The Homeless Health Initiative (HHI) provides monthly health education workshops on a variety of topics for parents experiencing homelessness. These workshops take place in People's Emergency Center, St. Barnabas Mission and HomeFront and topics are suggested by shelter staff and residents. HHI staff structure the workshops to give parents information that will empower them to be more effective parents and advocates for their family's health.

HHI volunteer facilitators are also learning from families about the unique challenges they experience when living in shelters. HHI hopes volunteers will be able to use what they learn to inform their clinical practice with families.

Topics include:

• Emergency room use
• Chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and autism spectrum disorders
• Child development, including the impact of stress on infant development, individual education plans (IEPs), and how to organize a child's care
• Understanding ear infections and hearing issues
• Advocating for your child's school success
• Oral and hand hygiene
• Healthy lifestyle choices, including eating right and inexpensive and safe ways to remain physically fit
• Common youth behavioral health topics, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)