title: Service learning: a strategy for conducting a health needs assessment of the homeless.
abstract: An agency providing health care services for homeless persons and a nursing department at a liberal arts college established a service-learning partnership to complete a health needs assessment of homeless persons. Under the guidance of agency staff and a nursing faculty member, seven nursing students surveyed shelter residents (n = 101) in four urban shelters and conducted a focus group to identify residents' perceptions of health, health care needs, and health care service delivery. The service-learning partnership expanded the agency's services by providing research consultation and data collection that resulted in recommendations to improve health care services for the homeless. The agency contributed to the education of health professionals by providing students with a meaningful community service experience.
authors.affiliation: Bethel College, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gustafson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019058:Community Networks; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology