Purple Goes to Page

Contact Information

Yvonne Frazier -- IIHHS/Healthy Families Page/Shenandoah Counties, 540-335-7797, frazieyh@jmu.edu

Description

Purple Goes to Page provides unique opportunities for students to gain insight into services and possible careers in a rural community. As part of the Lunch Buddies program, students are partnered with at-risk elementary students as a caring mentor who commits to regular in-school interactions with the child at lunch and/or classroom, seeking to improve school attendance, classroom behavior and performance, social skills, and relationship building. In collaboration with Healthy Families, some students also make home visits with staff to better understand the challenges and environments in which children live. Engagement activities also include problem-solving and strategies to address the needs of children and families, from collecting food or school supplies, to utilizing students' skill sets specific to their major or interest to support families' needs through groups and home visiting services. Social work, psychology (graduate and undergraduate), nursing, and public health/health promotion students have found these experiences to be an excellent opportunity for both engaged learning and community engagement. Innovative and meaningful experiences have also been provided for WRTC, fine arts, education, and business students. Purple Goes to Page allow any student, staff, or faculty to embrace the challenges and strengths of a community that is very different from the JMU community- and it's only about a 40 minute (beautiful) drive from campus.

Involvement

Involves Faculty, Involves Staff, Involves Students, Involves Participants External to JMU

Scope

Hburg/Local/VA

Date

Engagement activities primarily occur in fall and spring semesters, though some in the summer. The inaugural Purple Goes to Page year-end event will be held April 20th, 2018 in Stanley, Va.

Frequency

Recurring Event (Occurs on a regular basis but not continual)

Primary Focus of Program

Children, Youth, and Family; Community and Economic development; Education PK-12

Benefits for Faculty, Students, Community, and Institution

Students - internships, practicums, service-learning, independent studies, and volunteer experiences tailored to the interests and skills of each student; all experiences include opportunities for reflective supervision/consultation and connection to class projects, as appropriate. Faculty- Purple Goes to Page activities provide opportunities for class projects, service/program evaluation of outcomes/impact, and/or sharing of faculty expertise in a rural community setting. Healthy Families also offers in-class presentations related to interprofessional collaboration and work with at-risk populations in rural settings. Community- The partnerships with schools, clinics, and service groups have, and will continue, to build the capacity of these groups by involving soon-to-be young professionals in programs that strive to empower those in need. The energy, enthusiasm, and expertise of university students and faculty can strengthen community many endeavors. All of this benefits the university by furthering its vision to be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Community Partner Name

Healthy Families Page County and Stanley Elementary School

Areas of Engagement

Community Engagement, Engaged Learning

Format

Program, Community Service, Class/Coursework, Service Learning

On/Off campus

Off campus