4110.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 1:10 PM

Abstract #11850

Student success partnership: Improving academic achievement and public health outcomes through community collaboration in Boston

Marian Knapp, MA, Learning for Action Institute, Simmons College, 6 Bellingham Street, Newton, MA 02461, 617-928-0641, mlknapp@ix.netcom.com, Alba N. Cruz, PhD, MPH, Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service (CCHERS), Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave, Room 398CP, Boston, MA 02115, Martha Kurz, MSW, Office for Women, Family and Community Programs, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Neville 2, Boston, MA 02115, Carol Doherty, MED, Professional Development Program, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 50NI, Boston, MA 02115, and Janet Short, Maurice J. Tobin School, Boston Public Schools Department, 40 Smith Street, Roxbury, MA 02120.

Research has shown that lack of or inadequate education predisposes individuals to poor health outcomes. Recent emphasis on public education has raised awareness and interest in developing ways to improve both academic achievement and health status. This paper will present on an innovative community effort in Boston. The Student Success Partnership has been developed and implemented collaboratively with the Boston Public Schools, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Northeastern University, Simmons College and the Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service. The goal of the partnership is to build a system of community-based supports for children and youth that will enable them to do well in school, complete their education, and have a positive view of their future potential including meaningful employment and further education. This model initiative continually involves community members in identifying issues that positively and negatively impact school performance. Focus groups and interviews are conducted with Boston Public School students in grades 2 - 12, parents, teachers and administrators. Several public health issues have emerged that not only reflect the complexity of children's lives but also impact their potential for success in school and in the future. The more prevalent negative issues are drugs, violence, gangs, teen pregnancy, smoking, alcohol and multiple stressors of daily living. Members of the partnership use an asset building approach based on identified positive factors to design strategies to ameliorate negative influences. This partnership has relevance for future public health initiatives aimed at improving health by addressing broader issues such as public education.

Learning Objectives:

    1. Identify key components of the Student Success Partnership model.
    2. Replicate the key components in their own communities.
    3. Access community members - children, parents, teachers, and administrators - to gain knowledge of issues affecting their lives.
    4. Use this knowledge to create, implement and evaluate appropriate, meaningful responses to address identified community needs.
    Teaching Objectives: Faculty will

    • Keywords: Community Collaboration, School-Based Programs

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:
    Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Student Success Partnership
    I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

    The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA