Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Addressing Oral Health Within A Women's Homeless Community, Annika Hogan, Hannah Cadelina, Simran Kaur, Vannessa Decastro, Yoshiko Sano Sano, Fatou Sonko, Machaela Urbick

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Addressing Oral Health Within a Women’s Homeless Community

Introduction

Seven nursing students attending Seattle Pacific University (SPU) partnered with a women’s day center to serve population healthcare needs for a leadership project. In the first few weeks, we visited the agency site to get familiar with the population and have a deeper understanding of what our group should address. Our goal for this project is to identify an issue of concern and address the issue using the nursing process. The women’s day center is for women who are experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is unfortunately a big problem in the city of …

Adapting The Aha’S Blood Pressure And Nutrition Management Program Into Digestible Teaching Plans For Low-Income Communities, Truc Huynh, Jemina Lynn B. Estepa, Fritz Reanne A. Obungen, Katelyn Marie Clasey, Kirsty Keitges, Serah M. Kimani, Hailey Rae Tauscheck, Andrew David Rhoades

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Executive Summary: Adapting the AHA’s blood pressure and nutrition management program into digestible teaching plans for low-income communities

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 46% of American adults have high blood pressure (Whelton et al., 2017). High blood pressure, especially for those above the age of 50, is associated with a higher prevalence of heart disease and a shorter life expectancy. The AHA’s Check Change Control program (CCC), is an evidence based, self-directed blood pressure management guide (American Heart Association, 2021). The CCC program incorporates four lesson topics related to lifestyle changes to manage hypertension. The four topics are: …

Implementing Health Information Stations At Addiction Recovery Center, Esther Yi, Daryn Hernandez, Maryam Umer, Jasmine Alvarez, Kaitlyn Ward, Riciajoy Padilla

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Implementing Health Information Stations at the Addiction Recovery Center

Six Seattle Pacific University nursing students partnered with an addiction recovery center to address aging healthcare concerns. The recovery center is a non-profit organization that provides a refuge for healing for community members recovering from trauma, homelessness, addiction, and other mental health challenges. Through our weekly meetings with the community, we wanted to address specific barriers such as aging healthcare concerns. We focused on how the low-income aging population posed barriers to aging well.

Background

There has also been a rise in poverty in aging populations (Saldanha, 2023). Though aging influences …

Engaging Sleeplessness In Seattle At Clinical Site 1, Benjamin D. Masters, Luis Moreno Nunez, Ally Jo Veenhuizen, Kiana Rendorio

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

The National Library of Medicine notes an emerging area of research interest is the relationship between substance abuse and sleep (Mahfoud et al., 2009). According to the same 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, “7.6 percent of Americans older than 12 years met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence” and goes on to highlight the mundanity of sleep disorder. Additionally, the 2008 National Sleep Foundation’s “Sleep in American” poll demonstrated “addicts in recovery are 5 to 10 times more likely to experience sleep disorders.” (Moufoud et al., 2009). Clinical Site 1 is an agency in Downtown …

Wound Care For Unhoused Youth, Diana Altman, Monse Villasenor, Grace Fry, Maddy Johnson, Matthew Messenger

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Wound Care For Unhoused Youth

Introduction

We partnered with a non-profit organization designed to serve the unhoused youth, ages 18-25, who have a day program as well as an overnight shelter. They have 30 beds and reserve 20 of those beds for individuals who are “residents,” who commit to staying for several nights and work towards finding more permanent options. The other 10 beds are for individuals to use for a single night, but these are not always guaranteed, you must sign up to save a spot. The day program has various activities ranging from painting to resume workshops and …

Women’S Shelter Health Needs Assessment, Asmait Woldu, Kelly Dona, Anna Frediani, Andrea Herrejon-Duran

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Women’s Shelter Health Needs Assessment

Introduction

Homelessness is currently one of the biggest societal issues in the United States and evidence indicates it is increasing, particularly for women (McGeough et al., 2020). A group of nursing students from Seattle Pacific University teamed up with a women’s homeless shelter in a Metropolitan city. The agency provides shelter and warm meals as well as laundry, toiletries, bus tickets and more. But even with the resources that they do provide, the residents have other needs that are not fully met, particularly with regard to their health. This is due in large to a …

