caldwell, ebony presentation final

(Fem)me Community Health Project

Ebony Caldwell, MPHUGA-MCG Medical Partnership

United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program June 17, 2015

United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program

Introduction Meet Emily, a homeless woman living in Athens, Georgia. She lives in one

of the "tent cities" in Athens, in a makeshift

shelter because she can't afford permanent

housing and the shelters are full. One morning,

Emily wakes up to find it is “that time of the

month,” - her period has started. She does not

have any feminine hygiene products on

hand, and she needs the cash she has to buy

food.


This month, like every month, Emily will need at least 15

pads or tampons. She visits the homeless day center,

embarrassed, and asks for pads or tampons. They don't

have any. She leaves, frustrated and ashamed. Now,

Emily is forced to use whatever items she has with her: a used rag, a sock, balled up newspaper, or nothing at

all. Without feminine hygiene products, women like Emily

experience extreme and unnecessary physical, mental,

and practical setbacks.


Potential outcomes of poor access to menstruation hygiene

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Major Depressive Episode

Loss of employment opportunities

Worthlessness

EmbarrassmentVulnerability

Yeast Infections

Desiree Torres

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(Fem)me Kits• Monthly distributions of

feminine hygiene kits made to community partners

• The kits include 1) tampons; 2) sanitary napkins; 3) panty liners; 4) sanitary wipes; 5) Midol; 6) hand sanitizer; and 7) targeted health messages

• Clients are welcome to take as many as they want

• Serves organization mission to provide feminine hygiene products for the homeless women that need them

Desiree Torres

Add a text, let me know what I'm seeing ini words.


Methodology: Project Goals

(Fem)me Project Goals

Improve Reach

Improve Deliverable

s

Access Need

Assess Program

Utility

Desiree Torres

text, what am I seeing


Methodology: Components

2016 Community

Health Project

Need Assessment Surveys

Community Partners Homeless Clients

Building social capitolUnstructured Interviews

Desiree Torres

text, what am I seeing


Building Social Capitol Steps

Find potential partners

Initiate Contact

Partnership Planning

Relationship Maintenanc

e

Desiree Torres

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Needs Assessments

Clients

15 questions

In-person Surveys

Topics: Hygiene needs, Organization Use, Kit

Access

Community Partners

10 Questions

Email Surveys

Topics: Client Needs, Dissemination Methods,

(Fem)me Deliverables


Unstructured Interviews

Kit distributionsCommunity outreach

events

Survey disseminations

Partnership meetings.

Causal conservations

obtained during:


Findings: Social Capitol

17 Potential Partners Identified

Organization contacted via emails, phone

calls and Facebook Messenger

Meetings planned and executed via

phone, online video and online

to discuss organization

missions and goals

Decision to partner made with

seven new partners. New and current partners

contact frequently.

Desiree Torres

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Findings: Homeless Client Needs Assessment

• (13) 46.4% Have gone without sanitary products when in need

74%

11%

15%

Alternatives to sanitary products

Tissue/Paper Towels(20)

Towels/Washcloths (3)

Other: Socks, Sewing machine, Nothing (4)

84%

11%5%

Consequences of not having hygiene products

Bloodstains (16)

Missing Work (2)

Body Odor (1)

69%

13%

19%

Reasons for not buying sanitary products

Money (11)

Unable to leave work (2)

Other: None, Attitude (3)

Desiree Torres

don't forget to comeplete this section....


Findings: Homeless Client Needs Assessment

• 20 (71.6%) Have received sanitary products from homeless serving organization

• (10) 41.7% Have sought products and the organization did not have them

• (6) 28.6% Go to more than one organization for donations• (13) 48.6% Have received a (Fem)me hygiene kit

Sparrow's NestSavlaton Army

Athens Area Homeless ShelterOur Daily Bread

Bigger VisionHomeless Day Service

ViewpointAthens Nurses Clinic

Ebenezer Baptist Church1st AME Church

1st United Methodist ChurchThe Ark

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Organizations Used for Donations

Number of Respondents

Desiree Torres



Findings: Community Partner Needs Assessment

• (3) 50% Felt unable to meet feminine hygiene needs of clients BEFORE partnering with (Fem)me

• (5) 71.4% Feel as though they are not able to fill the biggest hygiene needs of their clients

• BEFORE partnering with (Fem)me, 50% (6) organizations got their sanitary products via donations

Purchase with organizational funds (2)

Community donations (6)

Corporate donations (1)

Online Wishlist (2)

Other: (1)

16.66%

50.00%

8.33%

16.66%

8.33%

Means of obtaining feminine hygiene products

Desiree Torres



Findings: Community Partner Needs Assessment

• (6) 100% Reported a positive response to kits from clients

• The most commonly suggested health messages for homeless clientele where hand washing (6) and sexual health (7)

Hand Washing (6)

Dental Care (4)

Sexual Health (7)

Mindfulness (4)

Mental Health (3)

Sun safety (3)

85.70%

57.10%

100.00%

57.10%

42.90%

42.90%

Useful health messages

Desiree Torres



Findings: Unstructured Interviews

“I think the kits are perfect!”“The best response was a big

smile and a thank you.”

“[I] Can't think of a thing, this is a beautiful package!”

“[They could use] plain tissues.”

“Our residents love the kits. They state that every thing

they need are included. They love that there are also

cleaning products.”

“I love that they have Midol in them. I always need it, my

cramps suck.”

Feedback on Kits


Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion/Discussion

• BOTH homeless women and homeless serving organizations in the Athens area have a need for (Fem)me’s services

• There is room to grow with new partner organizations and homeless clientele

• There is high satisfaction and utilization of our current kits

• (Fem)me only serves one aspect of hygiene needs experienced by the homeless

Next Steps

• Reach out to potential partners identified in survey

• Create plan for accessing the women NOT using homeless serving organizations

• Design and implement “(Fem)me Teens.”

• Maintain current partnership relationships

Desiree Torres

and this one....


Acknowledgements• United Health Foundation/National Medical Fellowships

Diverse Medical Scholars Program• UGA-MCG Medical Partnership • (Fem)me• Brianna Yoder, (Fem)me Executive Director• Adventure Bags, Inc.• Bigger Vision• Sparrow’s Nest• Athens Area Salvation Army• Athens Area Homeless Shelter• A.R.C.H.• The ladies experiencing homelessness and their will and

tenacity to exist

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