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Project Overview
The CoCHY Service Learning Initiative (CoCHY-SLI) was implemented in three phases, corresponding to the fall, winter, and spring quarters of the 2004-2005 academic year. In the fall, we solicited “pre-applications” from local congregations that were interested in developing health promotion activities for youth. These one page pre-applications were easy to complete and helped us identify potential community partners for the service learning process. On December 6, 2004, we convened a mandatory meeting attended by 12 of these applicants. At the meeting, we described the project in detail and helped identify common interests that might lead congregations to collaborate. By mid-December, five individual congregations or teams, consisting of eleven individuals from ten congregations expressed interest in serving as community partners in the service learning process.
Beginning in January 2005, 13 graduate students enrolled in Dr. Randi Love’s seminar, “Public Health in Action.” In the first class, the students were divided into five teams to work with each of the five community partners. The goal of each team was to work with the congregation(s) to develop a detailed grant proposal in response to an RFP we devised. While the service-learning experience varied across each of the student/congregation teams, written and oral presentations of all five proposals were completed by early March. The project faculty (Drs. Love, Price-Spratlen & Steinman) convened to decide which proposals merited funding. Happily, all five projects met this threshold and the project budget allowed for sufficient funds to support them.
The third phase of CoCHY SLI occurred during Spring 2004. Because many congregations have limited staff and volunteer resources, 38 undergraduate students from Dr. Townsand Price-Spratlen’s Sociology course “The Community” were assigned to assist with the implementation of the different projects. With the exception of one event that was delayed one month, all of the projects were completed during April and May 2005. The table below describes each of the projects. The students were involved in a wide variety of activities, including helping advertise and organize the events.
Health promotion activities sponsored by CoCHY-SLI
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Congregation(s) |
Amount funded |
Project description |
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The Way of Holiness |
$500 |
Health fair for youth: About 30 youth and 50 adults attended a health fair that offered free educational materials (e.g., poisoning prevention) and medical services (e.g., eye exams) in addition to entertainment (COSI on wheels). |
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New Birth Christian Ministries,
Flintridge Baptist Church |
810 |
Half day program on child sexual abuse, led by clergy and staff from the Sexual Assault Resource Network of Central Ohio. Program was very well attended; lay leaders expressed excitement in having SARNCO return to discuss other topics |
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The Potter’s House |
540 |
True Love Waits: A multi-session abstinence program . Ten girls participated in the program that culminated in a commitment ceremony to remain abstinent until marriage. |
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Mt Olivet Baptist Church |
500 |
Accent on Youth: Workshop on youth awareness of mental health issues. Few youth attended the workshop, though adults were satisfied. |
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Shiloh Baptist Church
Love Zion Baptist Church
St. Peter’s ELC
Resurrection Power COGIC |
1000 |
Healthy Spirit/Healthy Soul: Physical activity program using educational sessions and pedometers for group goal setting and self-monitoring. Few youth expressed interest, although adults were very motivated and adopted the program for themselves. |
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Gospel Lighthouse
Love Zion Baptist Church |
1000 |
Day-long sexuality retreat workshop for teens led by clergy and staff from the Columbus Health Department. Very well attended, although one congregation officially dropped out, many of their youth still attended. |
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