What do you do at your site to provide access to health care for the homeless population of Pittsburgh?
Throughout the year, Operation Safety Net has outreach teams, which consist of clinical volunteers, medical residents, and medical students, that go out into the different neighborhoods and offer medical care to the homeless population of Pittsburgh. During the winter, Operation Safety Net also has a medical clinic stationed at the severe weather emergency shelter (SWES), allowing our clients to receive medical and/or other various assessments even during severe weather conditions. I specifically serve as a volunteer coordinator, intake specialist, and resource specialist. In other words, I coordinate the volunteers that help at SWES, as well as help incoming clients fill out intake forms, which allows our clients to connect with proper case managers, who then offer our clients appropriate access to health care.
What is your new year's service resolution at your host site?
My new year’s resolution at Operation Safety Net is to stay more organized and up-to-date with my various intake forms. I believe that staying more up-to-date on the paperwork will help me become a better advocate for the homeless population I serve here in Pittsburgh. I hope to manage my time better when it comes to filling out applications, scheduling appointments, and finalizing the medical summary reports. I am excited for a new year at my host site!
