A Collaborative Service Learning Partnership

Abstract

Background: The Farm Worker Family Health Program (FWFHP) is a long-term successful and innovative teaching program encompassing nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, pharmacy, psychology and public health. The program is a collaborative partnership among five universities, a rural migrant health clinic and multiple community partners. The lead school of nursing recognizes that preparing nursing students to participate as members of interdisciplinary teams is a challenge, yet participating in the FWFHP teaches students not only that collaboration is essential for health care professionals, but a necessity in low resource settings.Purpose: Undergraduate community health students, dental hygiene students, nurse practitioner students from family practice, family nurse-midwifery, women's health and pediatrics, and graduate students from physical therapy, pharmacy, public health and psychology spend two weeks in a southern rural agricultural area working 12 hours a day to deliver health care and education to approximately 1000 migrant farm workers and their families. Year round program planning among all partners is vital to the program's success.Methodology: The FWFHP teaches students public health concepts in a real world setting, exposes students to rural service areas and addresses the pressing needs of a severely underserved population in the context of a community partnership model. The program is centered around the implementation of the core public health competencies: assessment, assurance and policy development. Additionally, the program exemplifies social responsibility, a core value of the lead school of nursing.Findings: Students leave this experience with a deepened appreciation for the resiliency of the migrant workers, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and with increased confidence in providing health care in low resource settings.Summary Concluding Statement: The partner universities' clinical training is enhanced by providing students with an immersion experience in a non-traditional setting focusing on social responsibility in health care practice. This poster will present program planning, implementation and outcomes. Background: The Farm Worker Family Health Program (FWFHP) is a long-term successful and innovative teaching program encompassing nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, pharmacy, psychology and public health. The program is a collaborative partnership among five universities, a rural migrant health clinic and multiple community partners. The lead school of nursing recognizes that preparing nursing students to participate as members of interdisciplinary teams is a challenge, yet participating in the FWFHP teaches students not only that collaboration is essential for health care professionals, but a necessity in low resource settings. Purpose: Undergraduate community health students, dental hygiene students, nurse practitioner students from family practice, family nurse-midwifery, women's health and pediatrics, and graduate students from physical therapy, pharmacy, public health and psychology spend two weeks in a southern rural agricultural area working 12 hours a day to deliver health care and education to approximately 1000 migrant farm workers and their families. Year round program planning among all partners is vital to the program's success. Methodology: The FWFHP teaches students public health concepts in a real world setting, exposes students to rural service areas and addresses the pressing needs of a severely underserved population in the context of a community partnership model. The program is centered around the implementation of the core public health competencies: assessment, assurance and policy development. Additionally, the program exemplifies social responsibility, a core value of the lead school of nursing. Findings: Students leave this experience with a deepened appreciation for the resiliency of the migrant workers, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and with increased confidence in providing health care in low resource settings. Summary Concluding Statement: The partner universities' clinical training is enhanced by providing students with an immersion experience in a non-traditional setting focusing on social responsibility in health care practice. This poster will present program planning, implementation and outcomes.