The N.O.W.S. Outreach Program is a new, student-run organization that addresses the health care and health education needs of women and children living in poverty. Through educational programs and health clinics, we aim to encourage the women and their children at the New Orleans Women’s Shelter (N.O.W.S.) to take-charge of their health while transitioning to self-sufficiency. For monthly medical services, physician-student teams will take vital signs, obtain medical histories, perform physical exams, and counsel patients. Vitamins will be distributed, and basic over-the-counter medications will be on hand. Any patients who need to be referred for further care are sent to St. Thomas Community Clinic, a federally qualified health center, so that the family will have a relationship with a primary care provider when leaving N.O.W.S. We have also partnered with the NO/AIDS Task Force to provide free HIV testing/counseling and with the Louisiana Breast and Cervical program to provide free pap smears and mammograms. These clinics are accompanied by bimonthly health education programs that will be run by students from LSU inter-professional schools, including the schools of medicine, nursing, public health, social work, and dentistry.

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