Waikiki Health Center's Care-A-Van Homeless Outreach Program:
Waikiki Health Center is a non-profit community health center that has been serving the needs of the community for over 30 years. The Care-A-Van Homeless Outreach Program was established in 1987 as a part of the Waikiki Health Center. Care-A-Van was developed to address the growing needs of O'ahu's homeless population. Many of these individuals experience difficulty in obtaining services, which is why Care-A-Van prides itself in its unique and flexible way of reaching out to O'ahu's homeless.

Mission:
Waikiki Health Center's mission is to provide low-cost, high quality medical and social services that are accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Additionally, Care-A-Van's mission is to provide the homeless of O'ahu with quality health care, a mailing address, food and clothing, and linkages to appropriate mental health and social services via a drop-in facility and two mobile outreach vans. Helping O'ahu's homeless satisfy their basic human needs is cornerstone for Care-A-Van services.

Services:
The outreach vans are medically equipped, staffed by a Nurse Practitioner and outreach workers. The vans locate homeless individuals throughout the Island and offer services on the spot including O'ahu's public beach parks, urban parks, under bridges and freeways, and on the street. The Nurse Practitioner provides a wide range of healthcare services including the management of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Additionally the Nurse Practitioner provides acute episodic healthcare, preventative healthcare, adult immunizations, and education and counseling (including HIV testing and counseling).

The accompanying outreach workers provide social service assistance by facilitating client acquisition of healthcare insurance and general assistance benefits. Additionally, cellular telephone use is available, allowing outreach workers to facilitate client scheduling of appointments with other agencies and organizations including mental health and substance abuse referrals. Bus passes are provided to clients who lack transportation and have verified appointments. Outreach workers also pass out food, clothing, and hygiene supplies in addition to smiles, conversation, encouragement, and compassionate touch.

Care-A-Van operates out of a drop-in facility located on South King Street in Honolulu, where the homeless receive the same healthcare and social services as provided by the outreach vans. The drop-in facility has two exam rooms where Nurse Practitioners are able to extend their services to include comprehensive physical exams, well women exams, and STD screening. A small in-house lab allows for urine pregnancy testing, urine dips, fecal occult blood screening, and microscope access. The Nurse Practitioners maintain a small pharmacy "closet" so that medications are immediately available to those without insurance. Minor surgery equipment is present for office procedures.

In addition to the healthcare services, the drop in facility offers clients the use of a bathroom, provision of mailing address with mail pick-up, telephone answering service and telephone usage for local calls. Legal aid is available on site.

Contact Information:
Valerie Foree, DNP, APRN-Rx

Family Nurse Practitioner Waikiki Health Center, Care-A-Van Program

1640 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96826-2040

Office: 808-922-4790

Fax: 808-922-4780

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