SCHOOL/HEALTH PROVIDER PARTNERSHIP
Since 2007, CEI-PEA has been guiding a unique partnership between IS 59 in Queens, New York and the North Shore Long Island-Jewish Center for Learning and Innovation. This partnership was developed to create a national model for urban school/health care provider collaboration to promote the scholarship of all children in urban settings and comprehensively foster the knowledge, skills and habits of mind that will ensure productive involvement of young adults in the provision of healthcare services and the embracing of healthy habits of mind and body through the integration of health care facility services. Currently there are 5 major components to the Partnership:
- North Shore University Hospital Weekly Visitation program. This program involves one class on each grade level of the Lewis Latimer Academy at IS 59. Classes attend lectures, participate in hands-on activities, meet NSLIJ staff to learn about various careers at the hospital, and tour facilities, such as the CORE Laboratories, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Advanced Center for Medicine, the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center and the Tobacco Control Center.
- Classroom Inc. Community Clinic computer program. Used with Lewis Latimer Academy students who do not participate in the NSLIJ program, this program provides students with the opportunity to work with an expert science consultant on the Community Clinic program, which emphasizes Science and English language arts skills and is designed to improve problem-solving, critical thinking and literacy skills.
- Ongoing science teacher professional development program. A second expert science consultant attends all trips with the classes. The consultant then works with teachers back at the school to facilitate infusion of the experience into the new NYC science curriculum.
- Inter-generational Literary and Performing Arts programs. Students from the Maya Angelou and Gregory Hines Academies in IS 59 partner with seniors from North Shore University Hospital’s CECR and ORZAC centers. They share poetry and performing arts activities with select seniors. Arts groups perform at NSUH.
- NSLIJ staff conduct workshops for students at IS 59. A new medical law and ethics focus series has begun with special education students at IS 59.
An important long-range goal is for NSLIJ to track the IS 59 students participating in the partnership for 10 years. During the summer of 2008, a 2-week internship program was developed for 14 graduating 8th grade students. During this school year, IS 59 and NSLIJ have hosted 3 “Bring Back Days” for graduates of the partnership programs. These events are conducted by NSLIJ staff either at the school or at the NSLIJ Center for Learning and Innovation. An average of 15 students attended each Bring Back Day.
For more information, contact Mae Fong.
