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Health Professions Students – Become a Mentor!

January 25, 2012 By Meredith Leave a Comment

Make a difference in shaping our future health care!

The Stratford Public High Schools invite your participation in their successful ELECTRONIC MENTORING PROGRAM.

The Mentees:  Stratford and Bunnell High School students

The Mentors:  Quinnipiac University Health Professions students and other CT health care professionals

Framework:     Once/week correspondence via e-mail

Timeframe:      10 weeks beginning February 10, 2012

Benefits for the high school student:

  • Gain new perspectives on a wide range of health careers
  • Gain knowledge of skills required for specific careers
  • Attain awareness of the world of work
  • Make connection between school and career
  • Make informed academic and career decisions
  • Begin to form a network of professionals

Benefits for the mentor:

  • Make connections between the business and educational communities
  • Contribute to the growth and development of tomorrow’s workforce
  • Be more appreciative of youth from diverse backgrounds
  • Gain the satisfaction of having positively affected a young person’s life!

Structured weekly topics include:

  • Attendance and Punctuality
  • Ethical Conduct
  • Employability Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Adaptability & Flexibility
  • Initiative & Self Direction
  • Leadership & Responsibility
  • Job Retention & Growth

Questions?      Call…..

Diane Christiano, Stratford Public Schools:  203.385.4281 or christianod@stratfordk12.org

Joan Lane, Southwestern AHEC:  203.372.5503 or jlane@swctahec.org

Ready to sign on as an E-Mentor?    Make that phone call!


Youth Health Service Corps Bunnell High School Fall Service Learning

December 20, 2011 By ylu Leave a Comment

The new Youth Health Service Corps (YHSC) members at Bunnell High School in Stratford just completed their first service learning project on nutrition and fitness! On Monday December 19, 2011 50 high school students in the Medical Pathways 1 course went to Flood Middle School to present the posters that they have been working diligently on for the past few weeks. YHSC members set up a health fair in the gym. Those students who attended gym class that day went to each station and learned something new about getting and staying healthy.

There were 7 groups focused on nutrition topics covering fiber, fats & oils, sugars, salt, protein, fruits & vegetables, and fast foods. We also had 5 groups present about fitness and physical health topics that ranged from flexibility and yoga to cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and obesity. The YHSC members did a fantastic job educating middle school students on the different aspects of maintaining good health. Each group also engaged their audience in a game or demonstration that really enhanced the experience.

We couldn’t be more proud of the students’ efforts and results, as they should be of themselves. We are looking forward to going back to Flood Middle School in the spring. Take a look at some of our posters and presenters!

 

Want to learn about careers in Health Care?

August 6, 2010 By Meredith Leave a Comment

Do you think you’d like to have a career in health care?   But, you don’t know about all the various jobs available?
Consider taking a course at Housatonic Community College this fall called: “Investigations in Health Careers” – HLT 103.    Look for this course at the other Community College campus’ too!

Investigations in Health Careers Fall 2010 – Housatonic CC

MLK Day – A Day ON, Not Off!

February 5, 2010 By Meredith Leave a Comment

In collaboration with the University of Bridgeport, Southwestern AHEC provided the opportunity for any and all community members to help out with a day of service on their day off, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. 

With a focus on youth service, the University provided space for students of all ages to come out and participate in mini-service projects throughout the morning.  Students had the opportunity to bake biscuits for stray dogs, create books to send to children in developing countries, knit caps for chemotherapy patients, paint peach murals, put together care packages for Haitians, and write letters and poetry to send to service men. 

The afternoon was spent at an indoor carnival and health fair, also on the UB Campus.  Students played carnival games with children, tended to health fair stations and participated in a few more mini-projects (making peace cranes and drawing peace posters).  Students were also able to watch gymnastics and tae kwon do demonstrations, in an effort to portray a healthy lifestyle through sports and exercise.

Over 65 of AHEC’s Youth Health Service Corps students from Stratford, Bunnell, Harding, Bassick and Central High Schools provided service throughout the day! Share their experiences by looking at the photos: http://www.flicker.com/photos/swahec/

The 1st Annual CHSC Statewide Symposium held November 6, 2009

November 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

On Friday, November 6, 2009, Collegiate Health Service Corps participants, college and community agency liaisons and AHEC staff from across the state gathered at the UCONN Heath Center in Farmington, Connecticut for the 1st Annual Collegiate Health Service Corps Symposium. The event gave each of the five Connecticut CHSC program participants an opportunity to both showcase their own service-learning projects, and to see what other students from across the state have been doing in the CHSC. Students from each of the five Connecticut CHSC programs presented posters highlighting a key service-learning project for each college.

