HHI Social Worker Honored By National Homeless Network

May 2012 — Melissa Berrios Johnson, MSW, social work trainer for the Homeless Health Initiative at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, was honored with the annual Award for Outstanding Service by the Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Clinicians’ Network.

Berrios Johnson was recognized for being “a tireless advocate for children and families affected by homelessness and she never misses an opportunity to teach healthcare providers about the unique challenges families face. She functions as an expert on family homelessness as a mentor to the Community Nursing Advocacy Fellowship nurses and CHOP physicians as they step into an unfamiliar world outside our Hospital walls, and as a patient teacher.”

Berrios Johnson continues to develop programming for Operation CHOICES and leads the teen group at the People’s Emergency Center. She also coordinates HHI programming and trains hundreds of volunteers (physicians, dentists, nurses, medical students, dental students, nursing students, social work students, child life therapists, dietitians and nutritionists) for HHI medical visits and educational programming.

The HCH Clinicians’ Network represents clinicians who provide hands-on care to those experiencing homelessness and provides opportunities for these clinicians to work together toward a collective vision.