The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

3232.0: Monday, November 17, 2003 - Board 3

Abstract #56674

Worksite Health Promotion and Community Service Learning; The Perfect Partnership

Cecilia Watkins, PhD, Department Of Public Health, Westen Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, STH 410C, Bowling Green, KY 42103, 270-745-4796, cecilia.watkins@wku.edu and Teresa Lovely, Wellness, Logan Aluminum, P.O. Box 3000, Russellville, KY 42276.

Worksite Health Promotion is a common component of industry today. A worksite wellness program typically offers individual health improvement plans created to improve lifestyle behaviors among employees. Community Service Learning is a relatively new idea in the health education field. It is a planned effort for students to go out into the community and combine the service performed with specific learning objectives. When integrated, Worksite Health Promotion and Community Service Learning create a synergism that promotes learning among students and positive behavioral outcomes among participants. The worksite can offer students a real world experience and the student can contribute fresh ideas to health education programs offered to employees. The merger of worksite and community service learning has enhanced the relationship between Logan Aluminum and Western Kentucky University. Community Health students from Western Kentucky University volunteer to work 20 hours per semester at Logan. This has resulted in real-life experiences in planning, presenting and evaluating health promotion programs for the students, while Logan Aluminum has received additional help in their health education programs. All participants are asked to give feedback at the end of the semester to help evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.

What's New in Worksite Health Promotion Research and Practice?

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA