PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Arriving at Shout
The Front Desk Staff at Shout Clinic provide a welcoming and safe environment. They provide administrative support, referrals and much needed resources. Daily, they distribute items such as socks, gloves, underwear, personal hygiene items and other essentials that we receive through donations at the health centre. Donations also help us to operate a snack program for our clients.

Intake
In 1999, a formalized intake process was developed that used determinants of health as defined in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. These determinants of health (which include income, shelter, food, social isolation, education, employment, safety, social justice and equity) allow Shout staff to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the level of risk for each client and to set priorities for service. All clients receive an intake interview before accessing services at Shout.

Health Care
Our team of doctors and nurse practitioners provide comprehensive health care delivery at our main site and conduct outreach at partner agencies on a weekly basis. Our team takes a holistic approach to the care of clients. In many cases, they spend considerable time with each in order to tend to their physical, psychological and social needs. Our physicians and nurse practitioners also engage in health education with clients as a means of assisting them to maintain their health and prevent future illness.

Dental
Shout Clinic established a dental clinic on its premises in 1996. The dental clinic at Shout is a very successful and unique program. Our clinic provides free dental care to homeless and street-involved youth. The dental clinic is self-funded through the generosity of private donors and with assistance from Human Resources and Development Canada and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Our services are provided by a dedicated team of volunteers, including over 40 dentists and hygienists. The equipment and supplies for this service were donated by over 20 companies and numerous individuals. The dental clinic operates Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Mental Health and Counselling
The counseling service at Shout is accessible to homeless and street involved youth. Counselling is client-centred and sensitive to cultural differences, sexual orientation and gender. Counselling is a service for individuals who are making a transition away from street involvement and moving toward taking responsibility for their emotional health.Through counseling, the client has the opportunity to explore issues in the past, how they affect the present and how to improve in the future.

Parent-Child Worker
The Parent-Child Worker at Shout provides support for pregnant and parenting clients to improve the health and well-being of young women and their children. A wide range of activities are undertaken:

• individual and group support and education (child development, parenting education, pre & postnatal)
• clients are provided with referrals to outside community agencies
• work is undertaken with outside agencies to provide support and advocacy
• Shout provides basic resources for clients (diapers, a clothing exchange, formula, etc.)
• the advocate participates on outside committees that are working towards change for young parents and their children.

Health Promotion
Advocacy, education and outreach is provided by the Health Promoter at Shout. Their ongoing work at the centre and in the community addresses barriers that homeless and street-involved youth face. A new endeavour for Health Promoter is chairing the Client Advisory Committee. This committee allows our clients to take an active role in their health and wellness in the true sense of a community health centre.