Town Halls
In the wake of COVID-19, the Consortium launched a Town Hall series to address the most pressing issues in the health and housing sectors and deliver rapidly-changing information and guidance directly to frontline workers. We have since expanded these events to be forums for front line staff to ask questions to government representatives, industry leaders, researchers, and activists about policy considerations and the issues impacting the communities they serve. Through these Town Halls, we have identified gaps in services and ways to improve care for our most at-risk populations.
See below for past webinar recordings and materials.
Consortia Town Halls
PLEASE BE ADVISED: The guidance and information provided in past town halls may have changed since the time of the recording.
About This Town Hall & Materials
The 15th annual “Report of Deaths among Persons Experiencing Homelessness” prepared by the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) provides a stark view of the myriad challenges faced by the most vulnerable New Yorkers, which often lead to a life expectancy that is several decades shorter than their housed counterparts.
Our panel on April 8th from 3:30-5pm included representatives from DOHMH, homeless services and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) providers, and medical professionals who provided an in-depth examination and discussion of the DOHMH report to gain a greater understanding of the factors contributing to premature deaths among undomiciled individuals, and how these data can inform better care.
The panel discussed key takeaways with the goal of identifying specific interventions that can improve medical outcomes and reduce premature deaths for people experiencing homelessness.
Featuring:
• Dr. Fabienne Laraque, Medical Director, NYC Department of Homeless Services
• Dr. Andrea Littleton, Medical Director, BronxWorks and Physician, Care for the Homeless
• Dr. Tony Carino, Director of Psychiatry, Janian Medical Care and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos School of Physicians and Surgeons
• Dr. Jonathan Giftos, Medical Director of Addiction Medicine & Drug User Health, Project Renewal
• Moderated by Dr. Kelly Doran, Assistant Professor, NYU School of Medicine Departments of Emergency Medicine and Population Health
Materials:
Fifteenth Annual Report on Deaths among Persons Experiencing Homelessness
About This Town Hall & Materials
During this event, we heard from city agencies, hospitals, and community organizations about current and future vaccination efforts among this population. Topics included: ensuring equitable vaccine access, implementing effective outreach, and identifying opportunities for collaboration and coordination. Following brief panelist presentations, we had a moderated discussion and Q&A.
Panelists:
– Dr. Fabienne Laraque, NYC Department of Homeless Services
– Dr. Julian Watkins, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
– Dr. Lee Isaacsohn, Street Medicine – Janian Medical Care
– Dr. Irene Swanenberg, Primary Care Safety Net Clinic – NYC Health+Hospitals
– Dr. Jim O’Connell, Boston Health Care for the Homeless
Our discussion and Q&A was moderated by Dr. Jordan Foster, Emergency Department Physician and Director of Government and Community Affairs at Columbia University Medical Center.
Materials:
Vaccinations for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in NYC Presentation, 3.24.21
About This Town Hall & Materials
Navigating through an unusually challenging winter, representatives from the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS), hospitals, and street outreach teams met to identify best practices for caring for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.
Panelists:
Cassandra White-Hemphill – Interim Deputy Commissioner of Street Homeless Solutions, NYC Department of Homeless Services
Casey Burke, LMSW – Street to Home Program Director, Breaking Ground
Juan Rivera, LMSW – Homeless Outreach Team Program Director, BronxWorks
Erica Strang, LCSW – Director, Manhattan Outreach Consortium
Nick Gavin, MD – Emergency Medicine Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, New York Presbyterian Hospital
Tatiana Celcis, LCSW – Emergency Department Social Worker, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
Jeffrey Lazar, MD MPH – Emergency Medicine Vice Chair and Medical Director, St. Barnabas Health System
Materials:
Caring for Homeless Individuals in NYC Hospitals during COVID-19 Presentation, 2.10.21
About This Town Hall & Materials
Led by City Harvest and God’s Love We Deliver, this session provided information for frontline workers about current food assistance and medically-tailored meal programs.
