M
PRACTICUM
CATALOGUE
M
+ CHOOSING YOUR PRACTICUM
IN THIS DOCUMENT This document lists organizations based in the southern region of Costa Rica that CISG has partnered with to offer practicum opportunities. The first section provides background information for each organization, and key areas
of work. The second section details practicum categories, general aims and objectives of each type of practicum, and organizations where that type of practicum may be conducted. The final section of this document provides examples of final practicum offerings with specific activities and outcomes. The aim of this document is that students may familiarize themselves with the range of opportunities available, and use this information to work with
their academic advisor at CISG to develop a practicum program that is custom tailored to the student’s individual needs.
NEXT STEPS M Once you have identified the organization you wish to work with and the
category of practicum you wish to conduct, fill out the application form. An academic advisor from CISG will be in contact with you shortly to discuss your academic goals and objectives, and you will collaboratively develop your practicum program. As this is a lengthy process, you are encouraged to apply to your desired practicum at least four months in advance to your desired
start date.
Please refer to the PRACTICUM GUIDEBOOK for more information on the
practicum process.
CISG’s PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS
+ CASAS DE LA ALEGRÍA
M
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Public-Private Partnership
KEY AREAS OF WORK
Migration “Casas de la Alegría” means Houses of
Infectious disease Joy in Spanish. These Houses of Joy Education and early stimulation are specialized day care centers that Nutrition cater specifically to indigenous Interculturality populations who migrate to Costa Rica Human rights during the coffee picking season. Health promotion
Every year, thousands of indigenous Ngöbe –Buglé cross the southern border of Costa Rica from Panama to work in coffee farms during the coffee picking season. It has been estimated by UNICEF and the International Labor Organization that 15,000 to 20,000 people enter Costa Rica from Panama for the coffee season, and return at the end of the season. The people who migrate for the season are often undocumented, which
creates an asymmetrical power dynamic with employers. Migrants are underpaid, exploited, trafficked, subjected to poor working conditions, and rarely provided with mandatory health insurance.
This mass migration on a yearly basis presents important challenges in the region, among which health issues such as infectious disease and undernutrition are extremely prevalent. Data from the national health provider has shown that over 70% of children of migrant workers seen in medical consultations are undernourished. Another salient issue is related to the lack of day care options for working mothers, which often resulted in young children being taken to the coffee farms so their mothers could watch them while they worked. This resulted in high-risk environments for the smaller infants, and child labor for older children. In response to issues in these highly mobile populations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) developed a program for human security, which included the creation of ‘Casas de la Alegría’. When the IOM funding for the project ceased, the Houses of Joy remained operational and expanded their coverage thanks to public-private partnerships.
‘Casas de la Alegría’ not only provides a physical safe space for children while their parents are at work, but strives to respond to deeper community and cultural needs of the population served. Local indigenous women are prioritized in the hiring process for caretakers and cooks, and the food prepared for the children matches their local customs and has been validated by nutritionists to ensure adequate and balanced caloric intake. Early stimulation and educational activities are also emphasized to ensure proper development of children in the center.
+ INSTITUTO MIXTO DE AYUDA SOCIAL (IMAS) M
LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency
KEY AREAS OF WORK The Institute for Social Welfare (IMAS) aims to improve the quality of life,
Poverty economic wellness and social Gender development of the population living in Public policy poverty. IMAS facilitates opportunities, Social work services, and resources with the Structural inequalities participation of families, local
Education communities, the private sector, and Entrepreneurship civil society.
The organization is committed to promoting dignified living conditions and the social
development of persons, families, and communities living in poverty and social vulnerability. There is an emphasis on providing a human rights approach, gender equity frameworks, and active participation of different stakeholders. IMAS works at three levels that build upon each other. At the base level, the organization strives to ensure social protection and health. The next level is generation and development of capacities through education. The final level is economic
independence through work and steady income. For social protection, IMAS works with a large team of social workers and psychologists, and provides services for the care of children and the elderly, as well as assistance for home improvements.
At the educational level, there is a scholarship program that gives assistance to children Mand adolescents to stay in school. The program consists of conditional cash transfers to avoid child labor and ensure that students have the economic means to complete their secondary education. Development of capabilities and productivity is promoted
through programs for entrepreneurs by providing training, workshops, and financing.
