Hi all,

Just wanted to pick up that momentum we all had going...

I've had a look at the ENHW website and the newsletter we submitted to doesn't seem to have been published yet. But I have attached the most recent one for your interest including a great piece by uncle bear Dr Deci I would recommend you sign up to receive the newsletters if you haven't already, see http://www.feantsa.org/code/en/pg.asp?Page=760

So how are your programs going?

We at Homed Bristol are building up to a discussion night with speakers from local servies and charities, and also hopefully including this fascinating homeless guy who has written a book about his life and experiences and fundraises lots of money for charities but is himself still homeless and self-confessed 'unsettled' never staying anywhere for very long. (makes him rather difficult to contact regarding speaking at a disucssion night but we'll see...)

Also, How is life in general?

Anyone done any bull riding recently?!

Lucie

ok the file was too big to attach but you can find it on that link I provided
Lucie

The discussion night sounds great Lucie. We're doing something similar in the spring. We've set/are setting up a lunch lecture series in which students will be able to attend 6 lectures for extra credit in two of their classes if they like. They will then hear different speakers discuss the medical, psych, social and advocacy aspects of working with the homeless. I really appreciate the fact that y'all are including a man that gives back to his community. There's a gentleman in Houston who was formerly homeless that now sits on the Houston and National Consumer Advisory Board that is going to speak during the lecture series.

As part of the series we are going to include pre an post surveys on how if at all the attendees attitudes are affected by the series to see if this might be a good away to raise awareness and to keep students from becoming jaded as they reach their clinical years. We're also producing a social resource guide in pocket form for students from previous resources that charities and service providers in Houston have put together.

Right now, we have a clothes/toiletry drive going and are working on improving a homeless advocacy arm associated with the clinic. We've got a great 1st year student who's excited about heading this up, but she's had difficulty making it to the Consumer Advisory Board meetings b/c of communication difficulties. Once the issues with attending some of the CAB meetings get cleared up were working on teaming up with one of the local charities who are interested in participating in more advocacy.

And something else going on in Houston next month that will be fun(not put on by our student group but a good idea in which we definitely plan on participating. Check it out at http://www.sleepout.org/.

Would love to hear what everyone else and some more sharing of ideas. Also, for those of you who got to know Angel in Puerto Rico, if you talk to him you should tell him how great of a guy he is. One of my buds is doing an away rotation down there and Angel found him a place to stay for the whole month. Hope everyone is doing well.-Kevin

Hey Lucie and Kevin (and everyone else viewing and not posting )

Things are going well over here in Austin too. I just got back from the APHA (American Public Health Assoc.) conference in San Diego where I got to speak on a panel about the role of public health students in the HOMES clinic, and the dynamic roles of public health and medicine in a broader sense. It went much better than I expected (no boos, no walk-outs) and I've been asked to serve on the APHA Caucus on Homelessness which also means they didn't hate it I guess. (For those who know me - yes, I went over my time limit. I think we all knew that would happen.)

We are also gearing up to do the homeless count here in January, which includes a sampling survey of all kinds of issues including medical care, institutional histories, barriers, etc. I'm almost too excited about it. I hope everyone is doing well.

Take care,
Ben