Training & Education

Since 1985, more than 50,000 people have benefited from the innovative health education training and technical assistance offered by Homeless Health Care Los Angeles. No other agency in Los Angeles offers the same breadth of training opportunities to shelters, clinics, homeless service providers and other social service agencies.The goal of HHCLA's training program is to improve homeless service providers' ability to recognize and treat the health challenges of homeless individuals. Our trainings enable providers' staff to better help clients through improved communication skills and deeper knowledge of health issues. Providers also benefit from increased knowledge of referral opportunities for their clients.

HHCLA offers a variety of training topics using lectures and interactive that deliver knowledge plus the ability to use it effectively on the job.

Download the Training & Education brochure here.

Our trainings Include:

• Increase staff knowledge and skills
• Challenge and change attitudes that are based on misinformation and fear
• Encourage shelters and other agencies to institute positive policy changes
• Improve staff referral procedures and assessment abilities
• Promote written policies that deal with issues that jeopardize the health and safety of staff and clients

The following training sessions are available:

(Modest fee required. Please contact us for more details.)

Hepatitis Education and Prevention

• What is Hepatitis?
• How the Liver Works
• Transmission and Prevention
• Treatment Options and Side Effects
• Referrals for Testing and Vaccination
• Living with Hepatitis

Tuberculosis Prevention and Education

• History of TB
• TB Transmission/Who’s at Risk?
• Referrals and Information about TB Testing
• TB Medications
• TB Prevention Techniques

Case Management Skills

• Ethics and Boundaries
• Roles of a Case Manager
• Confidentiality
• Documentation and Charting
• Case Management Techniques

Cultural Diversity

• The Impact of Culture on Service Delivery
• Identifying Biases, Stereotypes and Prejudice
• Understanding the Need for Self-Assessment
• Awareness of Cultural Differences: Ageism, Sexual Orientation, Institutions, Body Shape and Size, etc.

Dealing with Difficult People

• Why People are Difficult
• Maintaining a Professional Attitude
• Setting Limits
• Crisis Intervention
• Techniques for De-escalating Individual

Domestic Violence/Beyond the Hurt

• Definition of Domestic Violence
• The Cycle and Types of Abuse
• Domestic Violence and Homelessness
• Exit Plans and Strategies
• Treatment and Resources

Harm Reduction: What Service Providers Need to Know

• Principles of Harm Reduction
• The Behavior Change Process
• Needle Exchanges and Other Support Services
• Working with People Who are Not Ready to Stop Using Drugs or Change their Behavior

Health and Safety: What's Bugging You?

• Common Communicable Diseases
• Assessing a Client’s Physical Health Status
• Public Health and Safety Referrals
• Health and Homelessness
• Universal Precautions

HIV/AIDS: The Basics and Beyond

• Transmission and Prevention
• Confidentiality and Documentation
• Testing Issues and Procedures
• HIV & Hep C Co-Infection
• Universal Precautions

Mental Health Among the Homeless

• Common Mental Illnesses
• Common Symptoms of Mental Illness
• Dual Diagnosis—Co-Occurring Disorders
• Tips for Working with Mentally Ill Clients
• Mental Health Resources & Referrals

Motivational Interviewing

• Stages of Change
• Interview Interventions
• Principles of Motivational Interviewing
• Understanding Ambivalence
• Harm Reduction

Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Signs and Symptoms
• Modes of Transmission
• Treatment
• Prevention

Substance Use Education and Prevention
(USO DE LAS SUSTANCIAS/EDUCACIÓN Y PREVENCIÓN)

• Drug Use Versus Abuse
• Drugs of Abuse, Their Use and Effects
• Identifying Substance Use
• Treatment Options and Referrals
• Harm reduction

Hospital Discharge Planning

• Common Ailments and Problems of the Homeless
• Strategies to Access Healthcare and Specialty Care
• Reducing Frequent Usage of Uncompensated Care
• Communication Skills
• Homeless Resources & Referrals
• Technical Assistance

Available Materials

HHCLA has developed two manuals specifically designed for homeless shelters and other facilities that work with homeless persons.The Tuberculosis Prevention Guide* for Homeless Service Providers* includes a wealth of TB information, such as TB infection control guidelines, staff and volunteer screening recommendations, sample policy and procedure recommendations, and more. The Technical Assistance Handbook for Homeless Service Providers* contains sample policies, procedures, and guidelines that will assist social service agencies with topics such as intake, confidentiality, employee policies, health and safety, substance use and mental health. To download the complete TB Prevention Guide in PDF format, click here*. For the order form to purchase the Guide, click here. To download the complete Technical Assistance Handbook in PDF format, click here. For the order form to purchase the Handbook, click here. For a complete list of the Training and Education courses, please download the brochure here.

Available Resources

Two resource guides are available in PDF format. To download the Los Angeles Resources and Referrals for the Service Provider, click here.  The Hepatitis C Resource Guide is available from the Hepatitis C Task Force for Los Angeles County. Additionally HHCLA launched the L.A. Resource Wiki, in 2009, a collaborative website for homeless advocates, providers, government, the general public and others in Los Angeles.

NOTE. YOU MUST HAVE A PDF READER, Such as Adobe Acrobat to view and print these documents. To download your free copy of Acrobat, just click the icon. 

For more information on Training and Education Programs, contact call Eve at 213-744-0724.