9/24/09 4th GM Minutes

AMSA Fall 2009-Week 4 General Meeting Minutes (09/24/2009) 

Highlights of the Meeting:

• AMSA-ARC: Passenger assignments and a brief announcement on other transportation/housing logistics. Contact Tiff Gee for more info on this or not

• Healthcare and homelessness presentation by Shrina:

Some pertinent facts and figures:

Children make up most of the population; tends to carry over to life and to subsequent family

Most common causes: unaffordable housing and very low wage

1/5 of homeless are undernourished and 44% of them do work

Poor mental/physical health and homelessness are correlated with one another in a “two-way street” manner

• Diseases common among homelessness:

TB (very rapid mutation of the strains) 􀃆 reduce new incidence by UV light setting in homeless shelter to prevent spreading

Hypertension and diabetes􀃆 because no regular access to insulin, fridge, and needles. Often reuse needles leading to infection

••• of the population has mental-related problems 􀃆most common are schizophrenia and depression

Substance and alcohol abuse 􀃆 not clear what the relationship is (whether the cause of homelessness is the abuse or it is a coping mechanism for falling into homelessness)

• Skit presented to illustrate the standard response to homeless patient in hospitals and free clinics with AMSA members volunteering to act out the skit

• Many are in denial i.e. endless efforts in bottle gathering for CRV refund not only for the money but to feel like there is a sense of accomplishment or preferring to get discarded food from trash instead of receiving charity directly

• Personal stories and discussions on interacting with homeless people

• Possible collaboration to work with the homeless thru Suitcase Clinic, If the plan goes through, members will be further informed

• Feedback for Sexuality and Homelessness presentations and activities for Shrina. Every GM will have this so members have more say!

• No committee for Environmental/Global/Community Health. If interested in De-Cal related to this topic, which is led by our own Environmental/Global/Community Health Chair, contact her at guo_wenting@berkeley.edu

• Upperclassmen-underclassmen mentorship 􀃆 high interest among members. Tiff Gee will arrange the details and application. If all goes well, it will be announced