the art space

  24. After

  25. Making the Dream Happen Identifying the Need/Desire Including Moms as Key Stakeholders Creation of the New Art Space Building Community Partnerships

  26. Keys to Success Charting a New Course

  27. Amazing Partners: • CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative • Families Forward Philadelphia • UCD’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative • ACTS • Career Wardrobe • Episcopal Community Services • For Her Sake Foundation • hELP Philadelphia • Kirkbride/CoreCare • Philadelphia Health Management Corp. • the Salvation Army • West Philadelphia YMCA • Women Against Abuse (WAA) • …and more!

  28. Keys to Success: Mission The mission of Keys to Success is to prepare individuals in transitional or emergency housing programs for career opportunities.

  29. Keys to Success: Why? Connect participants to successful career-path opportunities Identify & Remove barriers in the Housing-Placement-t0-Career lifespan Create a shorter path to economic self-sufficiency Improve the lives of families experiencing homelessness Support current job development work at participating emergency & transitional shelters Connect employers to high-quality individuals Decrease the stigma of homelessness across all our collaborative groups

  30. How did K2S Prepare?

  31. Employer Praise for K2s’ October 2018 Job Fair: • “Well Organized!” – Mariel Monroe, Allied Universal • “Everything was great…perfect set up…ZERO complaints.” – Jhai Hampton, Bayada • “Attendance was good…Candidates were a pleasure to serve.” – Michael Warren, City of Phila • “Good turn-out. Good resumes.” – Vanessa Gregory, Kirkbride/Core Care • “Many potential employees came in well-prepared. One of the better job fairs I’ve attended.” – Pat Carroll, The Fresh Grocer • “I scheduled many interviews and offered positions on the spot!” – Vaughn Brown, Marshall’s • “The only thing I would improve is to do more.” – John Chieffo, 1-800-GOT-JUNK

  32. How Does K2S Organize?

  33. How Does K2S Expand? • Data & Evaluation • Participant Services • Employer Connections • Events • Development FIVE COMMITTEES IS TOO MANY COMMITTEES!! (for now) … So we’ll change lanes

  34. Events Committee • Control all aspects of planning and execution of K2S events • Understand employer needs in real time in order to build high-value events for K2S partners and stakeholders • Determine budgets and funding sources for K2S events • Promote K2S events to employers & program sites • Tell the story of K2S success and drive positive feedback loops

  35. Participant Services Committee • Hone K2S curriculum across partnerships to build out best practices • Work with point people at program sites ensure participants can connect to the curriculum • Maintain key information from shelter partners about participants & potential participants • Collect data on K2S events, coordinating with shelters to receive and track data on participant successes • Navigate services for removal of barriers identified, coordinating resources with K2S partners • Tell the story of K2S success and drive positive feedback loops

  36. Keys to Success: Mission …The story continues The mission of Keys to Success is to prepare individuals in transitional or emergency housing programs for career opportunities.

  37. Questions

  38. Your Feedback is Requested What are we missing? Community Partners, Agenda items?

  39. Resources • Children’s Work Group Report Subcommittee. (2010). Philadelphia children and youth experiencing homelessness. Available at http://www.chop.edu/export/download/pdfs/articles/homeless-health-initiative/youth-experiencing-homelessness.pdf • National Center on Family Homelessness. (2010). America’s Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness. Available at http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/reportcard.php • US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2014). The 2013 annual homeless assessment report.. Available at: https://www.hudexchange.info/onecpd/assets/File/2013-AHAR-Part-2.pdf

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