CONSIDERATIONS IN ESTABLISHING A DENTAL PROGRAM FOR THE HOMELESS

The homeless are a diverse group who present the dental profession wit h a number of difficult challenges in the delivery of oral health serv ices. Utilization of dental services by the homeless is low when provi ded in traditional settings and access is limited. The purpose of this case study is to review program planning issues focusing on the uniqu e aspects of establishing dental programs for the shelter-based homele ss. This paper is based on experiences in developing a dental program for homeless persons in Boston. The establishment of a portable dental program in 1988 for persons residing in shelters in the greater Bosto n area involved many administrative and clinical considerations. These factors included determination of needs and barriers to dental care, resource identification and development program planning and implement ation, evaluation, and the development of constituency support The div ersity of the homeless population in combination with the variation of space and medical resources at different shelter sites dictates flexi bility in the development of programs to address the oral health needs of the homeless.