Training & Education
Available Training Sessions | Available Materials | Additional Resources
Since 1985, more than 50,000 people have benefited from the innovative health education training and technical assistance offered by Homeless Health Care Los Angeles. No other agency in Los Angeles offers the same breadth of training opportunities to shelters, clinics, homeless service providers and other social service agencies.The goal of HHCLA’s training program is to improve homeless service providers’ ability to recognize and treat the health challenges of homeless individuals. Our trainings enable providers’ staff to better help clients through improved communication skills and deeper knowledge of health issues. Providers also benefit from increased knowledge of referral opportunities for their clients.
HHCLA offers a variety of training topics using lectures and interactive that deliver knowledge plus the ability to use it effectively on the job.
Our trainings Include:
- Increase staff knowledge and skills
- Challenge and change attitudes that are based on misinformation and fear
- Encourage shelters and other agencies to institute positive policy changes
- Improve staff referral procedures and assessment abilities
- Promote written policies that deal with issues that jeopardize the health and safety of staff and clients.
Available Training Sessions
(Modest fee required. Please contact us for more details.)
Hepatitis Education and Prevention What is Hepatitis?
- How the Liver Works
- Transmission and Prevention
- Treatment Options and Side Effects
- Referrals for Testing and Vaccination
- Living with Hepatitis
Tuberculosis Prevention and Education
- History of TB
- TB Transmission/Who’s at Risk?
- Referrals and Information about TB Testing
- TB Medications
- TB Prevention Techniques
Case Management Skills
- Ethics and Boundaries
- Roles of a Case Manager
- Confidentiality
- Documentation and Charting
- Case Management Techniques
Cultural Diversity
- The Impact of Culture on Service Delivery
- Identifying Biases, Stereotypes and Prejudice
- Understanding the Need for Self-Assessment
- Awareness of Cultural Differences: Ageism, Sexual Orientation, Institutions, Body Shape and Size, etc.
Dealing with Difficult People
- Why People are Difficult
- Maintaining a Professional Attitude
- Setting Limits
- Crisis Intervention
- Techniques for De-escalating Individual
Domestic Violence/Beyond the Hurt
- Definition of Domestic Violence
- The Cycle and Types of Abuse
- Domestic Violence and Homelessness
- Exit Plans and Strategies
- Treatment and Resources
Harm Reduction: What Service Providers Need to Know
- Principles of Harm Reduction
- The Behavior Change Process
- Needle Exchanges and Other Support Services
- Working with People Who are Not Ready to Stop Using Drugs or Change their Behavior
Health and Safety: What’s Bugging You?
- Common Communicable Diseases
- Assessing a Client’s Physical Health Status
- Public Health and Safety Referrals
- Health and Homelessness
- Universal Precautions
HIV/AIDS: The Basics and Beyond
- Transmission and Prevention
- Confidentiality and Documentation
- Testing Issues and Procedures
- HIV & Hep C Co-Infection
- Universal Precautions
Mental Health Among the Homeless
- Common Mental Illnesses
- Common Symptoms of Mental Illness
- Dual Diagnosis—Co-Occurring Disorders
- Tips for Working with Mentally Ill Clients
- Mental Health Resources & Referrals
Motivational Interviewing
- Stages of Change
- Interview Interventions
- Principles of Motivational Interviewing
- Understanding Ambivalence
- Harm Reduction
Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Signs and Symptoms
- Modes of Transmission
- Treatment
- Prevention
*Substance Use Education and Prevention
(USO DE LAS SUSTANCIAS/EDUCACIÓN Y PREVENCIÓN)*
- Drug Use Versus Abuse
- Drugs of Abuse, Their Use and Effects
- Identifying Substance Use
- Treatment Options and Referrals
- Harm reduction
Hospital Discharge Planning
- Common Ailments and Problems of the Homeless
- Strategies to Access Healthcare and Specialty Care
- Reducing Frequent Usage of Uncompensated Care
- Communication Skills
- Homeless Resources & Referrals
- Technical Assistance
Available Materials to Download
HHCLA has developed two manuals specifically designed for homeless shelters and other facilities that work with homeless persons.The Tuberculosis Prevention Guide* for Homeless Service Providers* includes a wealth of TB information, such as TB infection control guidelines, staff and volunteer screening recommendations, sample policy and procedure recommendations, and more. The Technical Assistance Handbook for Homeless Service Providers* contains sample policies, procedures, and guidelines that will assist social service agencies with topics such as intake, confidentiality, employee policies, health and safety, substance use and mental health. To download the complete TB Prevention Guide in PDF format, click here*. For the order form to purchase the Guide, click here.
You may download the complete Technical Assistance Handbook now in PDF format. Purchase the Handbook by downloading this order form. For a complete list of the Training and Education courses, please download the brochure here.
Available Resources
Two resource guides are available in PDF format: the Los Angeles Resources and Referrals for the Service Provider, and the Hepatitis C Resource Guide which is available from the Hepatitis C Task Force for Los Angeles County. Additionally HHCLA launched the Los Angeles Resource Wik in 2009, a collaborative website for homeless advocates, providers, government, the general public and others in Los Angeles.
* NOTE. YOU MUST HAVE A PDF READER, Such as Adobe Acrobat to view and print these documents. To download your free copy of Acrobat, just click the icon.
For more information on Training and Education Programs, contact Robert Smith at 213-744-0724 or by email.
Hospital Discharge Planning
Effective Strategies for Discharge Planning of Homeless Patients
A 3-Hour Interactive Specialized Training and Education Workshop
Provides hospital staff important information and the necessary skills and resources needed to initiate the first steps in a comprehensive “rehabilitative” process for effectively discharging homeless patients.
Program Objectives:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the discharge planning role, as well as the legal and regulatory responsibilities.
- Acquire an understanding of local community resources and the social services system.
- Express an understanding that assessment is a continuous, ongoing process.
- Formulate discharge criteria based upon the assessment information.
Who Should Attend
- Social workers, case workers, case managers, discharge planners, emergency department staff and others serving homeless patients.
Location
- At your site.
If you are interested in preparing your staff to assist homeless patients at discharge contact Mark Casanova at 213-739-1627 or send an email for more information and a fee schedule.
Staff from more than 30 hospitals in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange Counties have completed this innovative training.
* NOTE. YOU MUST HAVE A PDF READER, Such as Adobe Acrobat to view and print these documents. To download your free copy of Acrobat, just click the icon.
Download Discharge Planning List Here
For more information on Training and Education Programs, contact Robert Smith at 213-744-0724 or by email.