MEL TROTTER PUBLIC INEBRIATE SERVICE LEARNING Kelli Erb

MEL TROTTER PUBLIC INEBRIATE: SERVICE LEARNING Kelli Erb NURS 450 Ferris State University

INTRODUCTION The Service Learning assignment was introduced in the beginning of the RN-BSN program Service Learning definition: “A teaching technique in which students participate in a community service activity that is clearly related to the academic objectives of a course and/or major field of study. As a result, students gain relevant, hands-on experience while improving the quality of life of citizens in our region” (nsula. edu).

MEL TROTTER BACKGROUND Mel Trotter, with a group of other community members, opened the ministry in 1900. Since then hundreds of thousands of men and women’s lives have been changed. Mel Trotter has a homeless shelter for men and women and they have a program for those seeking help from substance abuse. (meltrotter. org)

MEL TROTTER MISSION “Mel Trotter Ministries exists to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus Christ toward the hungry, homeless and hurting of the greater Grand Rapids area” (meltrotter. org)

IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2013 73, 000 beds provided to men, women, and children Served 163, 940 hot meals Food Pantry supplied 4, 741 families 115 families found permanent housing 55 jobs were secured 2, 211 visits to Vision, Chiropractic, and Dental services, valued at $322, 286 78 visits to legal clinic 1, 031 public inebriate visits, keeping them out of the ER Low cost transportation to 241 people through vehicle donation and resale (meltrotter. org)

PUBLIC INEBRIATES PROGRAM “People who are profoundly intoxicated (drunk) are brought to the Grand Rapids shelter by police officers, EMTs, friends or good Samaritans. Currently, 2 rooms with 7 beds are available for men, where respectful and discrete care can be given. We also have a separate room for women where privacy and safety are ensured. Guests are given a safe place to sleep, which includes the observation of medical personnel. During the inebriate’s stay, he or she is offered a hot meal, a shower, clean clothing, and personal care items. Staff members also encourage inebriates to seek the services of a substance abuse recovery program. Most important, the staff is ready to provide a listening ear in addition to offering the hope that is found in Jesus Christ” (meltrotter. org).

PUBLIC INEBRIATE PROGRAM Saves hospitals money $1, 000 per public inebriate January-June 2014 saved hospitals $637, 000!!!! Bonin, N. (personal communication, July 14, 2014).

VOLUNTEER ROLE Monitor Public Inebriate (PI) that was brought into shelter Take vitals Help get them cleaned up if they urinated or threw up Dressed wounds if needed Kept the PIs safe Offer a listening ear and encouragement

CRITICAL REFLECTION: ELEMENTS OF REASONING Initial Thoughts I was scared Tons of intoxicated homeless men all over The place would be unkempt Assumptions I assumed there would be more men when I was volunteering I assumed there would be more women I assumed I would be able to talk to them and try to understand their life.

CRITICAL REFLECTION (CON’T) Information Attained I wasn’t able to interact with the PIs as much as I thought I would The PIs were checked in and given a sandwich and slept it off Many get disability or steal to get booze Mel Trotter is a really nice place They have lots of rules for those in the program Changes to thought process I think this is a wonderful program and helpful to the community Mel Trotter needs more volunteers Every time I see someone standing on the corner looking for money, I want to tell them about Mel Trotter

CRITICAL REFLECTION I have a special place in my heart for alcoholics I enjoyed making sure the PIs were safe I think Mel Trotter does amazing work Service Learning is important for the community as well as making student more well rounded.

SYNTHESIS This volunteer opportunity has helped me increase my knowledge about different services offered in the community which has helped me provide resources to the inpatient population I understand the positive impact it has on the community, including the homeless population, substance abusers and the hospitals I may not have stopped the PI from drinking but I kept them safe

LEARNING SUMMARY I learned a lot about Mel Trotter and services they offer to the community I helped pass medication to those individuals that are in Mel Trotters substance abuse programs This opportunity got me out of my comfort zone Added diversity to my learning experiences There is still a need for volunteer nurses to help in the PI program

RECOMMENDATIONS I would recommend this volunteer opportunity, but with another RN. It was interesting and I feel it helped me connect with the community better It felt great knowing I was helping keep these men safe and out of harms way

REFERENCES Mel Trotter Ministries. (n. d. ) Shelter for Public Inebriates. Retrieved from http: //www. meltrotter. org/shelter-for-public-inebriates Service Learning. (n. d. ). Northwestern State University of Lousiana. Retrieved from http: //servicelearning. nsula. edu/servicelearning-definition