Youth empowered by science to improve health, advance careers, and promote community wellbeing.
Designed to meet the Next Generation Science Standards, Health in Our Hands connects the science classroom to the community to give youth and adults an understanding of modern concepts in genetics. Using project-based learning, students investigate public health concerns and use these real-world contexts to appreciate the importance of both genetic and environmental factors in their risk for diseases. Health in Our Hands units culminate in a final project. Middle school students conduct an action research project to improve their school or neighborhood to help prevent or reduce disease and present the results and recommendations at a Youth Health Summit to their peers, family and community. High school projects highlight research studies and ethical issues. “Health in Our Hands” (HIOH) focuses on critical community health concerns and brings students’ cultural background and family experience into the science class as a resource and asset for learning. Biomedical research and health-related careers are introduced throughout the curricula.
Health in Our Hands curriculum was developed in collaboration with the Health in Our Hands-Flint/Genesee Partnership: Community Based Organization Partners of Flint, CRIM Foundation, Flint Community Schools, Atherton Community Schools, Genesee County Prevention Coalition, Genesee Intermediate School District, Greater Flint Health Coalition, Great Lakes Stewardship Institute, Health Alliance Plan, MiSTEM Network, Michigan State University (Human Medicine & Extension) and the University of Michigan-Flint (Discovering PLACE). This project has been supported by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).
Access the curriculum here: https://hioh.education/curriculum]
