Family Health Centers provides primary health care and outreach services to persons who are homeless in Louisville and the surrounding areas. The Phoenix Health Center is the home for the primary health care clinic and the base of operations for outreach services. Primary care is also provided in six homeless shelters and through street outreach.

Services

The Phoenix Health Center, located just east of Louisville’s central business district, provides health care and outreach services to men, women, and children who are homeless. The health clinic operates from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, 5 days a week and one night each week. The clinic staff includes physicians, nurse practitioners, a nursing supervisor, medical assistants,and front office workers. Services include adult medicine, pediatrics, TB testing, HIV counseling and testing, mental health, laboratory, medications, referrals, and transportation.

The dental clinic operates 4 days per week, and the staff includes a dentist, hygienist, and a dental assistant. Health outreach is provided on-site at six shelters that serve homeless men, women and children. Health outreach staff consists of a physician, nurse practitioners and medical assistants. Outreach is also provided on the streets of Louisville two days each week.

Mental health staff include two social workers and a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Social services provide outreach and case management to disabled adults who are homeless. Two U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-funded social services workers provide substance abuse counseling, referral, and case management.

A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-funded project provides access to permanent housing vouchers with supportive services. Inpatient substance abuse treatment is provided off-site, also through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding. Asthma, Basic Needs, Behavioral Health Care Services, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Cancer Screening, Case Management/Social Services, Child Development Services, Chronic Bronchitis/Emphysema, Contraceptives (issued w/counseling), Dental Care, Diabetes Testing/Care, Family Planning, Flu Vaccinations, Health/Nutritional Education, Hepatitis C screening/treatment, HIV/AIDS screening/education, Immunizations, Labs, Medical Respite Care, Medications/Prescription, Mental Health Counseling, Multidisciplinary Health Teams, Outreach, Pain Management Services, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Physical Exams, Pneumococcal vaccine, Primary Health Care, Referrals for Specialty Care, Residential, Services in Supportive Housing, Sexual Abuse Support Services, Smoking Cessation, Substance Abuse Treatment, Trauma, TB screening/education, Treatment of Acute Illness, Treatment of Chronic Illness, Urgent Care, Well Child Check-ups, X-ray

Linkages

Essential linkages have been established with various community agencies. The local community mental health center provides three mental health workers at the Phoenix Health Center who provide outreach and case management services to individuals who are homeless. Patients needing specialized medical services are referred to the University of Louisville’s health care clinics for further treatment.

Other linkages include Jefferson Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center, Family and Children’s Counseling Services, Jefferson County Medical Society, Kent School of Social Work, Spalding University, Legal Aid, Coalition for the Homeless, City of Louisville, Jefferson County Division of Community Development, and local shelters and homeless service providers.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 9,000

Patients served: 5,500