Resources To Promote Senior Independence, Amanda Anderson, Sheree Mae Cacal, Sophia Gallego, Madyson Grant, Lola Wallace

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Resources to Promote Senior Independence

Introduction

Our group of five students from Seattle Pacific University's Lydia Green nursing program assessed the community of an independent senior apartment complex that provides affordable housing for adults aged 65+ in the Seattle area run under Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations (SHAG). This assignment is for our leadership project and occurred over an 8-week period. During this time, we applied the nursing process to assess, diagnose, plan, and implement an intervention specific to a population's needs. The community faced issues of resource access, exacerbated by the population's low income and age. Our focus was …

Supportive Resources For Unhoused Individuals & Families, Grace Felder, Jordyn Henson, Kial Neang, Nasha Phansangiam, Taylee Thain

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

Since 2016 King County’s unsheltered homeless individuals have increased by 24% and families experiencing homelessness have increased by 26% (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2021). In the past 5 years, homelessness has risen by 10% in King County alone (NAEH, 2021). Our agency was an emergency family shelter located in King County that “ensures that no child sleeps outside by centering equity and opportunity for women and families” (Mary’s Place Seattle, n.d.-a). This facility has 5 other family center facilities that provide shelter and resources. Since 1999, our agency with its 6 facilities have aided thousands of women and …

Developmental Boxes, Karina Ryabinina, Lauren Kelly, Marissa Bankey, Kaila Medeiros, Sammy Schultz

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Developmental Boxes

The assigned facility is a resource center that operates to assist families in need. Services offered include housing placement, homelessness prevention, securement of affordable childcare, after-school programs, and health education. The center has served the Mount Baker community for nearly three years and intends to continue partnering with public services to end the cycle of poverty and create brighter futures for those who need it most (Mercy Housing, 2021).

Our team conducted a windshield survey of the community served by the facility and determined there to be limited access to childcare in the area as well as minimal …

Executive Summary Of Survey Among Temporarily Homeless Families, Berenice M. Casas Rodriguez, Andrea Munoz, Kalea Soto, Ava Beranek, Reagan Watson, Kimberly Brown, Amelia Navarro

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Executive Summary of Survey Project Among Temporarily Homeless Families

The agency we were assigned is a non-profit organization centered around providing housing and resources for houseless families in the Seattle region. The agency consists of five housing locations along with additional day centers. The housing locations are Burien, Northshore, The Regrade, Bellevue, and the Family Diversion Center. They all offer family housing services, healthcare, education, and employment.

The goal of our project was to gather information from guests on the healthcare services that they have utilized. It was also used to gather requests for additional services at each site to …

Mouth Care Is Self-Care, Abigail Waunch, Katelynn Huot, Aleya J. Germany, Oleksandra Shmatok, Elizabeth M. Cortes, Cortney M. Firns

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

In February of 2023, six Seattle Pacific University (SPU) nursing students partnered with a Seattle rehab agency to deliver mouth care education while prioritizing the health literacy level of the community. The agency aims to foster an inclusive and empathetic environment that builds a diverse community for those traumatized by homelessness, addiction, and mental health (Recovery Café, n.d.). The nursing group upheld the agency's mission with honor and respect during each project step. The special projects manager of the agency expressed a lack of health literacy among members. Tailoring health literacy to the appropriate education level has significantly improved dental …

Art And Exercise Therapy As Coping Strategies To Promote A Sense Of Community, Denali Mcconnel, Richard Chu, Annelise Nguyen, Aisha Osman, Ellie Prince, Alana Wells

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

This women’s day and overnight center has over fifty-five beds for single adult women experiencing homelessness and provides two meals a day. Residents also have access to bathrooms, showers, laundry, personal storage lockers, and group activities. Other services provided are community resources, such as housing assistance, and a clinic next door.

