Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Gail Petersen, MS, RN, Academic Nursing Centers, Arizona State University College of Nursing, P. O. Box 873008, Tempe, AZ 85287-3008, 480-965-5114, gail.petersen@asu.edu

Breaking the Cycle Community Health Care (BTC) has provided outreach health care to immigrant populations in schools, churches and homeless shelters since 1991 and serves as a clinical site for ASU College of Nursing students. In 2001 BTC received a contract as a Title X delegate agency through the Arizona Family Planning Council to provide reproductive health services to underserved populations in Central Phoenix. A partnership was developed between BTC and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Phoenix (GLC) allowing BTC to provide services on the GLC campus. This partnership puts into practice the shared value that caring for the health of others expresses responsibility for a just society. Delivering health services on a church campus initiates a trusting relationship before a vulnerable immigrant client steps through the door, as churches are known as safe places to turn for help. The partnership links BTC with other Lutheran congregations allowing dissemination of information regarding the benefits of outreach health care to immigrant populations. GLC is more than a landlord to our project; offering English classes to our clients and holding fund raising events to support our services. Our nursing students experience our collective actions that promote health and ensure care for the vulnerable, actions they can replicate and carry to their future practices. Our experience illustrates how partnerships can be cultivated, based on shared values, that are beneficial to the missions of both health care agencies serving immigrants and faith based organizations.

Learning Objectives: