Clinical Implications for Individuals Who are Experiencing Homelessness

This presentation will explore the impact chronic stress and/or ongoing trauma, such as homelessness or extreme poverty, has on the brain. We will identify and define what homelessness is in Minnesota, and how it impacts our clients. We will explore how behaviors can be exhibited that appear counter to someone desiring care, but reframe those behaviors as understandable and even adaptive. We will explore tools, such as harm reduction in a clinical setting, that can create greater access to clinical care. We will discuss LynLake’s Drop-In Clinic as a potential model for providing clinical care that is accessible, purposeful, and useful, and leads to ongoing/long term care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and define homelessness, particularly the impact and spectrum in Minnesota
2. Identify impact chronic stress and/or ongoing trauma, such as homelessness, has on the brain.
3. Identify behaviors as understandable and even adaptive for someone experiencing homelessness
4. Identify tools to assist in creating greater access to clinical care for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness
5. Explore a clinic concept for walk-in/drop-in clinical care