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) students were able to get to know these ladies and observe their attitudes and behaviors, and they discovered the need for coping strategies and community. In their observation the students noticed that most women seem to keep to themselves. To address this need, SPU …

Addressing Knowledge Deficit Around Narcan Administration In Unhoused Youth In The Greater Seattle Area, Olivia Boron, Lizzy Carlson, Macie Leach, Casey Burk, Michele Mojarro, Sydney Porter

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

For our project we worked with a non profit organization in downtown Seattle that serves houseless youth ages 18-25 with a day center and overnight shelter. Their day center has health clinics, serves lunches, and provides creative activities for the houseless to enjoy. Their overnight shelters are open every night for the houseless, providing 30 beds. The goal of the facility is to end homelessness among youth by partnering with them on their journey towards housing and sustainability. Recently, the center was approved to become a Narcan (naloxone) distribution site. When assessing the needs of the facility we identified …

Addressing A Lack Of Education Surrounding Fentanyl Use And Recovery, Nicole Sala, Luciana Gonzalez, Caroline Dorvilien, Teo Keilwitz, Maddy Terhune, Portia Forson

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Nursing Leadership Executive Summary: Addressing a Lack of Education Surrounding Fentanyl Use and Recovery

Our project focused on assisting a nonprofit organization who exists to serve the most vulnerable of families in the Seattle area. They offer a number of programs including a mobile outreach team that seeks to bring resources to families, a program for families which provides the opportunity for new mothers to bond with their newborn, and another program which assists families with medically fragile children to find healthcare resources, and more. Our team was made up of six students from the Lydia Green Nursing Program at …

Health Services Survey, Doan (Delaney) Le, Hannah Gries, Cassandra Roy, Lesley Rabago, Franzelle Macaspac

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Health Services Survey

The agency we partnered with is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the needs of women and their families who are experiencing unstable or absent housing. They help to provide emergency shelter to families across five locations in the Seattle area and provide services surrounding housing, healthcare, employment, and community. They also have specialty programs aimed at providing services to children who are medically fragile and require specialized care, and families who have recently given birth and are still in the recovery and bonding stages. All this work is delivered with the values of love, equity, stewardship, …

Food Resources For The Allen Family Center, Anna Kolbjornsrud, Jagrup Kaur, Simran Kaur, Talyn Miller, Chloe Schrader

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Food Resources for the Allen Family Center

Allen Family Center (AFC), a part of the nonprofit organization Mary’s Place, is a family driven resource hub that focuses on the needs and goals of families experiencing or on the verge of homelessness (Mercy Housing, 2022). They use a multigenerational approach to break the cycle of homelessness which promotes inclusivity, safety and provides opportunities to improve health (Mercy Housing, 2022).

When meeting with the team, we identified a concern as the limited food supplies available to AFC and the lack of food outreach they can provide. Providing resources to the community is …

Infection Control: Proper Handwashing Technique Within A Vulnerable Population, Seattle Pacific University

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

Recovery Café is a place of healing and recovery for those experiencing a variety of different kinds of traumas and experiences, whether it be homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and others. This alcohol and drug free space is provided for members so that they can build relationships amongst each other, and gain access to resources such as housing, employment, support circles, social and health services. Typically open from 12-6, this community provides two free meals a day, resources, and ongoing support for their members regardless of past trauma, behaviors, and mistakes. Since the largest population group in this community, …

New Horizon's Staff Decisional Conflict Flowchart, Tayler Hart, Aysha Caoili, Emily Nguyen, Fatou Kanteh, Julia Chen, Andra Onu

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

New Horizon’s Staff Decisional Conflict Flowchart

New Horizons was founded in 1998 by Father Don, a Greek Orthodox priest who did street outreach with homeless youth outside a donut shop near Pike Place Market (New Horizons, n.d.). He discovered that youth would rather live on the backstreets of Seattle than seek shelter and help from current service providers. After conversations with the youth and young adults (YYA), Father Don started an institution that specifically targeted homeless youth and the unstable housed population. To be different and accessible to all individuals, New Horizons adopted a low barrier system designed to serve …

Creative Methods For Improving Health Literacy In Underserved Communities, Riley Clark, Grace Lance, Beth Reid, Jenny Nguyen, Makenzie Mclauchlan, Kiara Maningat

