An innovative service learning approach in public health: The 100 dollar solution

The $100 Solution is an innovative project-based service learning approach that encourages students to identify and creatively address community problems within resource limitations. Students participating in the $100 Solution received training in the five core program principles: partnership, reciprocity, community building, sustainability, and reflection. Students then worked in small groups and partnered with community members to identify a public health problem, develop an empowering and sustainable project proposal with a budget of $100 or less, and reflect upon the process of improving community health with limited resources. Project proposals were reviewed by a panel of community professionals and revised to attain funding, providing public health students with valuable grant writing experience. Students then carried out these projects and provided the instructor with written reflections of their experience. Student reflections as participants in the $100 Solution were analyzed using the ABC (affective, behavioral, and cognitive change) framework. In this presentation we discuss the student experience in terms of innovative project ideas, implementation challenges and rewards, and findings from the student reflection analysis. We also discuss faculty reflection on the practicality of this method within a classroom setting, and the ability of the $100 Solution to meet curricular goals. Additionally, we attained information from community members regarding project quality and usefulness, and will discuss in light of student experiences. Results or our analysis and reflection can be disseminated and used to enhance public health curriculum.