Posted: June 14th, 2023

Health Advocacy Campaign for the Homeless

Health Advocacy Campaign Assignment

You will develop a 9- to 12-page paper that outlines a health advocacy campaign designed to promote policies to improve the health of a population of your choice. This week, you will establish the framework for your campaign by identifying a population health concern of interest to you. You will then provide an overview of how you would approach advocating for this issue. In Week 9, you will consider legal and regulatory factors that have an impact on the issue and finally, in Week 10, you will identify ethical concerns that you could face as an advocate. Specific details for each aspect of this paper are provided each week. The Final Paper will be due in Week 10. This paper will serve as the Portfolio Application for the course.

Health Advocacy Campaign Assignment
Before you begin, review the complete Assignment.

This week, begin developing your health advocacy campaign by focusing on the following:

To prepare for this final portion of your paper:

Review provisions 7, 8, and 9 of the ANA Code of Ethics in relation to advocacy for population health.
Reflect on the ethical considerations you may need to take into account in your advocacy campaign.
Research the ethical considerations and lobbying laws relevant to the location where your advocacy campaign will occur.
Consider potential ethical dilemmas you might face in your campaign.
To complete: Revise and combine parts one and two of your previous papers and add the following:

Explain any ethical dilemmas that could arise during your advocacy campaign, and how you would resolve them.
Describe the ethics and lobbying laws that are applicable to your advocacy campaign.
Evaluate the special ethical challenges that are unique to the population you are addressing.
Provide a cohesive summary for your paper.
Reminder: You will submit one cogent paper that combines the previous applications (Parts One and Two) plus the new material.

Your paper should be about 10 pages of content, not including the title page and references.

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Health Advocacy Campaign for the Homeless

Introduction

The homeless population is one of the most vulnerable populations in our society. They are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions, mental illness, and substance abuse. They also face barriers to accessing healthcare, such as lack of insurance, transportation, and financial resources.

As a nurse, I am committed to advocating for the health and well-being of all people, including the homeless. I believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

The Problem

The homeless population in the United States is growing. In 2022, there were an estimated 552,788 people experiencing homelessness on a single night. This number has been increasing steadily over the past few years.

Homelessness is a complex problem with many contributing factors, including poverty, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, and substance abuse. The homeless population is disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. They also face higher rates of mental illness and substance abuse.

The lack of access to healthcare is a major barrier for the homeless population. Many homeless people do not have health insurance, and even those who do may have difficulty accessing care due to lack of transportation or financial resources. As a result, many homeless people go without needed medical care, which can lead to serious health problems and even death.

The Solution

I believe that the best way to address the problem of homelessness is to provide comprehensive healthcare services to the homeless population. This would include primary care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and housing assistance.

I would advocate for the following policies to improve the health of the homeless population:

Expand access to Medicaid and Medicare to cover the homeless population.
Provide financial assistance for housing and transportation to help homeless people access healthcare.
Fund programs that provide mental health and substance abuse treatment to the homeless population.
Create more affordable housing options for the homeless population.

I believe that these policies would make a significant difference in the lives of the homeless population. They would improve access to healthcare, reduce health disparities, and improve the overall health and well-being of the homeless population.

Ethical Considerations

There are a number of ethical considerations that must be taken into account when advocating for the homeless population. One important consideration is the principle of autonomy. Homeless people have the right to make their own decisions about their healthcare, even if those decisions are not in their best interest. As an advocate, it is important to respect the autonomy of homeless people and to support their decisions, even if we do not agree with them.

Another important ethical consideration is the principle of justice. Homeless people are often marginalized and discriminated against. As an advocate, it is important to fight for justice for the homeless population and to ensure that they have equal access to healthcare.

Finally, it is important to be aware of the potential for conflicts of interest when advocating for the homeless population. For example, an advocate may be employed by an organization that receives funding from the government. In this case, the advocate may be faced with a conflict between their duty to represent the interests of the homeless population and their duty to the organization that employs them. It is important to be aware of these potential conflicts of interest and to take steps to avoid them.

Conclusion

I believe that it is important for nurses to advocate for the health and well-being of all people, including the homeless. The homeless population is disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions, mental illness, and substance abuse. They also face barriers to accessing healthcare. As an advocate, I would work to improve access to healthcare for the homeless population and to ensure that they have equal access to quality care.