666 - A Community-Based Initiative for Reinforcing Health Equity Around Childhood Homelessness (REACH)

Sunday, April 30, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 666
Publication Number: 666.318

Kristen Peterson, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, CIncinnati, OH, United States; Saige E. Camara, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Elizabeth Lendrum, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Dominick J. DeBlasio, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Anita Shah, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Kristen Peterson, MD (she/her/hers)

Resident
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
CIncinnati, Ohio, United States

Background: In 2020, children accounted for 18.3% of all homeless people. Children experiencing homelessness may have several unmet health needs due to barriers accessing care and lack of resources. It is pivotal to address barriers posed by homelessness to improve health outcomes.

Objective:

Our objectives were to develop and implement a new public health initiative, Reinforcing Health Equity Around Childhood Homelessness (REACH), that focused on addressing gaps in care for children experiencing homelessness during a community-based summer camp (UpSpring 360).

Design/Methods:

A needs assessment informed the development of REACH. This survey included standardized screening questions assessing child health-related needs. We surveyed guardians of children ages 5-18 years experiencing homelessness who attended UpSpring 360 between June and July 2022. An exit survey was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of our intervention. We utilized descriptive statistics, including frequencies and proportions of categorical variables, to characterize health-related needs and to evaluate the impact of REACH.

Results:

Health needs assessments were completed for 36 children (42% white, 64% male). Nearly all children (94%) were reported to have at least one health-related need and over half (61%) had >3 needs. The most common health-related needs identified were dental hygiene and food insecurity (Table 1). REACH included a mobile health clinic, a health-focused educational series, and tailored resource provision. 24 campers participated in a mobile health clinic that included fluoride application, hearing and vision screens, blood pressure and BMI evaluations, and vaccinations. Children at the camp participated in an educational series with a focus on dental hygiene and nutrition. All families who desired assistance with reported health-related needs (73%) were connected to resources (e.g., list of local food pantries or dental offices accepting public insurance). Implementation required connection with stakeholders including dental partners, mobile clinic operators, and school leadership. Nearly all guardians surveyed (91%) agreed that the REACH initiative helped meet their children’s health-related needs and that the resources provided were helpful.

Conclusion(s):

Many children experiencing homelessness experience unmet health-related needs and desire assistance. In partnership with stakeholders, a community-based health initiative may serve as a unique opportunity to identify and address unmet health needs for this population.