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Fact Sheets

Public Health and Service-Learning

Source: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, October 2008.

This resource gives an overview of service-learning and provides a list of resources and research on service-learning and public health.

Service-learning is a teaching approach in K-12, higher education, and community-based settings that can be used to support and promote public health organizations and initiatives, enhance public health professional education, teach about issues of health and wellness to students and communities, and can be used as a health intervention to promote health and prevent disease.

What is Service-Learning?

Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. As students participate in service projects, actively meeting the needs of their communities, they develop practical skills, critical thinking, self-esteem, and a sense of civic responsibility which can last a lifetime. This is accomplished by combining service tasks with structured opportunities that bridge the gap between the classroom and the larger world.

With service-learning, students:

  • Connect academic subjects to the real word
  • Meet real community needs
  • Grow as leaders, decision makers, and problem solvers
  • Gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them
  • Develop as active members of society
But students aren't the only ones that benefit. An essential aspect of service-learning is that the student, the community, and public health organization all benefit from the partnership. Here are just a few of possible benefits:
  • The opportunity to expand your mission and reach out (without substantially increasing costs) by engaging a cadre of competent, motivated young people.
  • New energy, ideas, and enthusiasm as well as specialized skills that young people can bring to your organization.
  • Increased public support and visibility as students become ambassadors for public health and wellness issues.
  • New partnerships and resources.
  • A new generation of volunteers and future public health advocates.
Service-learning and public health can intersect in several different ways:
  • Service-learning can be a component in public health professional education. Examples: Students in a pharmacy course may provide vaccine and post-care information at a flu clinic. Nursing student volunteers at a cancer hospice gain experience in providing companionship and support the terminally ill. MPH candidates might answer calls to teen sex advice line, providing information on sexuality and sexual health.
  • Service-learning is used to support public health organizations. Examples: Computer science students may help develop a website for a local women's health center. High school students in a Spanish class can develop, deliver, and evaluate a brochure targeted to the Spanish-speaking immigrant community to make them aware of health services available.
  • Service-learning is used as a health intervention. Example: Service-learning has been shown to be an effective tool against teen sexual risk-taking, pregnancy, and STDs.
  • Public Health organizations play the role of community partners in service-learning by teaming up with schools, universities, and other community-based organizations to meet shared goals and initiatives, like lowering childhood diabetes rates in a community, providing healthy nutritious food in a local soup kitchen, or increasing health literacy.

Selected Resources: Service-Learning as a Health Intervention

Carter, J., & Dunn, B. (2002). A service-learning partnership for enhanced diabetes management. Journal of Nursing Education, 41(10).

Denner, J., Coyle, K., Robin, L., & Banspach, S. (2005). Integrating service-learning into a curriculum to reduce health risks at alternative high schools. Journal of School Health, 75(5), 151-156.

Kirby, D. (2007). Emerging answers: research findings on programs to reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7324

Kraft, R.J. (2004). Y-R.I.S.E.: service-learning and HIV/AIDS prevention. St. Paul, MN: NYLC.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7116

O’Donnell, L. (1999). The effectiveness of the Reach for Health Community Youth service learning program in reducing early and unprotected sex among urban middle school students. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 176-181.

Rawl, R., Kolasa, K., Lee, J., & Whetstone, L.M. (2008). A Learn and Serve nutrition program: The Food Literacy Partners program. Journal of Nutrition Education, 40, 48-51.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7438

Stevens, C. (2008). Service learning for health, physical education, and recreation: a step-by-step guide. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/8140

Stewart, C.M Jr. (2005). A model human sexuality-HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention service-learning program. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 10(3), 83-64.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7381

Universidad del Sagrado Corazon. (2006). Viva salud: guia educativa. Volumen 1: nutricion, desordenes alimentarios y diabetes (parte 2). San Juan: Puerto Rico: Universidad del Sagrado Corazon.

Selected Resources: Service-Learning in Public Health Professional Education

Brosnan, C.A., Upchurch, S.L., Meininger, J.C., & Hester, L.E. (2005). Student nurses participate in public health research and practice through a school-based screening program. Public Health Nursing, 22(3), 260-266.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/6612

Carter, J.T., & Cochran, G.A. (2002). Service-learning projects in a public health in pharmacy course. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 66, 312-318.

Chambers, L.W., Hoey, J., Underwood, J., & Bains, N. (1998). Integration of service, education, and research in local official public health agencies. American Journal of Public Health, 88(7), 1102-1104.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/5621

Champagne, N. (2006). Increasing advocacy skills for entry-level health educators through service learning. Journal for Civic Commitment, 7.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7070

Cohen S.S., & Milone-Nuzzo P. (2001). Advancing health policy in nursing education through service-learning. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 23(3), 28-40.

Connors, K.M., Cashman, S., Seifer, S.D., & Unverzagt, M. (2003).  Advancing the Healthy People 2010 objectives through community-based education: a curriculum planning guide. San Francisco, CA: CCPH.

Gelmon, S.B., Holland, B.A., & Shinnamon, A.F. (1998). Health Professions Schools in Service to the Nation: Final Evaluation Report. San Francisco, CA: CCPH.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/2370

Norbeck, J.S., Connolly, C., Koerner, J., & Zlotkowski, E. (1998). Caring and Community: Concepts and Models for Service-Learning in Nursing. Herndon, VA: Stylus.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/3210

Seifer, S., Connors, K. (1997). Community-Campus Partnerships for Health: a guide for developing community responsive models in health professions education. San Francisco, CA: CCPH.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/3592

Seifer, S., Hermanns, K., Lewis, J., Zlotkowski, E. (2000). Creating Community-Responsive Physicians: Concepts and Models for Service Learning in Medical Education. Herndon, VA: Stylus.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/3593

Selected Resources: Service-Learning Addressing Issues of Public Health

Academy for Educational Development. (2007). Youth mapping health literacy. Washington, DC: AED.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7478

Bassi S., & Caldrello L. (2008). Tobacco-free service-learning pilot project. Journal of Nursing Education, 47(4), 174-178.

Beck, C., & Wiencek Knurek, J. (2004). Healthy Neighborhood Healthy Heart initiative: bridging community health theory to civic commitment. Journal for Civic Commitment, 3.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/5987

Cashman, S., & Seifer, S. (2008). Service-learning: an integral part of undergraduate public health. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(3), 273-278.

Hanks, C. (2003). Health disparities research and service learning. Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health.

Perez-Pinzon, H., & Perez, M.A. (2005). Changes in students’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills in a service learning community health course. Journal for Civic Commitment, 6.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7076

Seifer, S., & Vaughn, R.L. (2004). Community-Campus Partnerships for Health: making a positive impact. San Francisco, CA: CCPH.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7104

Youth Service America. (2008). Malaria: prevention, awareness, and fundraising through youth service. Washington, DC: Youth Service America.
www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/7565

For more information

Campus Compact
www.compact.org

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health
depts.washington.edu/ccph/

ETR Associates
www.etr.org

© 2008 Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse.
Photocopying for nonprofit educational purposes is permitted.