Students also enjoyed an introduction by Dr. Bruce Gould, Director of the Connecticut AHEC program, and a special Keynote by Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., the Dean of the UCONN School of Medicine. Six students from across the state were chosen to receive Dr. Bruce Gould Service Awards to recognize their accomplishments and dedication to their respective CHSC programs. For Southwestern AHEC’s Southern Connecticut State University CHSC program, Student Director Andrew LeVino and Student Manager Amy Bilodeau were honored with the award.

From Left to Right: CHSC Student Megan Williams, CHSC Student Director Andrew LeVino, Connecticut AHEC Associate Director Petra Clark Dufner, CHSC Student Manager Amy Bilodeau, CHSC Student Leader Yllka Qetta, and CHSC Coordinator Katrina Bresnahan pose in front of Southwestern AHEC's Symposium Poster, which featured the service learning project at Beat the Street Community Center in Meriden, CT.

From Left to Right: CHSC Student Megan Williams, CHSC Student Director Andrew LeVino, Connecticut AHEC Associate Director Petra Clark Dufner, CHSC Student Manager Amy Bilodeau, CHSC Student Leader Yllka Qetta, and CHSC Coordinator Katrina Bresnahan pose in front of Southwestern AHEC's Symposium Poster, which featured the service learning project at Beat the Street Community Center in Meriden, CT.

Community Health Outreach Worker Training

November 17, 2009 By Milagrosa 1 Comment

A Program of Southwestern Area Health Education Center

Southwestern AHEC has the opportunity to return to a successful program it last conducted in Bridgeport in 2004. Under a contract with the Community Health Center Association of CT (CHC ACT), Community Health Outreach Workers will be trained to be integral members of the health care delivery team, providing appropriate services to underserved clients and diverse communities, such as immigrants.

The overall goal of this initiative is to increase the percentage of eligible children who are enrolled in HUSKY, the State’s Medicaid program for children. Community Health Workers (CHWs) who are familiar with the community and can present the HUSKY opportunity in a family-friendly manner are often most successful in meeting this goal.

Some of the specific objectives of the Community Health Outreach Worker training curriculum are to:

  • Develop effective communication, advocacy, and culturally appropriate outreach and enrollment services.
  • Learn data collection and documentation procedures.
  • Learn to develop goals and treatment planning necessary to impact communities served.
  • Become familiar with community agencies as referral sources and collaborative partners.
  • Develop teamwork skills.

Southwestern AHEC’s Community Health Worker Curriculum further developed when serving as a Technical Assistance partner in the Community Health Worker National Education Collaborative, www.chw-nec.org from 2005 – 2007. This allowed us to participate in sharing best practices for educating Community Health Workers with others across the USA.

CHW-NEC Meeting - December 2004

Carl Rush, Consultant - Community Resources, LLC, E. Lee Rosenthal, Ph.D, MS, MPH, Assistant Professor, University of Texas, El Paso, and Yvonne Lacey, Promotores in California working on the framework for education of Community Health Workers

Graduation of the Community Health Worker Class of 2003 with Mentors

Graduation of the Community Health Worker Class of 2003 with Mentors

What is Service Learning?

November 16, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Service Learning is the Link between Academic Study and the Practical Experience of Community Service.

Service-Learning

As defined by the International Partnership for Service Learning and Leadership (2008): Service learning is the pedagogy that links academic study with the practical experience of community service. It has become an international movement that offers new approaches to teaching and learning and to the civic engagement of institutions of higher education. It provides students with an education that meets the highest academic standards and delivers meaningful service that makes a difference to the well-being of society.

Service learning aims to develop in students a life long commitment to service and leadership. It promotes understanding of local issues as well as recognition of the interrelatedness of communities and societies across the world.

Collegiate Health Service Corps Participants do not simply volunteer, instead they are provided with a structured learning experience that combines community service with academic preparation and reflection.

Diagram from: www.berea.edu/…/servicelearningdiagram.jpg