OCH LIBRARY MENTAL HEALTH/HEALTH

Edited by James J. O'Connell, M.D.
and Janet Gioth, R.N., M.S.

1. Whether detection of a communicable disease occurs at the time of intake or after a person has been admitted to the shelter, consult with your city/county health department for
a. Treatment of the disease
b. Quarantine procedures
c. Referral to appropriate medical facility (TB clinic, hospital, etc.)

2. If the person is in the period of contagion (disease can be transmitted through casual contact), and appropriate medical treatment facilities in the area do not include some semblance of shelter (e.g. admittance into a TB clinic or hospital), possible means of quarantine to consider to shelter the person:
a. Setting aside space or a room in the shelter for the individual.

3. Annual training of staff
a. Detection of common communicable diseases amongst the homeless population you serve (i.e. females, males, children)
b. Appropriate responses upon detection, including treatment within the shelter (e.g. head lice, chicken pox), sanitation procedures for bed linen, clothing and other affected items, networking with medical personnel to not only address the disease but to provide shelter for the person if quarantine is necessary.
c. Asking the right questions at intake to accurately assess the progression of a communicable disease.

4. If the person had to be quarantined, readmittance of a person to the shelter once a medical professional has deemed the person out of the contagion state.

5. Preventative measures for communicable diseases
a. Daily cleaning of bathrooms, weekly cleaning of bed linens, towels, etc.
b. Use of rubber gloves when in contact with body fluids or when cleaning facilities.
c. Signs posted advocating better personal hygiene, washing of hands, covering mouth and nose when sneezing/coughing, etc.

6. Consult The Manual of Common Communicable Diseases in Shelters and/or your local health department for other suggestions for treatment/preventive measures.

Purpose: To maintain general health and cleanliness, and to prevent the spread of infections.

General
1. Living and office areas are cleaned on a regular basis.
2. Pest control services are provided monthly by a contract agency.
3. Food storage and preparation are maintained according to Health Department requirements.

Residents
1. All residents are checked for head lice on admission.
2. Residents are given information on cleanliness rules and issues during the orientation period.
3. Residents are to report any known or suspected communicable disease to staff.

Staff
1. Staff will receive an initial training in Infection Control principles and communicable diseases, with an update yearly.
2. Documentation of training provided will be maintained by the Director or designee.
3. The booklet "Communicable Diseases" contains information, spread of and treatment for common childhood problems and other diseases, and is available in the main office.
4. A staff member with a known or suspected communicable disease will report to the Director, who will then consult with the Health Department.
5. Any question or concern about communicable disease is to be referred to the Alien County Health Department (228-4457).

Discovery of Communicable Disease
If a resident has a known or suspected communicable disease, staff will consult the Alien County Health Department immediately.
Any restriction or modifications of activities or living arrangements will be made as needed after consultation with the Health Department officials, taking into consideration:
1. Specific disease and how spread.
2. Health and behavior status of affected resident.
3. Health and behavior status of other residents.
Lima's Samaritan House will not discriminate against residents with communicable disease, but will take appropriate action to protect the safety and health of residents and staff.

INTAKE

Policy

The Mission will establish and implement a consistent intake procedure for those persons seeking shelter at the Mission.

Rationale

The Mission believes that one of its obligations is to ensure proper accountability to donors, funders and client/guests. A consistent intake process will provide demographic and statistical information for those funders and donors who require such data as a prerequisite for financial support. In addition, the Mission keeps emergency information on each client/guest so that if an emergency occurs, proper, information is provided to medical personnel, mental health workers and relatives of the client/guest. Finally, the intake process will assist the Mission to screen persons who seek services, so that those who are barred from the Mission or who may present a danger can be identified.

