The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47527

Katherine K. Kinsey, PhD, RN, FAAN, School of Nursing, La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center, La Salle University, Box 808, 1900 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141, 215-951-1434, kinsey@lasalle.edu and Ann Walker, MSN, RN, Neighborhood Nursing Center, La Salle University, Box 808, 1900 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141-1199.

This paper reviews the findings of the “Healthy You + Healthy Me=Healthy Schools & Healthy Neighborhoods” middle school health career program targeting inner city youth. The program is supported by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Health in Education Initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center and the School District of Philadelphia jointly sponsor the program. The health careers program targets 7th and 8th grade students enrolled in a Title I school. In this inner city neighborhood, less than sixty percent of the students graduate from high school. Nearly forty percent of students who enter ninth grade cannot read at grade level. The program’s goals are designed with this neighborhood in mind. The goals are to 1) to improve the well being of at risk youth; 2) educate students about health careers; and 3) introduce opportunities to become public health professionals. School dynamics, and student profiles necessitated multiple revisions to the 2000 to 2002 timeline and curriculum. More than 250 youth have participated in the in-school and summer camp program. Formative and summative evaluation of the curriculum, student performance, teacher feedback, school system factors and nursing center contributions are highlighted. Inner city youth need support and direction from caring mentors to become productive adults. This program is an example of what can be offered to high risk students; however the interplay of family, social, educational, economic and environmental dynamics may continue to vex public health professionals who truly want bright futures for these students.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• identify three factors influencing health career decisions of inner city youth.
• describe the Healthy Me....program. 3 discuss health profesional opportunities to introduce health career options to at risk youth.

Keywords: Public Health Careers, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.