Abstract
The Population Health Project (PHP) provides an innovative approach for nursing baccalaureate students to develop policy and advocacy skills through immersive community engagement (Beiers-Jones et al., 2023). This case study highlights a community-academic partnership (CAP) between the African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO) and nursing students to address health inequities among refugees in Portland, Oregon. The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how sustained CAPs like this can serve as a model for student-led public health initiatives.
Each term, nursing students collaborate with AYCO to identify and address specific health needs in the refugee population. A recent example is a 90-minute nutrition class provided for 45 Somali and Afghan women. Conducted by three baccalaureate nursing students, the session included live translation and a culturally tailored slideshow on dietary guidelines, and diabetes management, focusing on overcoming common barriers to healthy eating. A participant-driven discussion facilitated engagement and shared learning, followed by a culturally significant meal to reinforce the material and build community.
Following this intervention, discussions with AYCO’s Executive Director revealed additional needs in mental health, where stigma and limited access to care pose significant barriers (Abdi et al., 2022; Byrow et al., 2019). Identified interventions include culturally informed sessions, multilingual educational materials, and improved referrals to local providers. Conducting a needs assessment to produce data supporting future funding and program expansion was recognized as a priority.
AYCO has emphasized that nursing students' knowledge and time contributions have been invaluable. Students report that working in a CAP extends their educational experience and strengthens their impact on public health (Janssen Breen et al., 2019). While students have multiple ways to fulfill their PHP, setting realistic expectations about scope, time, and expertise with community organizations is essential for sustaining these CAPs. Our CAP with AYCO models best practices, ensuring continuity with new student groups each term to advance AYCO’s mission (Rinaldo et al., 2022).
This case study underscores the pivotal role that nursing students, through CAPs, can play in addressing public health challenges. The PHP partnership serves as a replicable model for community-engaged, student-led health initiatives that promote health equity.
Notes
References:
1. Beiers-Jones, K., Doyle, B., Lanciotti, K., & Lemon, E. (2023). Population Health Projects: An Innovative Teaching Strategy for Baccalaureate Nursing Education. Journal of Professional Nursing, 49, 26–32.
2. Abdi, S. M., Miller, A. B., Agalab, N. Y., & Ellis, B. H. (2022). Partnering with refugee communities to improve mental health access. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 28(3), 370–378.
3. Byrow, Y., Pajak, R., McMahon, T., Rajouria, A., & Nickerson, A. (2019). Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking Amongst Refugee Men. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(15), 2634.
4. Janssen Breen, L., Diamond-Caravella, M., Moore, G., Wruck, M., Guglielmo, C., Little, A., Tedeschi, P., Zacharia, M., & Cataletto, M. (2019). When reach exceeds touch: Student experiences in a cross-sector community-based academic-practice partnership. Public Health Nursing, 36(3), 429–438.
5. Rinaldo, S.B., Davis, D.F., Borunda, J. (2022). Delivering Value to Community Partners in Service-Learning Projects. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 8(1), 115-124
Sigma Membership
Xi Mu
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Case Study/Series
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Community-Academic Partnership, Baccalaureate Nursing Students
Recommended Citation
Portanova, Jaclyn; Ferris, Jordan; and Torris-Hedlund, Morgan A., "Integrating Community Partners Into Population Health Projects" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 120.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/120
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Integrating Community Partners Into Population Health Projects
Seattle, Washington, USA
The Population Health Project (PHP) provides an innovative approach for nursing baccalaureate students to develop policy and advocacy skills through immersive community engagement (Beiers-Jones et al., 2023). This case study highlights a community-academic partnership (CAP) between the African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO) and nursing students to address health inequities among refugees in Portland, Oregon. The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how sustained CAPs like this can serve as a model for student-led public health initiatives.
Each term, nursing students collaborate with AYCO to identify and address specific health needs in the refugee population. A recent example is a 90-minute nutrition class provided for 45 Somali and Afghan women. Conducted by three baccalaureate nursing students, the session included live translation and a culturally tailored slideshow on dietary guidelines, and diabetes management, focusing on overcoming common barriers to healthy eating. A participant-driven discussion facilitated engagement and shared learning, followed by a culturally significant meal to reinforce the material and build community.
Following this intervention, discussions with AYCO’s Executive Director revealed additional needs in mental health, where stigma and limited access to care pose significant barriers (Abdi et al., 2022; Byrow et al., 2019). Identified interventions include culturally informed sessions, multilingual educational materials, and improved referrals to local providers. Conducting a needs assessment to produce data supporting future funding and program expansion was recognized as a priority.
AYCO has emphasized that nursing students' knowledge and time contributions have been invaluable. Students report that working in a CAP extends their educational experience and strengthens their impact on public health (Janssen Breen et al., 2019). While students have multiple ways to fulfill their PHP, setting realistic expectations about scope, time, and expertise with community organizations is essential for sustaining these CAPs. Our CAP with AYCO models best practices, ensuring continuity with new student groups each term to advance AYCO’s mission (Rinaldo et al., 2022).
This case study underscores the pivotal role that nursing students, through CAPs, can play in addressing public health challenges. The PHP partnership serves as a replicable model for community-engaged, student-led health initiatives that promote health equity.
Description
This case study presents a partnership between nursing students in a population health course and AYCO, a community organization in Portland, Oregon, to address refugee health inequities. Projects include nutrition education for refugee mothers and initiatives to reduce mental health stigma and improve access to resources. This partnership exemplifies a model for student-led, community-focused public health initiatives promoting health equity.