Running head: YELLOW JACKET HOPE CENTER FOR TEENS

Yellow Jacket Hope Center for Teens Dawn Johnson, Michelle Klochack, Joan Kronlein, and Jennifer Paulsen OSP Group 3 NUR 440

YELLOW JACKET HOPE CENTER FOR TEENS Yellow Jacket Hope Center for Teens

Greenville is a small community located in mid-central Michigan. According to an article in the local newspaper, there are about one hundred homeless students that the public school advocates for (Ameling, 2011). There is a need in the community for free health care for these students. At the present time the public school funds medical needs for these students through the use of McKinney-Vento federal funds, local community donations, and a grant from the Greenville Area Community Foundation (Jeltsema, 2011). Our group proposal is to provide free health care to homeless students via a teen center. The McKinney-Vento funds can then be used for additional needs of the homeless students, like housing and perhaps repairing or preventing the reasons these students are homeless. The center will be titled Yellow Jacket Hope Center for Teens. The Yellow Jacket is the mascot of the local public school that operates a food pantry and distributes McKinney-Vento funds under the title, Opportunities for Success (Jeltsema, 2011). A limited assessment of the environment reveals the City of Greenville is a part of the Coalition of Greater Greenville, whose vision was formed with the goal of creating a healthier community (Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce [GACC], 2009). Greenville has a strong vision for health which is needed to support a teen health center. Other strengths are community support for the homeless (Ameling, 2011) and a public school that supports homeless students through the distribution of McKinney-Vento funds. The funds can be used for medical care for the homeless student, if referred by the public school liaison (United States Department of Education, 2001). Greenville Public Schools work towards promoting a healthy community. According to the Greenville school web site, Greenville Public Schools strives to promote and maintain a healthy environment for all our students, staff, parents and community members

YELLOW JACKET HOPE CENTER FOR TEENS (Greenville Public Schools, 2012). Greenville has a school nurse available for student needs throughout the day. The school nurse may contribute to the success of a teen medical center. The population of Greenville in 2009 was 8,026. The median income was $29,730. Residents living in poverty were 27% while residents living below poverty level were 23.4%. In

March 2011 the unemployment rate was 13.5% (city-data.com, 2012). This unemployment rate [is] higher than the state average, the state average December 2011 was 9.3% (Michigan Department of Technology, Labor and Budget [MDTLB], 2012). The unemployment rate and percent of poverty contributes to homelessness, therefore creating the need for free medical care, specifically for teens. There are many churches in the area that are frequently helping the community. A church can house the teen medical center for low cost, or for free. There are no other free clinics in the area designed for the teen population. The biggest competitor for similar services is the low income clinic and the hospital, but the hospital has been a big financial contributor to the students of Greenville in years past. The biggest problem to creating a homeless teen medical center will be recruitment of staff volunteers, and financing. One internal factor to consider is the number of staff members required to address specific needs. A staff of physicians, registered nurses, dietitians, social workers, and counselors are needed. Administration can be accomplished by volunteer business people, grant writers, the public school administration, or a part-time paid administrator. The hours of operation will require two evening hours, so students can get after school care. The center, housed at a church, will require a reception area, two or three patient rooms, patient tables, donated supplies, and a locked storage area for the supplies and patient records. The homeless students of Greenville have the need and the right to receive adequate healthcare in their community. This center will be an excellent benefit for the community. The

YELLOW JACKET HOPE CENTER FOR TEENS assessment of Greenville, Michigan shows willingness of the community to support their homeless students, as their biggest asset. Mission Statement The Yellow Jacket Hope Center for Teens is dedicated to improving the health and well being of homeless and low income teens in the Greenville area. Our goal focuses on prevention,

early treatment and health maintenance through the combination of physicians, nurses, dietitians, social workers and counselors. Philosophy Our philosophy is based on Jean Watsons theory of caring. Homeless and low income teens are human beings. According to Watson (2012), human being refers to a valued person in and of him or herself to be cared for, respected, nurtured, understood and assisted ( Watsons theory and the four major concepts, para. 1) and effective caring promotes health and individual or family growth (Watson, 2012, The Seven Assumptions, para. 3). Our belief in the value and care required, is to strengthen and support the health of homeless and low income teens in the Greenville area. Our commitment is to provide quality care in a safe environment with the following focus: Patients We believe that everyone deserves to have access to high quality basic medical care regardless of ability pay. We believe that everyone deserves to have health education opportunities regardless of ability to pay. Nursing We believe nurses are an integral part in helping this population obtain health care services

YELLOW JACKET HOPE CENTER FOR TEENS needed without fear of inability to pay. We believe nurses can play an integral part in health education for this vulnerable population.

YELLOW JACKET HOPE CENTER FOR TEENS References Ameling, K. (2011, December 25). Greenville community dinner to help those who go without.

Retrieved from http://thedailynews.cc/2011/12/25/greenville-community-dinner-to-helpthose-who-go-without/ City-Data.com (2012). Greenville, Michigan. Retrieved January 18, 2012 from: www.citydata.com/city/greenville-michigan.html Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce (2009). Coalition of greater Greenville. Retrieved from http://www.greenvillemi.org/Chamber-of-Commerce/Coalition-Of-GreaterGreenville.aspx Greenville Public Schools (2012). School Nurse Services. Retrieved January 18, 2012 from: www.greenville.k12.mi.us/district.cfm?subpage=90729 Jeltsema, R. (2011). Need help staying in class? Greenville school fund stands ready and waiting. Retrieved from http://thedailynews.cc/2011/10/29/need-help-staying-in-class-greenvilleschool-fund-stands-ready-and-waiting/ Michigan Department of Technology, Labor and Budget, (2012). MI Fast Facts. Retrieved January 21, 2012 from http://www.milmi.org/ United States Department of Education. Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. (2001). Education for homeless children and youth program. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/guidance.pdf Watson, J. (2012). Jean Watsons philosophy of nursing. Nursing Theories: a companion to nursing theories and models. Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Watson.html