Older adults experiencing homelessness, increasing access to oral health care, and Wilder Research in The New York Times.
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June 2017
Older adults among the fastest growing populations of Minnesotans experiencing homelessness
The new report, Homeless Older Adults in Minnesota, examines the prevalence, causes, circumstances, and effects of homelessness for Minnesotans age 55 and older.

Findings show that 71% of homeless older adults have complex, chronic health issues, and 74% rely on public medical benefits like Medicare, MinnesotaCare, or Medical Assistance. The expected growth in the older adult population will affect the demand for affordable housing, health care, nonprofit service provision, and a range of public programs.

These growing needs seem to be on a collision course with the $7 billion in cuts proposed by the current administration to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development budget and potential cuts to Medicaid.

Related : 
New on the Wilder Blog
Dental Therapy Increases Access in Rural Minnesota
Minnesota is 1 of 3 states to allow mid-level  oral health professionals -- known as dental therapists -- who provide dental care for children and adults in settings that serve low-income, uninsured, and under-served patients. 

But can hiring a dental therapist increase access to cost-effective, quality care? That's what  Delta Dental of Minnesota wanted to know when they commissioned case studies of two greater Minnesota clinics that hired and employed a dental therapist. 

Melanie Ferris shares lessons learned and the factors contributing to successful incorporation of a dental therapist into a private clinic setting. Read it. 
In the News
Feeding Young Minds: The Importance of School Lunches - The New York Times
Jane Brody referenced a Wilder Research review of strategies to encourage healthier eating among students in her article on school lunches. Read the literature review.

100 Years of Research - Pioneer Press
The Pioneer Press Editorial Board highlighted Wilder Research's centennial earlier this month, calling us a "singular St. Paul institution." Our first report, published in 1917, examined housing conditions in St. Paul and led to the city's first housing ordinance. Read the report.

Weight-Based Teasing Has Long-Term Impact - Science Blog
A new paper shows weight-based teasing in youth predicts health consequences in adulthood. The paper was published in Preventive Medicine by researchers from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut and the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Wilder Research partnered with the School of Public Health to collect data for the longitudinal study.
Sharing Research in the Community
Dan Swanson at AAPOR.
Nicole MartinRogers and Sarah Gehrig appeared on KFAI's First Person Radio to discuss results of the study of homelessness and near-homelessness on six American Indian reservations. Listen now.

Dan Swanson ,  Data Collection Manager,  attended the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) conference in New Orleans, where he presented a poster on the data collection methods used in the  Speaking for Ourselves study .

Greg Owen and Christin Lindberg presented multiple times at the Minnesota Age and Disabilities Odyssey Conference in Duluth. Greg presented the latest information on older adults experiencing homelessness. Chris and Greg presented trends impacting family and friend caregiving and the latest research on available resources and supports. As part of a Wilder Foundation team, Chris discussed a project focusing on reaching African American and Hmong caregivers.
Recently Published
Trauma-Informed Evaluation: Tip Sheet for Collecting Information
Tips for incorporating a trauma-informed approach to collecting information from clients, including choosing appropriate methods, informed consent, and training interviewers. 

City of Minneapolis Resident Survey
Results of a 2016 survey designed to measure residents' opinions about their quality of life and satisfaction with the city's services and amenities.

Twin Cities Mobile Market
Summary of 2016 outcomes for this grocery store on a bus that delivers affordable, healthy food to under-resourced neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities.
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