Founded in 1866 as one of New York City?s first pediatric healthcare charities, The Floating Hospital (TFH) began its mission by providing quality care to immigrants, newsboys, child laborers and other forgotten youth aboard its ship. Today, TFH operates a series of homeless, community, and public housing clinics in New York City. It is licensed under NYS Article 28 and Article 31. Under its FQHC umbrella, TFH operates 330(e), 330(h) and 330(i) programs.TFH?s mission is fulfilled through: a main clinic in Queens serving homeless families, public housing residents and low-income community residents; three clinics serving public housing and community residents (including a free-standing clinic in Queensbridge, the largest public housing project in the U.S.); and four clinics based in family homeless shelters in Brooklyn and the Bronx. TFH serves patients from 250+ different homeless shelters and domestic violence safe houses located throughout all five NYC boroughs. This is achieved through the diligent implementation of outreach and transportation programs. Its patient base experiences typical problems facing inner city populations: poverty, lack of socio-economic opportunities, substance abuse, domestic violence, and poor nutrition and healthcare. In response, TFH provides primary medical, mental health and dental services to all who need them, regardless of ability to pay.The project proposed by this application will enable TFH to expand its family planning services, which are provided to low-income populations including homeless families, domestic violence survivors, and public housing residents. In accordance with Title X requirements, TFH will offer a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services?including fertility awareness-based methods and infertility services, as well as sexual health and cancer screenings. The project will also include health education counseling designed to help minors avoid sexual explo
itation and coercion, as well as abstinence counseling. The project director and staff have direct experience with providing family planning services and are dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of care.In its most recent UDS reporting period (January 1 to December 31, 2017), TFH?s FQHC program provided 65,074 encounters to 20,090 patients, including 43,683 medical encounters and 9,914 mental health and substance abuse encounters. For this grant, TFH proposes to provide family planning services to approximately 6,000 women of child-bearing age (2,000 women per year over a three-year project period).In its role as one of NYC?s last surviving charity hospitals, TFH remains a beacon of hope to many communities. Through continuous quality improvement and providing ever-more comprehensive services to its patient base, TFH plans on further successes. Title X funding would enable TFH to pursue significant expansion and improvement of its family planning services, which are critical to the low-income populations served.