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Ruth C. Browne, ScD.CEO, Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health

Principal Investigator & Fulbright NEXUS Awardee (2011-2012)

Social Determinants of Health Internship Program: Training Program for Caribbean

Secondary School Students

Conditions responsive to interventions that address the SDOH, such as CVD/Diabetes/HIV, are among Trinidad and Tobago’s leading causes of death

Shortage of public health care professionals remains a major cause of health sector problems in the Caribbean region, specifically Trinidad and Tobago

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Invest in pipeline programs with proven effectiveness in developing a public sector workforce who:

• Are interested in health careers• Understand the role of socio-determinants of

health, social justice and sustainability in health equity & healthcare

• Are committed to applying these frameworks to address health equity issues

OUR APPROACH

Strategic Partnerships

Replication & Adaptability

Sustainability

PROJECT GOAL

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NGOs’ expanded capacity to participate in research and policy advocacy

Increased knowledge of the social determinants of health & the field of public health by the youth

Youth’s Increased efficacy & awareness of themselves as agents of change.

Develop sustainable & productive Community-Academic-Government partnerships that result in:

Encompasses all levels of socio-political structures & leverages their skills towards addressing health outcomes in Trinidad & Tobago .

Develops a grass-roots, culturally relevant, age-appropriate curriculum focused on social determinants of health and improving health equity locally & throughout the Americas.

Adapt an existing model for international replication that:

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Social Determinants of Health

Develop strategic

partnerships(Government,

Academic & NGOs)

Train 20 students

interested in public health (Trinidad & Tobago)

Implement student engaged

community-based research

PROJECT ACTIVITIES (SAMPLE)

“Gender Roles, Race & Cultural Competency in Access & Health-Seeking”

“Environmental Justice”

“Clinical Overview of Chronic Diseases/Epidemics: Diabetes”

SAMPLE CURRICULUM

SAMPLE RESEARCH PROJECTS

“Profile of Patient Ethnicity & Religion in CVD”

“Waste Management in the Healthcare Sector”

“Diet & Exercise Patterns in Patients Diagnosed with Diabetes Type I & II

Develop sustainable community-academic government partnerships

Adaptation of an existing model and international replication

Development of instructional curriculum that is relevant to Trinidad & Tobago & the Caribbean

PROJECT MILESTONES

By leveraging the resources of UWI, government ministries, NGOs, schools, and students, the Internship Program:◦ Creates pathways for community and youth to

become engaged in health equity solutions◦ Supports a pipeline of students who are

academically prepared to pursue careers in health◦ Strengthens the region’s health system and

services by fostering the next generation of health care leaders

Public Policy Implications of Social Determinants of Health Internship Program

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BenchmarksKnowledge, Tracking, Dissemination,

Engagement• Knowledge scales of levels of

learning

• Increase motivation to pursue careers in the health care field

• Increased understanding of SDOH

• Tracking of students through college

• Presentation of students’ research to International agencies, academia, government & NGO community

Engagement:

• Joint development of research projects

• MOUs with academic partners, NGOs and schools

• Letters of endorsement from government agencies

• Faculty interaction with secondary school students

• Faculty interaction with NGOs

Sustainability & Replication:

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Years UWI Campuses

Students

2012 Trinidad & Tobago

20

2013 Trinidad & Tobago; Jamaica

40

2014 Trinidad & Tobago; Jamaica; Barbados

60

Curriculum enhancement: Webinars & live broadcast (Brooklyn-T & T) Cross-cultural exchanges (Brooklyn- T &T/Regional) UWI cross-campus collaborations

Curriculum Integration: Incorporate the curriculum in existing secondary school/public health curricula

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

CHALLENGES

Location/CommuteIT supportStaffing

Establishing linkages between NGOs & Academic

InstitutionsInfrastructure for

researchWorkshops-

SDOH, Health Equity

Increasing student

participation

LOGISTICS CAPACITY BUILDING (NGOs)

FUNDING

Nexus Award Fund Allocation to Seed Project

Nexus Award: $30,000

23%

20%57%

RESOURCE ALLOCATION

Student support & development

NGO capacity de-velopment

Direct Replication costs

FUNDING NEED20 students (2012)

$6,850$6,080

$17,070

37,060

11,000

15,870

$-

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

Student Support/Development CBO Capacity Development Direct Replication Costs

Anticipated costs

Actual Costs

Cash Contributions: $35,000 (Current Need)In-kind Contributions:

AAIUH leadership and staff UWI leadership and Faculty NGO leadership and staff

Potential Support Sources: T&T: Government, Corporations, NGOs, UWI Private Foundations, International agencies & NGOs

Implementation Requirements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Community partners

COMMUNITY PARTNERS (NGOS)

• Cropper Foundation• Diabetes Association of Trinidad & Tobago• Environment Tobago• Families in Action• Heartbeat International• Heart Foundation of Trinidad & Tobago• Kinds in Need of Direction• Oil Workers Trade Union• Red Cross of Trinidad & Tobago• Toco Foundation

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

• Iere High School• Naparima Girls High School• Queen’s Royal College• San Fernando Central Secondary

School• St. Joseph’s Convent, St. Joseph’s• St. Mary’s College• St. Stephen’s College• Vessigny Secondary School

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Government & Academic partners

GOVERNMENT OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

• Ministry of Health• Ministry of Education• Ministry of Science, Technology & Tertiary Education• Tobago House of Assembly

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

• University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences, St. Augustine Campus (Trinidad & Tobago)

Q & A