TENDERLOIN HEALTH, San Francisco, CA
Project Title: Tenderloin HIV Oral Health Collaborative
Organizational Setting:
Tenderloin Health (TH), a merger of the former Continuum HIV Days Services and Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center, is a community-based organization providing health care, social services, substance use treatment, and housing to people living with HIV in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.
Goals/Objectives:
To establish comprehensive oral health care services and oral health information at Tenderloin Health and expand the existing Tom Waddell Health Center (TWHC) Dental Services.
Geographic Setting:
Urban
Location:
Tenderloin District of San Francisco, CA
Target Population:
1,750 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Tenderloin, primarily homeless and unstably housed adults with co-occurring mental illness and substance use.
Program Intervention/Services:
The project will establish dental clinics at TH and expand existing TWHC dental services to HIV positive homeless individuals and coordinate with primary medical care services. Case managers and peer advocates will work closely with medical and dental providers to address patient needs and ensure that patients engage in oral health services. Referrals and patient accompaniment will be provided for dental services provided off-site. Outreach and educational sessions will be provided at TH to encourage patients to participate in their oral health care. Training will be provided to all staff on topics to ensure that quality services are provided in a culturally competent manner with the target population. The program will develop multiple approaches to ensure financial sustainability of oral health care services through Medi-Cal and Ryan White Planning Council.
Program Staff:
Two part-time dentists and a dental assistant will be added to the TWHC staff, and members from the core team of TH (primary medical staff, case managers, peer advocates, and behavioral health staff). Staff have language capabilities in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and American Sign Language.
Partners & Linkages to Medical Care:
TH will partner with four agencies to expand oral health care services. The TWHC will establish a dental clinic to coordinate with its HIV primary health care services; The San Francisco Department of Public Health Dentistry Services will help to integrate HIV Oral health services into the continuum of care for people living with HIV; and the Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness center will provide patient referrals to TH for oral health care services.
Consumer Involvement:
TH and TWHC operate monthly Community Advisory Panels (CAP) with consumers of their agencies to address patient concerns and interests.
Contact Information
Name & Title:
Marea Murray, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services, Tenderloin Health
Mailing Address:
255 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Email: [email protected]
Telephone:
415- 437-2900 x 120
Fax:
415-437-2550