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St. Bonaventure University

University, county Health Department partnership expands wellness outreach across Cattaraugus County

Oct 07, 2024

A cadre of students in the DePerro School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure University have partnered with the Cattaraugus County Health Department for the past two semesters to help improve the health of local residents.

St. Bonaventure Mother Cabrini interns attended a Welcome Back to School event for the Olean School District. The outreach topic included ways to stay active and healthy during the school year.Last fall, the university received a $250,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to provide healthcare education in Cattaraugus County, a region with some of the highest rates of preventable diseases in New York state.

Through the internship program, 10 students during the spring semester and four students during the summer helped develop educational outreach for various populations from youth to seniors in the county. A team of 10 interns have begun outreach this fall.

The students, whose majors have included public health, health science, nursing, and occupational therapy, are trained and mentored by Health Department staff and grant director Natalie Marasco.

Among the wellness initiatives were presentations on heart-healthy living, eating healthy on a budget, fall prevention, diabetes/arthritis education, mindfulness, and summer safety health tips. The college students also completed a series of topics focused on the teen population at the Olean library, including healthy relationships, smoking and vaping, stress management, nutrition and healthy eating, and self-care.

Dr. Claire Watson, founding director of the Public Health, Health Science, and Master of Public Health programs at St. Bonaventure, said connecting classroom lessons and theory to application within a community is vital to ensure SBU students are prepared for health careers.

St. Bonaventure Mother Cabrini interns chat with children and their families about tips and ways to keep safe during the summer months.“Since education is the cornerstone of medicine and health promotion, these opportunities provide an enhanced understanding of what the health needs are in our county and feasible strategies of how to address them,” Watson said. “Our students are embracing these experiences and we are very proud of the work they accomplished in the first two semesters of the grant.”

Marasco sees how the Mother Cabrini Grant provides the students with the opportunity to gain real-world learning experiences while improving the health of community members in Cattaraugus County.

“The student interns have truly exceeded my expectations with their positive energy and passion to influence the health behaviors of the community members we served,” Marasco said.

The students delivered programming to all age and socioeconomic levels at libraries, senior centers, assisted living organizations, day programs for people with developmental disabilities, the Olean YMCA, senior wellness and nutrition sites, Catholic Charities, community centers, and on campus.

For Public Health major Brooke Dudek, who is a senior at SBU, delivering wellness outreach at Intandem in Olean was a rewarding experience that opened her eyes to working with people with different health conditions.

“The Cabrini grant has allowed me to have these life-changing experiences and opportunities and I am forever grateful,” Dudek said.

Senior Ciara Farley, a Health Science major, described the internship as a remarkable experience that allowed her to see programs and events that are the backbone of Cattaraugus County.

“Visiting assisted living residences, after-school programs, rehabilitation centers, and outreach events in the area provided me with a different perspective of the community and how it functions,” Farley said.

Public Health major Benjamin Vitale also enjoyed working with a range of organizations and populations.

St. Bonaventure Mother Cabrini interns talk with senior citizens at the Senior Wellness & Nutrition Site in Delevan about fall prevention.

“Being able to help improve lives makes the work feel rewarding,” he said. He has also developed stronger presentation and communication skills during the internship.

Marasco is proud of the students and has received a lot of positive feedback about their interactions in local communities.

“I have received a number of emails and calls from the coordinators and organizations praising how pleased they’ve been with the students delivering the outreaches. They are making such a positive impact in the communities focusing on improving the health of others,” she said. “They’ve been hard-working, reliable, and, most of all, passionate about educating and delivering these programs to the underserved populations.”

Kim Connell is the Nutrition Program director at the Cattaraugus County Department of Aging and has appreciated seeing the interactions between the college students and senior citizens at nutrition sites.

“These intergenerational events have been a pure joy for our seniors and have resulted in our seniors wanting the students to provide additional education programs, opening the door to provide self-sustaining health benefits as well as intergenerational companionship,” she said.

Public Health major Kevin Eberth enjoyed his summer internship so much he asked to continue it this fall.

“Through my internship I have learned a lot about public health in general and the health challenges in Cattaraugus County specifically. I am especially grateful to the team at the Cattaraugus County Health Department for sharing their expertise and mentorship as this relationship continues,” he said.

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About the Foundation: The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/.

 

 

About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).