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

In 2003, Recovery Café was founded with the goal of providing long-term recovery support to those in the margins, including those experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides members with the support needed to gain and maintain access to housing, social and health services, healthy relationships, education, and employment (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides this support by offering a safe space, with nutritious meals, fostering a loving community, and providing resources such as educational opportunities, 12-step meetings, and referral services (Recovery Café, 2022). In 2022, the Seattle Pacific University Lydia Green Nursing Program …

Creative Methods For Improving Health Literacy In Underserved Communities, Grace Lance, Riley Clark, Beth Reid, Makenzie Mclauchlan, Jenny Nguyen, Kiara Maningat

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Creative Methods for Improving Health Literacy in Underserved Communities

In 2003, Recovery Café was founded with the goal of providing long-term recovery support to those in the margins, including those experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides members with the support needed to gain and maintain access to housing, social and health services, healthy relationships, education, and employment (Recovery Café, 2022). Recovery Café provides this support by offering a safe space, with nutritious meals, fostering a loving community, and providing resources such as educational opportunities, 12-step meetings, and referral services (Recovery Café, 2022). In …

Health Promotion By Using Collaborative Educational Games For The Women Of Angeline’S, Sinclair Ralston, Carmen Connolly, Alexsis Azcueta, Theresa Domingo, Natalie Gray, Ashley Reola

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

Founded in 1894, the Seattle Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) was developed to support and empower women of all ages, races, and backgrounds. Since then, the Seattle YWCA has grown and focused its efforts on addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities, especially inequities found within the female homeless population (Andrews, 2004). Angeline’s Day Center is a program offered by YWCA and is located in downtown Seattle. It serves approximately 200 women a day by providing overnight shelter, breakfast and lunch services, healthcare access, and amenities like showers, bathrooms, and laundry (“Angeline’s Day Center”, 2022). After completing a windshield survey and …

Community Isolation Project, Natalie M. Danhof, Lydia Santucci, Abigail Dempsey, Nathaniel Navarro, Ivy Mills, Samantha Thompson

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

The authors of this summary are nursing students at Seattle Pacific University, and the project goal is focused on understanding feelings of isolation in elderly communities and whether fostering social activities, such as Bingo, would improve social interaction between residents in this community.

For the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered various aspects of social interaction. From masking to social distancing, societal norms and expectations evolved in a manner that promoted isolation and minimal interaction to inhibit the spread of Covid infection between individuals. Of the general populace, the most vulnerable and at risk for infection are …

Implementation Of Mindfulness-Based Movement For Sheltered Women, Rhea Rughani, Oliver Armand, Ashley Murrieta Ortega, Erin Murphy, Jordan Greenshield, Alorea Mae Domingo

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

In 1894, Angeline’s Day Center for Women was established through the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) to serve the evolving needs of homeless women in Seattle by addressing existing racial and socioeconomic health disparities (Schafranek, 2021). Angeline’s provides overnight and day services to address the COVID-19 related heightened community need, including healthcare, meals, and hygiene services to 40 women (Schafranek, 2021). In 2022, the Seattle Pacific University (SPU) Lydia Green Nursing Program partnered with Angeline's to analyze and address the needs of the population they serve. The undergraduate nursing students performed a windshield survey and developed a community diagnosis …

Covid-19 Testing And Education At The Allen Family Center, Zoe Beck, Elijah Chong-Gum, Josselyn Gonzalez Perea, Sydnie Gould, Emily Planck, Kamila Tracey

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

COVID-19 Testing and Education at the Allen Family Center

COVID-19 Testing and Education at the Allen Family Center The Mount Baker community is home to many families experiencing homelessness and housing instability. According to the Department of Community and Health Services, there is an estimate of 40,800 people in King County who experienced homelessness in 2020 (King County Department of Community, 2021). The Allen Family Center (AFC) is an inviting community resource, partnered with Mary’s Place and Mercy Housing Northwest, that serves families by providing assistance with housing, medical care, and childcare; recently, the AFC began providing COVID-19 testing available …

Recruiting Volunteers For New Horizons' Apprenticeship Program For Homeless Young Adults, Helena J. Balbirona, Jenny H. Chong, Evelyn Gutierrez, Veronika I. Ivakhnenko, Sofia K. Struiksma, Alicia L. Wong

