Evaluation of a Campus - Community Partnership to Promote Wellness and Interest in Health Careers among Older Rural Elementary School Children

In 2006 and 2007 five rural elementary schools in Northwest Illinois participated in a two day event called ‘4-H Health Jam' which involved 166 fifth and sixth grade students. The event's main objectives were to promote healthy lifestyles and encourage future interest in health careers. A partnership involving county and state 4-H educators, local classroom teachers, and a rural hospital planned and conducted the event with support from a large agribusiness company grant. The first day of the event was held at a camp and involved participation in exercise, nutrition education activities and interactions with diverse health profession students about science topics or health careers. The second day five departments in a rural hospital experientially taught the students how health care is delivered. In all learning activities the students were engaged in experiencing a topic directly. The eight week follow-up at their local school encouraged the habit of daily physical activity. Identical multiple choice questions related to knowledge objectives and a question asking for listing of all known health careers were asked before and after the event. Analysis of responses to the 25 questions using paired t-tests indicate that 13/18= 72% of the common survey questions used in both 2006-07 to assess pre-post event changes showed statistically significant change (p <.05) in knowledge of health concepts and health career options. Of the questions unique to a given year, 7/15 = 47% showed statistically significant change (p <.05) pre-post. What was learned about effective partnerships will also be discussed.