Initiatives in population-based interdisciplinary service learning and academic-community partnerships using an academic center of excellence model


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

4256.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - Table 7

Abstract #113139

Patricia M. Schoon, MPH, RN, Department of Nursing, College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph, St. Paul, MN 55105, 651-690-6937, pmschoon@stkate.edu

A Center of Excellence for Women and Health in a private liberal arts college provides the opportunity for transforming women's education to prepare women to lead and influence. The center directs its efforts to improve the health and quality of life for women and their families in local and global communities. Center objectives include: 1) empower communities to manage their own health concerns and achieve parity in health care access and participation; 2) expand health care workforce development and career preparedness to meet the need for health workforce expansion, diversity, and life long education; 3) educate health care professionals to adopt an interdisciplinary, population-based, culturally-competent approach to their practice; and, 4) enhance the quality of life of the College community through a holistic approach to wellness by addressing the body, mind and spirit. Community-based action research and an interdisciplinary service-learning course in a homeless shelter are currently sponsored by the Center. Population-based public health nursing student projects are being used to assess community assets, health disparities, and community interests as a foundation for forging linkages with non-profit health and human service agencies in order to develop interdisciplinary and interdepartmental service-learning projects. Future Center initiatives include: 1) an interdisciplinary service-learning course at a school for children with disabilities; 2) faculty-student volunteer and service-learning activities in urban youth centers; and, 3) partnering with the American Indian community to develop programs to increase the cultural awareness and competencies of the college community and local health and human services providers.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1. Explore the use of a Center of Excellence Model to develop population-based interdisciplinary service learning activities in diverse communities
2. Develop an assets-based approach to working with an array of community health and human service organizations and communities.
3. Create interdisciplinary and interdepartmental initiatives to empower diverse communities to improve their health and to educate students in a culturally sensitive manner.

Keywords: Education, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Public Health Nurse Round Table: Innovations in Practice, Education and Research

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA