Impact of Funding Sources, Policy, and Legislation on the Covenant House’s Provision of Services
Funding sources and current policies and legislation, especially those related to handling children and the youth, have a significant impact on Covenant House’s ability to provide services. Funding sources, especially donors, and the adequacy of the funding can influence the type of programs and services Covenant House provides and the type of children and youth the services target. On the other hand, policies and legislation impact how Covenant House provides its services to the youth, children, and victims of human trafficking by shaping the environment for handling such individuals as well as receiving and managing funds. Failure to get sufficient funding due to an unfavorable economic situation, as well as restrictive policies and regulations, can limit Covenant House’s capacity and ability to provide its current services, making the services inaccessible to individuals and aggregates within the community.
Impact of Covenant House’s Work on Local Community’s Health and/or Safety
Covenant House’s programs have significantly impacted the local community’s health and safety. Since it was opened in 1972, it has supported and provided shelter to over 1.5 million young people. It currently provides shelter to over 2000 youth and young people on a daily basis. Removing the young and the youth from the streets and providing care to trafficking victims reduces the risks of mental health issues, disease, and drug use among the youth. Programs such as job mentorship, transitional housing, and education improve the community’s overall health and safety as they reduce dependency and strain on the local community and health resources.
How Nurses Might Get Involved with Covenant House
Nurses have an opportunity to be involved with Covenant House and support its mission and programs. For instance, they can contribute to the Covenant House’s mission by providing voluntary care services, from disease treatment testing to mental health services to sheltered youth, as well as health education services. Nurses can also be advocates for policies that favor Covenant House’s programs, including federal funding. Additionally, nurses can get involved with Covenant House by making contributions to the organization’s programs that support the maintenance of the sheltered youth.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Homelessness as a Public Health Law Issue. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/resources/resources-homelessness.html
Covenanthouse.org. (2023). About Us; Who & How We Serve-Covenant House International. https://www.covenanthouse.org/aboutus