Click here for course schedule and outline

Class Time :
Thursdays, 4:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Quinn Hall 209

Instructor :
Dr. Phillip Clark
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Phone: 874-2689
E-mail: aging@uri.edu
Office:Quinn 100
Office Hours: Thursdays 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. or by appointment

Co-Instructors :
Dr. Nancy Fey-Yensan
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences

Dr. Kathleen Gorman
Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America
Department of Psychology

Dr. Cindy Padula
College of Nursing

Course Coordinator:
Lorraine Keeney
Food, Hunger, and Nutrition Partnership
Phone: 874-7441
Email: LKeeney@uri.edu

Family and Community Health is an introductory course on the health issues that affect families and communities, and the interface between them. We will be examining concerns across the lifespan and the unique issues that affect individuals at different stages in their lives. In addition, we will explore how communities and government interact with individuals and families in providing care and promoting health and healthy lifestyles.

This section of HDF 357 is sponsored by the URI Partnership on Food, Hunger, and Nutrition--a new collaborative group established by the University to foster interdisciplinary efforts in the areas of research, education, and outreach on food, hunger, and poverty. Thus, we will be examining the topic of family and community health through the lens of food and nutrition-related perspectives.

This course is intended to provide those students going into education and human service professions with the core concepts, principles, and skills to promote the health of individuals and families, to advocate for more effective policies in support of health, and to link needs with programs and services that address them. In particular, we want to empower you to become more informed and active about the needs and issues related to hunger, nutrition, and poverty in Rhode Island and across the US.

1. Provide an overview of the scope of public or community health as it relates to the health of individuals and families and especially with respect to food and nutrition.

1. Examine the effects of poor health care and nutrition on individuals at different stages of life, such as children and older adults.

1. Develop a critical understanding of community and governmental responses to health-related problems, including those involving adequate nutrition and poverty.

1. Empower students to become advocates for change of health-related behaviors in individuals and families, as well as of more just and effective public policies involving health care and social services.

1. Expand the horizons of students to understand the state, national, and global dimensions of poor health and the need for effective programs and policies at all these levels.

Any student with a documented disability is welcome to contact me as early in the semester as possible so that we may arrange reasonable accommodations. As part of this process, please be in touch with the Disability Services for Students office at 330 Memorial Union, telephone 874-2098.

To be successful in this course, it is best to stay of top of all weekly readings and assignments, and to review your notes regularly. A good way to keep pace and improve your understanding is to visit the Academic Enhancement Center (AEC) in Roosevelt Hall. There, tutors are available to help you to better understand course concepts and assignments and develop more effective ways of studying. The AEC encourages you to bring classmates, so that you can continue to work together after your visits. You can also meet for one-to-one tutoring, if you prefer. You can visit the AEC as few or as many times as you like; it's not necessary to commit to a regular schedule.

The AEC is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. They recommend that you make an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. To make an appointment or get more information about AEC services, go to www.uri.edu/aec, call (401) 874-2367, or stop by to visit on the fourth floor of Roosevelt Hall.

Assigned course readings will either be handed out as photocopies or posted on the course website with links to professional or academic websites.

1. Examinations (40%)

Mid-semester (15%). In-class test including a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and short answer questions. Scheduled for October 19 th .

Final (25%). In-class test including a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and short answer questions. Emphasis will be on material since the mid-semester exam. Scheduled for December 7 th .

2. Project (45%)

Research paper on a topic of relevance to the course (50%). List of suggested topics will be distributed, though you are free to select your own. Expected length is 10-12 pages, double-spaced Times New Roman 12 point font, using APA style for citations. Paper should be based on original library research using professional journals, books, and (carefully selected) websites. Paper is due in class on November 30 th .

Paper topic statement . A one-page statement of your paper topic, with a list of potential references, is due in class on October 5 th .

3. Reaction paper from experiential learning activity (5%)

Students will have the opportunity to be involved in an experiential learning programs and opportunities to be chosen from a list of choices distributed early in the semester. You will be asked to write a 2-3 page paper describing the experience and what you learned from doing it (using a template provided for this purpose).

4. Attendance, class participation, and homework assignments (10%)

Your attendance in class is expected and required. You should arrive on time and leave only when the class is over. Arrangements to miss a class due to medical conditions or personal/familial emergency must be made a day in advance.

Your active and informed participation in class is also an important aspect of our course. Contributing to class discussions, sharing your insights and questions, and helping to move the learning forward are all part of our educational community in this course.

In addition, small group work and homework assignments will be used over the course of the semester to facilitate integration of readings with class discussion and participation.