Vulnerable Populations
Migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, persons experiencing homelessness or housing challenges, residents of public housing, LGBTQ people and other vulnerable populations face significant barriers to getting the healthcare they need. These can include high rates of mobility, being low-income, lacking health insurance, language or cultural barriers, discrimination and stigma, lack of housing or transportation, and the list goes on. Health centers are America’s safety net, providing affordable, high quality, comprehensive services to those who need it most, including primary care, oral and behavioral health services, as well as “Enabling services.” Some of the strategies Florida centers successfully use to reach vulnerable populations include:
- Mobile healthcare teams
- Community outreach
- Language interpretation
- Patient education
- Care coordination
- Integration of oral and behavioral services
- Accessible locations and hours of operation
Vulnerable Populations Resources
- Better Communication, Better Care: Provider Tools to Care for Diverse Populations Health Affairs, May 2019
- Care of Special Populations American Academy of Family Physicians
- Explore Community Health Centers Interactive Map Health Center Chronicles
- Evaluating an Equitable Health Care System: A Conversation with Civil Rights Leaders National Association of Community Health Centers, April 2021
- Health Equity Training Modules University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
- Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality September 2020
- How Independent Primary Care Clinicians Leverage Trust to Help Vulnerable Populations The Commonwealth Fund, September 2020
- Making Health Care Work Better for Vulnerable Patients The Commonwealth Fund, April 2018
- Paving the Way to Equity: A Progress Report Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health, 2015-2021
- Serving Rural America: How Health Insurance Providers Break Down Barriers to Ensure Access to Care America’s Health Insurance Plans, June 2019
- Poverty Policy Podcasts National Healthcare for the Homeless Council
- Reducing Low-Value Care Among Vulnerable Populations Health Affairs, June 2019
- The Health Center Program’s Sliding Fee Discount Program and Special Populations, FACHC
- Transitional Care Programs for Vulnerable Populations: New Evidence on the Benefits of a Person-Centered Approach Better Care Playbook, July 2019
Enabling Services
Specific Populations Resources on FACHC Website
Related FACHC Sites
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