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JMU/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES ‘THE HEALTH PLACE’ | |
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From: Media Relations HARRISONBURG –– James Madison University, Page County residents and health-service agencies have come together to form The Health Place, a new community health-outreach initiative in Page County.Located in Stanley, The Health Place develops need-based, interdisciplinary health outreach services and activities in partnership with the community, and is also a resource for service learning activities involving faculty and students. It is the result of a collaborative effort by JMU’s department of nursing, Nursing Research and Outreach Center (NROC), Holistic Health Resource Center and Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center, as well as Page County residents and health and human service agencies. Blue Ridge AHEC leases the building from Page County School Board member Vance Bryant. Emily Akerson, NROC direct services coordinator, works with community partners to develop services that address needs in areas that include parenting, first aid, infant CPR, adult literacy, personal finance, nutrition, screening for breast and cervical cancer and teen pregnancy prevention. She said the goal of the center is not to duplicate services available elsewhere, but to provide those that aren’t. "Plus, we intend to be very flexible in what we provide," Akerson said. "The community’s overall needs may not be the same next year as they are this year. We will work to be responsive to those kinds of changes and to keep The Health Place a fluid, need-driven operation." Vida Huber, interim sssociate dean of JMU’s College of Integrated Science and Technology, said as The Health Place and its services grow, JMU will contribute faculty and students from nursing, social work, psychology, health education, health administration and business. She said these cross-disciplinary learning opportunities are important for health professionals. "In the future, no one health-care provider will have all the answers, and so it is critical that professionals in the field understand each other’s roles and work collaboratively to achieve health-care goals," Huber said. "One way to promote that is to offer learning opportunities for students to work in real-life endeavors – opportunities that will be available to them through The Health Place." Christopher Nye, director of Blue Ridge AHEC, said funding for the center will be provided through community donations, fund-raising and grants. The plan, he said, is to provide services at little or no cost to Page County residents seeking services at The Health Place. "In the true spirit of a community venture, everyone is pitching in to make this work," Nye said. "The Page County Health Department is providing immunizations. Students and faculty from JMU are contributing time and expertise. And health-care professionals from the community are providing education and other services. Everyone recognizes the overwhelming need for this center, and everyone is doing what they can to help it succeed." Upcoming outreach activities at the Health Place include a collaborative health outreach with the JMU Child Development Clinic. Appointments are scheduled for July 20 and Aug. 24. For further information, contact Emily Akerson at (540) 568-8123. |
 
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Publisher: Media Relations For Information Contact: JMU News Bureau |
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