Implementation

1. A person seeking assistance from the Mission for the first time will be interviewed and an intake form completed.
2. The applicant will be required to produce picture identification. Those without picture identification will be required to obtain such prior to being served. The Mission Supervisor and the Director of Men's Services will be able to provide information about obtaining ID.
3. After the intake form is completed, the interviewer will provide the applicant with a copy of the Mission's rules. The interviewer will verbally review the rules with the applicant and the applicant will be required to sign that he/she will comply with the Mission's rules. Refusal to sign will result in withholding of services.
4. Once admitted into the Mission's shelter program, client/ guests must return each night between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to sign their intake folder and to retain their bed for that evening. Any beds unclaimed at 6:30 will be made available to new or returning client/guests.
5. Client/guests who return to sign their folders each evening and who abide by Mission rules and policies may retain their bed for an indefinite period of time.
6. Client/guests who provide false information during the intake process will result in the permanent barring of that individual.

2.1. 11

Bethany House Services operates an emergency shelter for those who have been left homeless or stranded without shelter because of emergency situations. A telephone interview is conducted on all persons requesting shelter. Bethany House Services can not accept guests in the shelter who are

- In danger of abuse
- Substance abusers
- Psychiatric referrals who are dangerous to themselves or to others
- Unemancipated minors-women under 18 years of age still under the jurisdiction of a parent or guardian.
The Executive Director, or a staff member designated by the Director, may make an exception of this policy.
- "Former guests who have not participated in the Outreach program. Acceptance of any former guest requires the approval of the Outreach Worker or a Shelter Advocate if the Outreach Worker can not be contacted. In the event that neither the Outreach Worker nor a Shelter Advocate can be reached, the on-call staff person should determine whether the former guest should be accepted.
- Re-admittance requests after serious violation of Shelter policies without approval pf the Director or designated staff person.

Note:
If a two-parent family is in need of shelter they may be considered for the Families In Transition (F. I. T.) Program of Bethany House Services. Refer to the policy by this title (F.I.T.)for additional Information on the policy and procedures to be followed for two-parent families.

PURPOSE:

- To assure that all persons accepted into the Bethany House Services shelter program:
(a) Are in, need of Bethany House Services assistance

(b) Understand and accept the requirements of participation in the program.

(c) Are able to actively seek housing and

... / missing part ? /...

9. Upon acceptance of the guest for the Bethany House Services shelter program, the House Manager should make arrangements with the guest regarding directions to Bethany House Services shelter and expected arrival time. The House Manager also assigns the guest to a Shelter Advocate maintaining equal case load for each Shelter Advocate. Guests entering under specifi programs such as F.I.T. or other referral programs are assigned to the specific staff person designated as responsible for that particular program.

10. Specific orientation steps outlined in the guest checklist should be carried out by this House Manager on duty when the guest arrives. The arrival section of the Client Date Record should be completed by the House Manager on duty and then placed in the guest, folder prepared and containing the other forms specified for use with each guest. Current guest files are kept in the main office except when in used by Shelter Advocates or other staff persons.

Approved ________________

Title: ______Executive Director

Date: ____5 / 2 /_90________

BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES
CINCINNATI, OHIO

2.1. 3

POLICY:

The staff of Bethany House Services Shelter has developed a set of criteria based on our philosophy, purpose and previous experiences. We believe these criteria far emergency shelter assistance will enable us to effectively assist homeless persons who will benefit from their stay at Bethany House. Bethany House Services accepts all persons (as shelter space permits) regardless of race, creed, color or age who meet these criteria. To be accepted as a guest at Bethany House Services for emergency shelter the following criteria must be fulfilled:

Applicant must:
1. Be female, 16 years of age or older.
2. Have an income or desire to establish an income.
3. Have a desire to make positive life changes and to use available persons and community resources.
4. Be able to complete her stay at Bethany House within one month or less.
5. Be able to live in a group situation.

Bethany House Services Shelter is not able, to house:

1. Male children older than 12 year of age.
2. Women who are drug or alcohol dependent.
3. Women who are recovering alcoholics ,or drug addicts who are not attending counseling or A. A.
4. Women who are in emotional crisis who are not in follow-up counseling with a referring agency
5. Women who are dangerous to themselves and/or others.
6. Women/families who may endanger themselves and/or others in the shelter due to an assailant or possible assailant in pursuit of her or children accompanying her.

