Imagine You Are A Policymaker For Your City Or Town
Imagine You Are A Policymaker For Your City Or Town Based On What You
Imagine you are a policymaker for your city or town. Based on what you know and what you have learned in this course, what would you modify or improve to make a positive change in the life of a vulnerable group we have not covered in class? Justify whether or not you would consult the vulnerable group when developing programs or policies? Propose a policy you would create to improve health care services accessibility, cost, and quality related to your selected group? Your initial contribution should be 250 to 300 words in length. Your research and claims must be supported by a minimum of two scholarly sources beyond your course text. Use proper APA formatting for in-text citations and references as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Paper For Above instruction
As a policymaker dedicated to fostering equitable health outcomes, addressing the needs of vulnerable groups is essential. One such group often overlooked is the homeless population, whose health challenges are compounded by systemic barriers to healthcare access. To improve their quality of life, I would implement policies aimed at increasing healthcare accessibility, reducing costs, and enhancing the overall quality of services. Specifically, establishing mobile health clinics that serve homeless communities can bridge gaps in access, providing essential services directly within their environments (Buchanan et al., 2018). These clinics would offer primary care, mental health services, and preventive care, eliminating transportation barriers and encouraging engagement with healthcare providers.
Consulting the homeless community during policy development is crucial to ensure interventions align with their specific needs and circumstances. Their lived experiences provide valuable insights that can shape effective, culturally sensitive programs, fostering trust and encouraging utilization of services (Baggett et al., 2019). Engaging vulnerable groups in the policymaking process not only improves program relevance but also empowers these populations by giving them a voice.
To further improve healthcare services, I propose a subsidized insurance scheme tailored for the homeless and those at imminent risk of homelessness. This policy would lower financial barriers, making healthcare affordable regardless of income, and be accompanied by outreach initiatives that educate individuals about available resources. Combining direct service provision with financial and informational support can significantly reduce disparities in health outcomes for the homeless population, contributing to a healthier, more inclusive community (Hwang, 2019).
Overall, targeted, inclusive policies that involve vulnerable groups in development processes are vital to creating sustainable improvements in healthcare accessibility, cost, and quality for underserved populations.
References
Baggett, T. P., O’Connell, J. J., Singer, D. E., & Rigotti, N. A. (2019). Addressing the needs of homeless populations: An integrated approach to healthcare. American Journal of Public Health, 109(S3), S166–S172. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305203
Buchanan, D., Anderson, A., & Bales, S. (2018). Mobile health clinics: A strategy for improving health equity among homeless populations. Journal of Community Health, 43(2), 255–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0362-0
Hwang, S. W. (2019). Homelessness and health: What every healthcare provider needs to know. The New England Journal of Medicine, 380(4), 319–323. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1809012