Webinar: Addressing Tuberculosis Among People Experiencing Homelessness

April 18, 2014

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC), and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA) hosted a webinar addressing Tuberculosis (TB) among people experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness is a public health issue. TB rates are 10 times higher for people experiencing homelessness than for those with a safe, stable place to call home. In this webinar, presenters describe the work being done at the national and local level to prevent and address TB among people experiencing homelessness and those working with homeless populations. Additionally, staff members from the San Francisco Department of Public Health outline how they have successfully addressed TB and established screening programs, leading to sustained declines in the disease among people experiencing homelessness. The information shared includes lessons learned and recommendations for other homeless providers and health care workers. 

Presenters:

• Liz Osborn, Management and Program Analyst, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
• John Lozier, Executive Director, National Health Care for the Homeless Council
• Donna Wegener, Executive Director, National Tuberculosis Controllers Association
• Krista Powell, Medical Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Julie Higashi, TB Controller, San Francisco Department of Public Health
• Kate Shuton, Shelter Health and Homeless Family Coordinator, San Francisco Department of Public Health