A curriculum created in collaboration with Baltimore high school students aimed at reducing health disparities is now available for downloading on the Health Sciences and Human Services Library website.
The Student Health Advocates Redefining Empowerment (SHARE) Curriculum, which was released on Sept. 2, was developed by a team of faculty librarians from the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HS/HSL) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), and students from the Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy in west Baltimore.
SHARE is a "peer-based, holistic" curriculum consisting of six modules that can be used together or individually, says M.J. Tooey, MLS, AHIP, FMLA, HS/HSL executive director and UMB associate vice president for Academic Affairs (pictured with Vivien T. Thomas students). The curriculum is available to the public at no charge.
SHARE was developed as a result of a three-year Health Information to Reduce Disparities grant from the National Library of Medicine. The grant was directed at empowering high school students to be community health advocates, improving health in Baltimore neighborhoods, and developing a replicable student health advocacy program. The SHARE modules are: Overview of Health Disparities; Quality of Health Information; Taking Charge of Your Health; Smart Food Choices; Crafting and Delivering the Message; and Promoting Health and Wellness in Your Community. Supplemental materials range from how to organize student-run health fairs to suggestions for getting parents actively involved in healthy lifestyles.
During the past two years, two cohorts totaling 18 rising sophomores and juniors attended classes at HS/HSL where they learned about health disparities and developed research and technology skills. While students worked primarily with library staff, faculty, and students from across UMB, local health agencies, and community based organizations provided guest speakers and experiential learning. Each student completed a number of projects including presentations and poster sessions related to a health need in their community. "The students and staff from Vivien T. Thomas were great partners," says Tooey.
"The library really provided a solid framework to enhance the students' learning," says James Peters, Vivien T. Thomas' family and community engagement liaison.
"Students got to know their community and got to advocate as community partners."
Tooey notes that it's rare for a library to both develop and host a curriculum. Because SHARE is interactive, Tooey looks forward to feedback from educators and students from around the world. "If you can get to our website, you can use the curriculum," she says.