LOCATION: Fayetteville, AR, U.S.A.

ORGANIZATION TYPE: Education

FOCUS AREA: Children / Families, Education, Food security / Nutrition, Housing / Neighborhoods, Immigration, Jobs & Work, Law, Media / Journalism, Mental health / Psychology, Public Policy, Race / Ethnicity, Transportation

HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVES: Specifically in the School of Nursing, we are raising awareness in our BSN students about the effects of privilege, racism, and poverty on health. We acculturate students into what it means to be a professional who practices under a code of ethics and who has an obligation to advocate at all levels for health equity. Students reflect on their clinical practice and often identify instances where health inequity is present. In spring 2009, we will offer a three-credit special topics course on minority health disparities open to all undergraduate and graduate students. The course was developed by Kathleen Barta at the School of Nursing with a small grant from Carmen Coustaut, Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Diversity and Education. The course includes one credit of service learning. Students will be involved in the Third Annual Arkansas Minority Health Disparities conference April 3, 2009. The College of Education and Health Professions is a key sponsor for the third year in a row.