The Collegiate Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a state-wide, service-learning program represented at five Connecticut universities.  The Northwestern CT College Corps is composed of Western Connecticut State University students and based in Danbury.
To start a CHSC at your college or university, contact Northwestern CT AHEC at nwctahec@nwctahec.org

 

The mission of the program is to recruit college students into health careers while providing outreach opportunities to promote preventative healthcare to the underserved communities.  Download the Powerpoint show here:

Why Join?

• Make a difference in one of the neediest areas of public health
• Be a leader in eliminating health disparities and improving health literacy.
• Build camaraderie with other pre-health career students.
• Gain extensive volunteer and community outreach experience.
• Receive mentorship and guidance during academic training and application to graduate medical programs.
• Gain valuable knowledge about current trends in public health through three levels of core training and diverse, hands-on experiences.
• Build cultural competency skills and develop professional relationships with outreach communities.

What do WestConn Collegiate Corps Students Do?

Service-learners become trained at three progressive levels including the following components:

• cultural competency
• health disparities
• health education delivery
• health screenings (blood pressure, blood glucose, BMI)
• CPR & First Aid
• Medical Reserve Corps 

 

Service-Learning Site Examples:

 

• migrant farms
• soup kitchens
• children’s after school programs
• rehabilitation centers
• elementary schools
• shelters, nursing homes
• Federal Correctional Facility
• Other medical facilities

 

Trained Students present health education to diverse populations on preventative health topics such as:

• Diabetes,
• Cardiovascular disease & Hypertension,
• Osteoporosis,
• Nutrition
• Tuberculosis & H1N1
• Cancer prevention
• back care & safety
• oral health & vision care
• emergency preparedness   

 

At some clinical sites, students have the opportunity to take blood pressure and blood glucose readings. 

Last year alone, 24 WestConn students completed approximately 700 hours of service-learning to the Danbury community!