This document discusses a community health project called (Fem)me that addresses feminine hygiene needs among homeless women in Athens, Georgia. It describes how a homeless woman named Emily has no access to sanitary products and must resort to unsafe alternatives during her period. The project distributes feminine hygiene kits to partner organizations to give to clients. Needs assessments found that homeless women often lack access to these products and experience negative health outcomes as a result. Community partners and clients reported that the kits are well-received and fill an important need. The project aims to expand its reach and better serve the needs of homeless teens.

1. (Fem)me Community
Health Project
Ebony Caldwell, MPH
UGA-MCG Medical Partnership
United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
June 17, 2015

2. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Introduction Meet Emily, a homeless
woman living in Athens,
Georgia. She lives in one
of the "tent cities" in
Athens, in a makeshift
shelter because she
can't afford permanent
housing and the shelters
are full. One morning,
Emily wakes up to find it
is “that time of the
month,” - her period has
started. She does not
have any feminine
hygiene products on
hand, and she needs the
cash she has to buy
food.

3. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
This month, like every month,
Emily will need at least 15
pads or tampons. She visits
the homeless day center,
embarrassed, and asks for
pads or tampons. They don't
have any. She leaves,
frustrated and ashamed. Now,
Emily is forced to use
whatever items she has with
her: a used rag, a sock, balled
up newspaper, or nothing at
all. Without feminine hygiene
products, women like Emily
experience extreme and
unnecessary physical, mental,
and practical setbacks.

4. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Potential outcomes of poor
access to menstruation hygiene
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Major Depressive Episode
Loss of employment opportunities
Worthlessness
Embarrassment
Vulnerability
Yeast Infections

6. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
(Fem)me Kits
• Monthly distributions of
feminine hygiene kits
made to community
partners
• The kits include 1)
tampons; 2) sanitary
napkins; 3) panty liners;
4) sanitary wipes; 5)
Midol; 6) hand sanitizer;
and 7) targeted health
messages
• Clients are welcome to
take as many as they
want
• Serves organization mission to provide
feminine hygiene products for the
homeless women that need them

7. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Methodology: Project Goals
(Fem)me
Project
Goals
Improve
Reach
Improve
Deliverables
Access
Need
Assess
Program
Utility

8. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Methodology: Components
2016
Community
Health Project
Need Assessment
Surveys
Community Partners Homeless Clients
Building social capitolUnstructured Interviews

9. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Building Social Capitol Steps
Find
potential
partners
Initiate
Contact
Partnership
Planning
Relationship
Maintenance

10. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Needs Assessments
Clients
15 questions
In-person
Surveys
Topics: Hygiene needs,
Organization Use, Kit
Access
Community Partners
10 Questions
Email Surveys
Topics: Client Needs,
Dissemination Methods,
(Fem)me Deliverables

11. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Unstructured Interviews
Kit distributions
Community outreach
events
Survey
disseminations
Partnership
meetings.
Causal conservations
obtained during:

12. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Findings: Social Capitol
17 Potential
Partners Identified
Organization
contacted via
emails, phone calls
and Facebook
Messenger
Meetings planned
and executed via
phone, online video
and online to
discuss organization
missions and goals
Decision to partner
made with seven
new partners. New
and current
partners contact
frequently.

13. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Findings: Homeless ClientNeeds Assessment
• (13) 46.4% Have gone without sanitary products when in need
74%
11%
15%
Alternatives to sanitary products
Tissue/Paper Towels(20)
Towels/Washcloths (3)
Other: Socks, Sewing machine,
Nothing (4)
84%
11%
5%
Consequences of not having hygiene products
Bloodstains (16)
Missing Work (2)
Body Odor (1)
69%
12%
19%
Reasons for not buying sanitary products
Money (11)
Unable to leave work (2)
Other: None, Attitude (3)

14. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Findings: Homeless ClientNeeds Assessment
• 20 (71.6%) Have received sanitary products from homeless
serving organization
• (10) 41.7% Have sought products and the organization did not
have them
• (6) 28.6% Go to more than one organization for donations
• (13) 48.6% Have received a (Fem)me hygiene kit
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sparrow's Nest
Savlaton Army
Athens Area Homeless Shelter
Our Daily Bread
Bigger Vision
Homeless Day Service
Viewpoint
Athens Nurses Clinic
Ebenezer Baptist Church
1st AME Church
1st United Methodist Church
The Ark
Number of Respondents
Organizations Used for Donations

15. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Findings: Community Partner Needs Assessment
• (3) 50% Felt unable to meet feminine hygiene needs of
clients BEFORE partnering with (Fem)me
• (5) 71.4% Feel as though they are not able to fill the
biggest hygiene needs of their clients
• BEFORE partnering with (Fem)me, 50% (6) organizations
got their sanitary products via donations
16.66%
50.00%
8.33%
16.66%
8.33%
Purchase with organizational funds (2)
Community donations (6)
Corporate donations (1)
Online Wishlist (2)
Other: (1)
Means of obtaining feminine hygiene products

16. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Findings: Community Partner Needs Assessment
• (6) 100% Reported a positive response to kits from
clients
• The most commonly suggested health messages for
homeless clientele where hand washing (6) and sexual
health (7)
85.70%
57.10%
100%
57.10%
42.90%
42.90%
Hand Washing (6)
Dental Care (4)
Sexual Health (7)
Mindfulness (4)
Mental Health (3)
Sun safety (3)
Useful health messages

17. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Findings: Unstructured Interviews
“I think the kits are perfect!”
“The best response was a big
smile and a thank you.”
“[I] Can't think of a thing, this
is a beautiful package!”
“[They could use] plain
tissues.”
“Our residents love the kits.
They state that every thing
they need are included. They
love that there are also
cleaning products.”
“I love that they have Midol
in them. I always need it, my
cramps suck.”
Feedback on Kits

18. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Conclusion and Recommendations
Conclusion/Discussion
• BOTH homeless women and
homeless serving
organizations in the Athens
area have a need for
(Fem)me’s services
• There is room to grow with
new partner organizations
and homeless clientele
• There is high satisfaction and
utilization of our current kits
• (Fem)me only serves one
aspect of hygiene needs
experienced by the homeless
Next Steps
• Reach out to potential
partners identified in
survey
• Create plan for accessing
the women NOT using
homeless serving
organizations
• Design and implement
“(Fem)me Teens.”
• Maintain current
partnership relationships

19. United Health Foundation/NMF Diverse Medical Scholars Program
Acknowledgements
• United Health Foundation/National Medical Fellowships
Diverse Medical Scholars Program
• UGA-MCG Medical Partnership
• (Fem)me
• Brianna Yoder, (Fem)me Executive Director
• Adventure Bags, Inc.
• Bigger Vision
• Sparrow’s Nest
• Athens Area Salvation Army
• Athens Area Homeless Shelter
• A.R.C.H.
• The ladies experiencing homelessness and their will and
tenacity to exist