Panelists:
- Gabrielle Williams – Network Capacity Manager, City Harvest
- Dorella M. Walters, MPA – Senior Director of External Program Affairs, God’s Love We Deliver
Materials:
Presentation by God’s Love We Deliver
About This Town Hall & Materials
Led by the Legal Aid Society, Housing Justice for All, and the Human Resources Administration, this session covered housing court operations during the pandemic, legal protections against evictions, rental assistance resources available for those who have been financially affected by COVID-19, and advocacy efforts organized by Housing Justice for All.
Panelists:
- Aissatou Barry, Staff Attorney, The Legal Aid Society
- Dana Guyet,Director, Prevention and Community Support, HRA Homelessness Prevention Administration
- Cea Weaver, Campaign Coordinator, Housing Justice For All
Materials:
Bronx Housing During COVID-19 One-Pager
Información sobre el Programa de Alivio de Renta – Español
About This Town Hall & Materials
This town hall with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygeine, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Brook Avenue Housing gave frontline workers the opportunity to ask questions to a psychiatrist and clinical social worker on processing grief, trauma, and burnout.
Panelists:
- Dr. Sargam Mona Jain, MD, FAPA – Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College
- Barbara Miliano, LCSW – Clinical Social Worker, The Brook
- Angela Soto – Director of Community Health Promotion, NYC DOHMH
Materials:
Mental Health for Frontline Workers during COVID-19 Presentation 6.12.20
More presentation resources and resources from town hall attendees
For more resources by NYC DOHMH, see the government guidance section below.
About This Town Hall & Materials
This town hall with NYC DHS First Deputy Commissioner Molly Park provided frontline staff with information about the recent changes in the homeless service system in light of COVID-19, including shelter operations and density reduction strategies, subway and street outreach, and planning for the next phase of COVID-19 for sheltered and unsheltered populations.
Panelists:
- Molly Park, NYC DHS First Deputy Commissioner
Materials:
DHS Isolation Guidance Revised.5.20.20
Town Hall Questions and Responses from DHS 6.11.20
For more resources by NYC DHS, see the government guidance section below.
About This Town Hall & Materials
Led by representatives from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and NYC Health + Hospitals, this town hall discussed substance use treatments, risks, and resources in the context of the pandemic as well as response-related developments in methadone and buprenorphine programs in NYC.
Panelists:
- Erica Basco, MPH, Publications & Projects Strategist, Bureau of Alcohol & Drug Use Prevention, Care, & Treatment – NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Dr. Andrew Segoshi, MS4 MD Candidate, NYU Grossman School of Medicine – NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual Buprenorphine Clinic
Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic by NYC DOHMH 5.12.20
Virtual Buprenorphine Clinic by NYC H+H 5.12.20
More presentation resources and resources from town hall attendees
For more substance use resources, see the resources for clients & patients section below.
About This Town Hall & Materials
Representatives from NYC Department of Homeless Services and NYC Health + Hospitals answer questions for frontline homeless service and healthcare staff and discuss protocols for homeless patients related to COVID-19.
Panelists:
- Dr. Fabienne Laraque, Medical Director, NYC Department of Homeless Services
- Meghan Smith, Executive Advisor for Policy and Operations, NYC Department of Homeless Services
- Dr. Alessandra Calvo-Friedman, Medical Director – Social Determinants of Health, Office of Public
Health, NYC Health + Hospitals Corporation
Materials:
Government guidance has changed since the time of this recording. To see the most up-to-date guidance, see the government guidance section below.
About This Town Hall & Materials
Dr. Lee Isaacsohn from Janian Medical Care answers COVID-19 for frontline care staff, including how COVID-19 is spread, who is at risk, how long it typically lasts, and how we can prevent it from spreading.
Materials:
HUD Exchange: Prevention and Response Information for Homeless Assistance Providers
Government guidance has changed since the time of this recording. To see the most up-to-date guidance, see the government guidance section below.