CHAT, for Community Health, Awareness, and Training, is doing just that! The program is seen as an opportunity to partner with rural community schools to initiate health education. The school-based, health education curriculum is aimed toward developing sustainable healthy behaviors, promoting wellness and preventing disease.
The Russell Medical Foundation and the College of Nursing’s TigerCHAT recently marked 5 years of collaboration. During this time, the program has reached 9400 students in Tallapoosa County elementary schools.
“We targeted to include elementary schools in Dadeville, Reeltown, Horseshoe Bend, Stephens and Radney to incorporate all K to 6th grades,” said the developer of the program, Dr. Linda Gibson-Young, professor and Outreach coordinator for the College.
“Auburn University College of Nursing undergraduate and graduate students are an integral part of the education delivery to school children. Health-related disciplines and faculty have designed 13 weeks of content in a modular format including heart health, respiratory health, and mental health.”
The program targets K to 6th grade students, as these years are the starting point for abstract thought and the development of self-image and self-esteem. We initiated the face-to-face modules on nutrition and activity, staying healthy, and mental health and present to the students in the PE period. The lessons encourage students to make healthy choices and exercise, learn how to prevent infections and manage asthma or allergies, and identify and prevent mental health issues such as bullying, peer pressure, anxiety, and depression.
According to Gibson-Young, TigerCHAT is mutually beneficial. Elementary students learn about health issues and nursing students learn about pediatrics, childhood development stages, and community outreach. Both groups get a change in their class routine. For her service to the community, Gibson-Young received the Auburn University Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach, the university’s premier recognition of outreach scholarship and engagement, and for her longstanding commitment to Alabama communities.
“TigerCHAT is an amazing opportunity for our nursing students to interact with school-aged children amidst their familiar environments,” said Kelly Strickland, College of Nursing’s community liaison and assistant clinical professor. “They develop a deeper understanding of concepts integral to human growth and development, engage in health education and health promotion, and have an opportunity to have fun while applying their nursing knowledge! We are so grateful to the amazing schools for giving us this unique opportunity to both teach and learn alongside their students. We challenge our students to work with the group, do what is best for them,” “It’s about addressing health on the ‘front end’. What we want to do is help the kids understand how their body works and hopefully prevent them from ever going to the hospital because they’re taking good care of their body,” she added.
TigerCHAT™ programs are currently a partnership between academia, community, and school systems. Russell Medical Foundation is an exemplar in supporting this critically important outreach. We are deeply grateful for their generosity that we use annually to impact the lives of hundreds of children in east central Alabama.
