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Community Projects
The following community projects are sponsored by the Learning Together
Program. Read about each of the projects and programs, and see which
ones spark your interest!
Medi-Sweep
"Medi-Sweep" is a community-based outreach project that allows learners to interact with many different members of the Durham community, including elementary-aged students and their parents. Before participating in this project, learners are trained to complete a two-page Medicaid form that will allow an uninsured individual to obtain health insurance if they qualify. The project takes place at elementary schools during school-related functions that cater to parents, per the school's request. Providing information at a school-related event allows the parents to inquire about and obtain services at a time that fits their schedule. During this outreach, learners may also help enroll the parents' children in a school-based clinic. Learners who speak Spanish will also be needed for this outreach effort. Look for future Medi-Sweep projects at the beginning of the Durham Public School year and contact the Learning Together Program if you are interested.
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Senior Sweep for Nutrition
"Senior Sweep" is a community-based outreach project that allows learners to have intergenerational experiences with populations of low socio-economic status. The learners are trained to go into a senior housing facility in the Durham area on a Friday afternoon and/or Saturday morning to help seniors complete Food Stamp applications. The assistance with this 16-page application helps the seniors get access to the resources they need even when barriers such as literacy and transportation might have impeded the process before. The coordinator of this outreach project works closely with the Durham County Department of Social Services and the Durham Housing Authority to know when and where these efforts would be most beneficial. Contact the Learning Together Program if you are interested.
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Caregiver Education
Caregivers in the Durham Community are thirsty for information that will help them take better care of their loved ones. Learners will be trained to teach Caregivers using web-based modules in workshop settings. This allows the Caregiver not only to learn about taking care of their loved one; it teaches them about technology and the many ways that it can help them access resources. The workshops will take place at various community sites as requested (senior centers, community centers). The start-up of this project depends upon community need and learner interest. Contact the Learning Together Program if you are interested.
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Health Literacy Education
Knowing how to talk to your doctor and the right questions to ask can be hard when a person who of limited literacy (both English speakers and those for whom English is a second language) goes to visit a medical provider. At this time, a group of Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing students are assisting with our health literacy curriculum development. After this curriculum has been created, learners will be trained to educate community members on how to talk to their providers, and what questions to ask. This is important, especially given the growing Latino population in the Durham community. Learners who speak Spanish will also be needed for this educational effort. These workshops will take place at various community sites as requested. Contact the Learning Together Program if you are interested.
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Project H.O.P.E. (Holistic Opportunities Plan for Enrichment)
At the heart of our Durham neighborhoods are community centers that serve as resource hubs and gathering places for local children, adolescents, and adults. Beginning in 2002, Duke has provided student tutors to serve in the Crest St., West End and Walltown community centers. With a sustainable academic tutoring program in place, the community center staff have been able to identify other program needs and want to better serve their children. Current service opportunities are in the areas of: academic tutoring, mentoring, health education and recreational activities. The scheduling of activities with Project H.O.P.E. is flexible. Contact the Learning Together Program if you are interested.
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Learners Teaching Learners
Learners Teaching Learners is a campus-community partnership that links learners from health professional and other academic programs with area public elementary schools. Linking with local elementary schools to deliver health education enables learners to provide their communities with a valuable service while simultaneously teaching them key skills in population needs assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Currently, pediatric residents are developing health education lessons and preparing to teach sessions to students at Glenn Elementary and at Watts Schools. Connecting elementary students with learners gives them an introduction to health careers and provides motivation for pursuing these careers. Learners provide health education to their students in a variety of areas from general hygiene to nutrition. If you and your cohort (or a small group of students from within your same discipline) are interested in adopting a school, you need a qualified faculty member who will be your "Learner Leader." Please contact the Learning Together Program for information on the next steps.
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Youth Science Enrichment Program (YSEP) Success!
Some students have an interest in developing their own community projects. However, there is a required event approval process. An example of a successful student endeavor was the Youth Science Enrichment Program (YSEP). This six-week program was created by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) from Duke University Medical School in October 2004. This program was designed to motivate young students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the health careers to think seriously about science. The YSEP did this by providing a teaching model of science that was fun, engaging, and interesting. The YSEP was also designed to help improve student performance in science courses and introduce students to positive role models in the science field. The first two educational programs took place at the Lyon Park Community Family Life and Recreation Center. Currently, the SNMA students are making plans to launch this program at Healthy Start Academy Charter School in Fall 2006. All SNMA members involved attended the Community Training Workshop, completed the two on-line training modules and received guidance and support from the Learning Together office. What a successful program!
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HEY Durham
Interactive health and sexuality education has been shown in prior studies to enhance knowledge and safe behaviors in adolescents. HEY-Durham is a twelve-week health/sexuality education program intended for 9th grade students who participate in the traditional health and physical education curriculum. Twelve classes are taught and staffed entirely by medical students during the regular fifty-minute class periods in participating classrooms. Individual teams of medical students meet prior to each classroom session in order to finalize lesson plans and review the pertinent material. However, the teams are given the flexibility to select topics within the HEY Durham curriculum. This freedom within the curriculum allows the teams to tailor the material to fit the needs of the students in their class. For more information contact Dr. Terrill Bravender, MD, MPH (brave001@mc.duke.edu).
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