This year we added a unit of content on the culture of homelessness to the course. On Sunday, May 11th, Collin B., Natalie S. & Sarah V. led a discussion on the topic.
Sarah V., Natalie S. & Collin B. lead a discussion on the “culture” of homelessness…
It rained most of the day on Mother’s Day, so we had “class” in the faculty hotel room!
Today (May 14th) we took the Bus downtown to the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and then walked a short distance to the Waikiki Health Center’s “Next Step” Shelter. Our guest speaker was Valerie Foree, DNP, APRN-Rx, a Family Nurse Practitioner who provides care through the Waikiki Health Care-A-Van program. She shared her experiences in providing “street medicine” for over 11-years, and based on the number, and quality of questions from the students, it seemed like the group was really captivated by what they were learning.
Valerie Foree, DNP, APN-Rx talks to the students about providing “street medicine”.
We also had the opportunity to tour the shelter, which is housed in a warehouse located behind the city recycling center, next to a ship yard right on the water. The shelter can provide temporary housing (up to 3-years) for single men & women, couples and families; up to a total of 225 people. Services provided include a mailing address & phone answering service, tobacco cessation, job training, legal assistance, medical care, behavioral health, housing placement, all facilitated with intensive case management.
Cubicles in the Next Step shelter. Residents sleep here, but must leave the shelter by 08:30 every morning.
The shelter maintains an aqua-ponic garden. Fertilization of growing plants is provided by fish (in this case Tilapia) excrement, and the fish provide a source of protein.
Students learning about the Aqua-ponic garden
