Oral

This session’s theme focuses on community experiences that promote the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. The first presentation offers a ground theoretical approach for experiences in communities with homeless youth and their vulnerabilities toward gang and illicit drug and alcohol use. The second presentation gives a unique view of success in community partnership between an Arab immigrant community and nursing students from a catholic university including interpreters. The third presentation provides a different approach to community partnerships between a local health department, state university, and a private medical college and a community of vulnerable children exposed to environmental factors that cause respiratory and other health problems in the Great lakes area. The fourth presentation discusses a public health nursing collaborative model for health improvement through increasing access for vulnerable populations. Specific examples will be included in each presentation with the opportunity for questions and answers.

Session Objectives: The audience will define community experiences of empowerment/advocacy for vulnerable groups. The audience will compare community experiences of empowerment/advocacy for vulnerable groups.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)