Pathways To Children, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, sponsors field/research projects for graduate students. Our first project, a needs assessment of health priorities of parents and children served by Jan Seva School in Kolkata, India, developed by Colleen Longacre, won two PhD level awards in the School of Public Health Research Day competition held in April. These awards included 1) People’s Choice Award, given to the projects that were voted as audience favorites and 2) Community Impact Award, given to the projects whose research has an opportunity to make a true impact in the community at large. In describing her feelings about the research opportunity, Colleen commented, “I was excited by the prospect of stepping out of my comfort zone to travel to unfamiliar places, and to learn from those working on the frontlines of community public health in challenging settings. It is places like Jan Seva that real impact is being made every day, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of it, thanks to Pathways To Children and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.”
Colleen meeting with mothers at Jan Seva School