Sessions and Services
Our project consists of 4-6 weekly meetings with your assigned health educator. An initial intake meeting to onboard you to our project, 2-4 follow up meetings to check in and follow up regarding goals and referrals, and a final meeting to wrap up. There is also one last check-in that takes place 6 months after the date of your intake session.
Intake Sessions: This consists of pre-program intake session where you will meet on zoom with a health educator.
During this meeting you will:
Be asked questions related to health and social support via our three core surveys.
Have the option to be connected with counseling, and testing options for HIV and Hepatitis, and other health-related services.
Work with your health educator to set goals around improving one’s health and overall wellbeing.
Follow-up Sessions/Motivational Enhancement Interviewing (MEI):
These meetings consist of supporting you with the goals set during their intake. Health Educators will support your motivation to reduce substance use and HIV risk behaviors and increase your overall quality of life.
You will received a list of service referrals during these sessions. See below for more information.
Exit Sessions:
A week after the 3rd MEI session (or 5th MEI session for those who join the Shelter Housing Employment (SHE) program), the Health Educator will conduct an exit assessment by Zoom and ask you a series of questions that will be the same as the intake session.
They will also work with you to create a six-month plan to further your progress until the next time you two meet.
6-Month Check Ins:
At 6 months from the intake session, the Health Educator will conduct a follow-up assessment via Zoom and ask you a series of questions that will be similar to the intake session.
Support and Referrals
Our Health Educators work with each participant to provide tailored support to their individual needs and goals. Often this support includes a list of referrals to relevant services. Some of these referrals may include the following:
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Health Educators will inform you about the HIV and Hepatitis testing services at collaborating agencies if you have not been tested in the past 6 months or you want to be tested because of recent risky behaviors. If you are interested, the Health Educators will arrange for the HIV Counselor at collaborating agencies to provide confidential pre-and post-test counseling for HIV and/or Hepatitis at no cost to you. HIV and Hepatitis testing/treatment/vaccination are totally voluntary, that is, it is for you to decide if you want to pursue these options.
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Health Educators work directly with participants to find the mental health services that best fit their needs. This can include therapy, psychiatry, or support groups. We can also advocate to care providers or aid in insurance navigation. Our referrals include sliding-scale and low-cost providers.
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Substance use services cover a range of supports for people who want to reduce or stop alcohol or drug use, manage cravings and withdrawal, improve health and safety, and rebuild relationships and daily functioning. Common types of services and what referrals usually involve: Screening and assessment, Brief interventions and motivational counseling, Outpatient treatment (standard and intensive), Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) / pharmacotherapy, Residential and inpatient treatment
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At the end of the 3rd MEI session, you will be asked about your interest in participating in the 4th and 5th MEI sessions that will address your needs for housing and employment, and other needs for health and social services. We have established the Sheter Housing Empoyment (SHE) program that aims to assist you in gaining skills for conducting a job search and finding affordable housing.
Past Iterations of Flourish
Learn more about the history of our project!