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

New Horizons is a Seattle-based organization focused on meeting the basic needs of homeless young adults ages 18-25 through food, shelter, clothing, health clinics, and social work appointments. To help their clients achieve a sustainable lifestyle, New Horizons addresses the most challenging obstacles including job and house hunting through an innovative apprenticeship program through their café, Street Bean Coffee Roasters. Clients can learn skills transferable to other careers, including barista basics, work experience, and networking. Our project is to help New Horizons find volunteers or employees for their apprenticeship program. In finding volunteers or employees for the café, we …

Implementation Of Interactive Self-Help Bingo Activities To Promote Social Interaction Within Angeline’S Women's Shelter, Alora Mae Greene, Jennifer Hoag, Kiana Hwynn, Jana Johnson, Sophie Skinner, Jacob Wong

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

The city of Seattle is ranked as the third-largest homeless population in the US with approximately 11,751 homeless individuals in 2020 (Public Health-Seattle & King County, 2020). Angeline’s is a former day center that now provides longer term, 24-hour housing for homeless women in Seattle and aims to help them find and maintain safe, stable housing. Their services include meals, laundry, showers, lockers, and connections to community resources. After completing a windshield survey and interview with two of the residents at Angeline’s, our group identified an impaired social interaction due to a lack of organized activities and mental health condition …

Hand Hygiene And Covid Education At Women’S Shelter, Anastasiya Yerina, Cristal Garibay, Henok Tewolde, Muskan Priya, Jeannie Lee

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

In 2020, there were around 580,000 people experiencing homelessness in the US with about 39% of them in unsheltered locations (Montgomery et al., 2021). Many homeless women experience safety issues and have severely impacted physical and mental health, so finding shelter is crucial in efforts to improve their well being (Sarla, 2020). Women’s Shelter is a shelter for single homeless women in downtown Seattle that provides daily meals, laundry services, and overnight shelter. After assessing the women by visiting Angeline’s, the group found that hand hygiene was an issue among the women. Then, the group decided to focus on …

Mental Health Training, Adrienne Leonard, Seanghai Lim, Emma Booth, Jaeger Mccaulou, Saori Fukuoka

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

New Horizons is a Seattle-based non-profit organization that serves to aid homeless youth in the greater Seattle area, with an end goal of ending youth homelessness in Seattle and King County. New Horizons has been operating since 1978 and has reached out to homeless youth of all different backgrounds in order to meet their basic needs and help transition them into a stable living environment. (New Horizons, 2016). This type of work requires staff and volunteers to be able to accommodate a wide range of cultural backgrounds, lifestyle habits, and crucially, individuals with differing mental health states and disabilities. …

Promoting Health Independence Through Accessible Health Resources, Haylee R. Gilman, Lucy Carrasco Flores, Keenan Haack, Hui Jean Liew, Gebrehiwot Abrha

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD, 2018) defines an individual or family as homeless, as someone who lacks “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”. As of January 2020, there were an estimated 11,751 individuals experiencing homelessness in Seattle/King County (King County Regional Homelessness Authority, 2020). National Alliance to End Homelessness (2020) explains that health and homelessness are inextricably linked, where an acute physical or behavioral health crisis or any long-term disabling condition may lead to homelessness; homelessness itself can exacerbate chronic medical conditions. To reduce the number of homeless families on the streets in King County, …

Assessment And Evaluation Of Organized Exercise And Socialization Project On Older Adults, Piper Connell, Sam Chun, Caycee Holt, Chan Hwang, Lilly Marquez

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Background and Significance

According to Berridge et al. (2020), Covid-19 has created a “double pandemic.” In addition to the virus, significant declines in the physical and mental health of senior community members, the reduction in the management of chronic conditions, and social isolation due to pandemic protocols preventing community members to gather have created a health care crisis. Based on research by Bae et al. (2019) there is evidence that a multicomponent intervention that includes socialization, physical conditioning, and cognitive activities show an improvement in working memory and improved physical conditioning.

Problem and Purpose Statement

The inability to socially interact …