April 22, 2002 == MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact Barb Timmermans at 957-7196
A Health Fair at the end of April will mark the culmination of a semester-long
collaboration between the Creston Neighborhood Association and the Hope-Calvin
Nursing Program.
On April 27 students from the nursing program will run a Health Fair from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. at Palmer Elementary School (309 Palmer NE) in Grand Rapids. The
purpose of the fair is to promote health awareness and injury prevention and
safety strategies in the community. Included will be such things as free blood
pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar screening for adults, while for kids a
multitude of activities will be available, including Freddie the Talking Fire
Truck, an obstacle course and face painting.
In addition, thanks to a partnership with the Safe Kids Coalition the Health
Fair will give out 100 bike helmets to area youngsters. In fact, the Calvin and
Hope students had a two-hour training session on April 2 at Mary Free Bed
Hospital to learn how to properly fit helmets.
"For the Health of It" is one of the highlights of a collaborative effort
between the CNA and the Hope-Calvin Nursing Program. During the semester
students in the program spend two full days a week working in the neighborhood,
fulfilling their senior year "clinical study." Working with Catherine's Care
Center (whose mission is to improve the health of Creston and Belknap area
residents through motivation, screening, education and referrals and by acting
as a gateway to primary health care services) the students do home visits in the
neighborhood, immunizations at Creston and Central high schools, health
screenings in a local senior citizens apartment building and more.
Calvin professor Barb Timmermans says the five-year-old partnership gives
students a good taste of what it means to be a nurse in a community and to focus
on neighborhood needs. A big part of the Calvin curriculum centers on health
promotion and protection, serving people before they become ill. Calvin
professors know that this is a significant trend in healthcare circles and they
want the Calvin curriculum to be able to provide for that need.
-end-
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