Health Education
THE FLOATING HOSPITAL MOTIVATES AND EQUIPS OUR PATIENTS TO LIVE HEALTHY LIVES
Through free community health education programming, The Floating Hospital provides families and children experiencing homelessness with hands-on education and tools for managing chronic illnesses, maintaining nutritious diets, and developing social and practical life skills. Children receive free tutoring and benefit from learning lifelong habits for physical/mental health, self-care, and other literacies. The programs impart knowledge that can lead to sustainable, healthy lifestyles. They teach children skills to keep them in school, help them make good decisions, and foster positive coping mechanisms. Our health education team provides counseling, linkages to social services, and physical needs such as infant essentials, puberty kits, and hygiene products.
Recognizing children and youth as change agents
The Floating Hospital’s health education program serves the entire family with a focus on developing youth and children.
We recognize that children are natural change agents. They inspire their entire families and help lead them to better nutrition and self-care. But lacking the structure of permanent housing, children experiencing homelessness can also become their decision-makers out of necessity.
To help young people navigate the complexities of transitional living, our programming for youth provides hands-on workshops in leadership, job and social skills, self-care and reproductive health, and topics ranging from financial literacy, bullying and self-esteem to social-media practices to social justice.
CAMP RISE UP: LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS FOR YOUTH LIVING IN SHELTERS AND OTHER UNSTABLE HOUSING
Our summer camp for kids living in transitional housing combines classroom curricula and recreational opportunities that build the esteem, skills, knowledge and relationships that transient and underserved children can’t access in their everyday lives.
THE TEACHING KITCHEN
Discover the joy of healthy cooking and eating!
Our vibrant Chef Maria Loi Loukoumi Make a Difference Teaching Kitchen lies at our clinic’s core. It’s a special place where families, especially those residing in homeless shelters and public housing, can immerse themselves in healthy eating. Our free lessons and tastings are explicitly tailored to meet the unique needs of families, focusing on nutrition, smart food sourcing, and simple preparation techniques.
The Teaching Kitchen is more than just a space–it’s an interactive learning hub. Here, families engage in hands-on demos, picking up practical cooking skills and discovering new foods.
Nourishment for body and mind
Good food is the foundation of good health. That’s why we’re committed to providing our patients with wholesome snacks during their time with us. But it’s not just about the food but the experience. Children can explore, cook (with guidance) and taste new food, fostering a love for healthy eating.
WORKSHOPS AND LESSONS
The Floating Hospital’s trained health educators answer questions and help set healthy goals for children and their families. Workshops range from group settings to one-on-one consultations. They are provided throughout the day in our main clinic (Long Island City), shelters, and schools (through our partnership with the NYC Office of Community Schools). We offer customized curricula for K-5, middle, and high school students, adults 18+, parents, and teachers. Curricula include a wide range of health, healthy living and wellness, social-emotional learning, life skills, and parenting topics.
“I WAS MAD AT MY MOM FOR SIGNING ME UP. BUT, AS THE DAYS PASSED, EVERYBODY STARTED TO FEEL LIKE A FAMILY TO ME.”
At Camp Rise Up, kids living homelessness can exercise, build confidence, and learn about self-care in a beautiful, natural setting. Your generous donation will help send a teen to Rhinebeck, New York for a week of swimming, hiking, and interactive health education classes on topics like communication and consent. For many of these young people, Camp Rise Up represents their first encounter with nature, a positive experience that can shape their health, relationships and future.
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