Abstract
Background
The Australian Department of Health’s Action Plan for Children and Young People states that 22% of all children in Australia, aged 0-14 years, live in housing instability. Exposure to housing instability in childhood is significantly linked to long term ill-health, lower academic achievement, increased poor physical and mental health, and increased risk of adult homelessness. Housing instability has created detrimental under servicing for children at a time when they are developmentally vulnerable.
Aim of the study
One of the aims of this research was to capture the homeless service staff and parents experiences of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) led clinic embed in a homelessness service. The NP offered the parents attending the service a comprehensive health assessment for their child and an extended referral follow-up.
Methods
Part of this mixed methods research involved in-depth interviews with parents and staff of the homeless service regarding their experiences of the NP led clinic and the extended referral follow-up services.
Results
Interviews indicated there were multiple barriers to health services for children, these included ’time’, ’not just homeless’, ’unpredictable circumstances’, and ’transport’. The themes and subthemes highlight the all-encompassing impact that housing instability/homelessness has on families and how these are addressed by the NP led intervention.
Conclusions and implications
The embedding of a child focused nurse practitioner led health interventions in the community is imperative if we are to address the lifelong health impacts on children from disadvantaged populations living in housing instability.
The Australian Department of Health’s Action Plan for Children and Young People states that 22% of all children in Australia, aged 0-14 years, live in housing instability. Exposure to housing instability in childhood is significantly linked to long term ill-health, lower academic achievement, increased poor physical and mental health, and increased risk of adult homelessness. Housing instability has created detrimental under servicing for children at a time when they are developmentally vulnerable.
Aim of the study
One of the aims of this research was to capture the homeless service staff and parents experiences of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) led clinic embed in a homelessness service. The NP offered the parents attending the service a comprehensive health assessment for their child and an extended referral follow-up.
Methods
Part of this mixed methods research involved in-depth interviews with parents and staff of the homeless service regarding their experiences of the NP led clinic and the extended referral follow-up services.
Results
Interviews indicated there were multiple barriers to health services for children, these included ’time’, ’not just homeless’, ’unpredictable circumstances’, and ’transport’. The themes and subthemes highlight the all-encompassing impact that housing instability/homelessness has on families and how these are addressed by the NP led intervention.
Conclusions and implications
The embedding of a child focused nurse practitioner led health interventions in the community is imperative if we are to address the lifelong health impacts on children from disadvantaged populations living in housing instability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2022 |
| Event | 7th International Collaboration for Community Health Nursing Research Conference: Community nursing towards sustainable health - Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden Duration: 21 Jun 2022 → 22 Jun 2022 Conference number: 7th |
Conference
| Conference | 7th International Collaboration for Community Health Nursing Research Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ICCHNR |
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Växjö |
| Period | 21/06/22 → 22/06/22 |
Keywords
- Community Child Health
- Child in Homeless Families
- Housing Instability