Final decision regarding acceptance into the Bethany Mouse Services emergency shelter program will be based on:
1. Staff evaluation.
2. Number of available beds.
3. Availability of shelter advocacy staff.

Any exception to the above criteria for acceptance into the program can be made only by the Executive Director or her designee

PURPOSE
- To assure resources of Bethany House Services Shelter program are consistently available to those persona most in need of emergency shelter and most able to participate appropriately in the Bethany House Services Shelter program.

PPROCEDURE:
A telephone interview is ordinarily conducted by a Bethany House Services Shelter staff person directly with the person seeking shelter to assess the applicant's situation regarding need for housing, interest and acceptance, of the Bethany House Services Shelter program and policies and ability of the person to: live in a group situation, seek housing and re-establish independent living. Refer to the policy on intake interview for additional information regarding policies and procedures for assessment and acceptance into the Bethany House Services emergency shelter program.

Approved ________________

Title: ______Executive Director

Date: ____6 / 19 /_90________

Registration Form

This form is used by the Guest Attendant when takings names for the night. It is also used by the Night Monitor when recording guests' stays on record cards. These forms are kept on file for future reference.
The code letters are used in the following ways: if a person is a new guest or does not show up when his/her name is called, the appropriate letter is placed in the upper left hand corner of the code box. If a person shows later or departs early or is asked to leave, the appropriate code letter should be placed in the lower right hand corner of the code box. ALWAYS USE THE UPPER LEFT HAND PORTION OF THE CODE BOX FIRST.

Explanation of the codes is as follows:

A = N e w G u e s t: This is a person who has never stayed at the Hotel in the past. This person will be asked to arrive 30-l5 minutes prior to admission time so that an Intake Sheet may be filled out and the House Rules and Policies explained. This also alerts Data Entry personnel that this guest has not been entered into the computer and that there should be an Intake-sheet on this guest.

B = No Show: Indicates that a person did not come in at the time his/her name was called at admission. If at the end of admission time the person is still not here, he/she is-put on the outlist for seven days.

C = Showed Later: This indicates that a person who did not come in the first time his/her name was called did showup before the end of admission time

D = Early Departure: This is used when a person leaves early voluntarily. When this happens, the time of departure must be noted on the Registration Form after the person's name. A person who leaves early may be put on" the outlist depending upon the reason for early departure.

E = Ejected: This code is used when a person is tasked to leave for breaking house rules. The time of ejection must be noted on the Registration Form after the person's name and an entry into the log must be made.

F = Called. No Show: This is used when a person who has called in to register decides not to come in that evening for one' reason or another and calls before the end of admission time to cancel. There is no penalty for doing this

H = Intake Sheet Needed: This letter indicates that an Intake Sheet Is needed on a particular guest and should be done the next time the guest comes in.

K = Motel Placement: This letter indicates that a particular guest has been placed in a motel.

REGISTERING GUESTS EARLY

If a person has registered early, the person's name as well is at the time he or she will be arriving should be written at the bottom of that night's registration form. When the person comes in the staff member who admits the guest must write "here" after the person's name on the Registration Form

NIGHT MONITORS' PROCESS FOR MARKING THE REGISTRATION FORM

A. The Night Monitor, after circling the date of stay on the record cards should put a dash (-) after the person's name on the Registration Form.

B. The Night Monitor should only use a RED pen when marking on the Registration Form whether that be after they have entered a person onto the card or the book, or if they need to use a code letter.

C. When the Night Monitor has completed this work he is to sign the bottom of the Registration Form.

A) New Guest,     B) No Show,      C) Showed Later,     D) Early Departure,     E) Ejected,     F) Called, No Show
G) Not in Computer,     H) No Guest Information Sheet,     I) Church,     K) Kettering

DATE ____________________________

EXITED GUESTS: ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ REFERRALS ________

TOTALS:

CHILDREN _____________ ADULTS _____________ GRAND TOTAL __________

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Men's Sign in

Date: ___________________

Men's Alternate List

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