Example 1

The Student Nurses Association (SNA) under the guidance of a nursing instructor provides community service to high rise residents. Semesters 1-4 (all levels of nursing students) have adopted a high rise facility from the La Crosse Housing Authority called “Stokke Tower”. The primary services students provided are blood pressure screenings. This is available once a month for 1 hour. Days vary (no set day each month). This activity was taken on by the SNA in the spring semester 2008 when 1-2 students provided service. The fall 2008 semester SNA has a higher number of students who have expressed interest in continued support of the residents of “Stokke Tower”. Now 4 students are at each screening. More advanced students this semester are teaching 1st semester students how to have better accuracy with the skill of taking blood pressures. A reflection component for students is included.

Example 2

The students developed and implemented the Free Health and Blood Pressure Fair during the spring semester of 2008. This event was a service-learning partnership between Western Technical College and the Housing Authority of the City of La Crosse Resident Services Department. The students were required to plan, organize, advertise and facilitate an informational health fair in the high rise apartments. The residents were provided valuable health information, blood pressure screenings, health snacks, and in some cases, handmade craft projects free of charge. Age appropriate therapeutic activities and communication provided a festive atmosphere to engage both the students and the participating residents in a positive intergenerational connection. A reflection component for students was included.

In celebration of the success of the service-learning project, the course instructor and the housing authority was awarded the prestigious National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Award of Merit, which was created to give national recognition to those housing and community development organizations that are finding innovative ways of making a difference in the lives of the people served by the NAHRO members (Housing Authority, City of La Crosse).