Service learning: A strategy for conducting a health needs assessment of the homeless

An agency providing health care services for homeless persons and a nursing department at a liberal arts college established a service-learning partne rship to complete a health needs assessment of homeless persons. Under the guidance of agency staff and a nursing faculty member, seven nursing studen ts surveyed shelter residents (n = 101) in four urban shelters and conducte d a focus group to identify residents' perceptions of health, health care n eeds, and health care service delivery The service-learning partnership exp anded the agency's services by providing research consultation and data col lection that resulted in recommendations to improve health care services fo r the homeless. The agency contributed to the education of health professio nals by providing students with a meaningful community service experience.