Christopher Place Employment Academy (CPEA) is a 60-bed, 18- to 24-month residential employment program for formerly homeless men; it is housed at the Our Daily Bread Employment Center in Baltimore’s midtown. Our Daily Bread is Maryland’s largest hot meal program, serving more than a quarter of a million meals to those experiencing hunger in Baltimore each year.
The CPEA focuses on men who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness, have a history of substance use disorders and related health conditions, or who may be transitioning from jail or prison to the community.
Katherine Fornili, DNP ’16, MPH, RN, CARN, FIAAN, retired assistant professor, formed the partnership with CPEA in fall 2007 as a clinical site for entry-into-nursing students on a single day. In 2014, a second clinical group of entry-into-nursing master’s students was added on a second day, led by Michelle Spencer, DNP ’19, MS ’06, BSN ’94, RN, assistant professor.
Now, Rachael Holton Parran, MS ’19, BSN ’04, clinical instructor, leads one clinical group there each week. Students work with the men and provide student-led health promotion, health assessments, and care coordination during both the fall and spring semesters. The students also take turns serving in the Our Daily Bread feeding program during the clinical experience.