Poverty and structural inequality are inextricably linked to health. The Coto Brus canton
has one of the highest poverty indices in the country, along with extremely poor health outcomes. As a rural area, with high proportion of indigenous population in comparison
with the rest of the country, IMAS faces particular challenges in the region that are not present in other areas of the country.
M+ MINISTERIO DE SALUD (MOH)
LOCATION: Paso Canoas, Corredores
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency
KEY AREAS OF WORK The Costa Rican Ministry of Health is Public Health the organization responsible for Epidemiology ensuring public health in the country. Biostatistics The ministry is in charge of Surveillance epidemiologic surveillance, Health promotion supervising the national health
Vector-borne diseases provider as well as private health Water & Sanitation systems, and providing health permits Sexual and reproductive health for businesses and events. Health policy
The Ministry of Health was created in 1927 and during its beginnings, provided health services to the Costa Rican population. Nowadays the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (C.C.S.S.) is the national health provider, while the ministry has adopted a more
strategic role in the steering of public health decisions, such as the development of national vaccination guidelines and epidemiologic surveillance.
The office of the Ministry of Health at Paso Canoas deals with complex issues on a daily basis, as they are located right at the border with Panama. During coffee picking season thousands of migrants cross the border, and it is the responsibility of the Ministry of
Health to record and monitor relevant health conditions. This is particularly challenging
as the health system in Panama is quite different, and often migrants lack access to basic health services whilst in Panama, including vaccination and prenatal care. M At the regional level, the Brunca region has the highest levels of poverty and illiteracy, as well as poor health outcomes. While Costa Rica, as a nation, has begun the epidemiological transition from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases, this shift has not been level. The Brunca region has disproportionately high prevalence of infectious diseases, such as vector borne diseases and waterborne infections.
M+ MUNICIPALIDAD DE COTO BRUS
LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency
KEY AREAS OF WORK Costa Rica is divided into seven provinces: San José (where the capital Public Health city is located), Alajuela, Heredia, Public Policy Cartago, Guanacaste, Limón, and Health promotion Puntarenas. Each province is divided Vector-borne diseases into cantons, each of which have their
Water & Sanitation own municipality. Coto Brus is one of Sexual and reproductive health the cantons in the southern area of Environmental conservation Puntarenas. By 2014, the population Social development was approximately 44,000, and the Leadership and development population density was 43 people per
square kilometer.
The Coto Brus municipality is ranked in the bottom ten in the country regarding levels
of poverty and illiteracy. It also ranks 60 out of 81 in human development index, 59 in opportunities for women, and 66 in economic competitiveness. In 2013 the municipality was awarded a C level category in management (number 53), which was interpreted as
‘unfavorable’. The municipality has an immense challenge, as they have a small budget, yet there are so many social, administrative, environmental, and health issues they are tasked with addressing. The municipality has been strengthening its role in the area of environmental management, and how it pertains to public health. Among the activities in which the municipality is involved with are: waste management, water protection, construction permits, recycling campaigns, and vector-control strategies.
On the social development front, the municipality is involved in a wide range of activities, including drug trafficking, prevention of violence, new conceptions of masculinity, and the encouragement and promotion of young leadership within local communities.
M+ ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES
LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Educational – Nonprofit
KEY AREAS OF WORK The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) was founded in 1963, and is a Public Health nonprofit consortium of universities, Biostatistics colleges, and research institutions Vector-borne diseases worldwide. The organization was Planetary health created to encourage leadership in Natural Resources Management education, research, and the Waste management conscientious use of natural assets in Climate change the region. Food safety
In order to accomplish their mission, OTS provides field schools at the undergraduate level, the graduate level, and research opportunities for doctoral students. OTS has three research stations in Costa Rica, one of which is Las Cruces Biological Station, located in San Vito. Las Cruces is located at 1200m above sea level, and protects over
300 hectares of Premontane Wet Forest habitat. More than 300 researchers from over 25 different countries come to work at OTS each year.
The work of OTS overlaps with health in the emerging field of Planetary Health. At OTS there are numerous opportunities to engage in work related to Planetary Health, including wildlife management, climate change study, vector mapping, waste management, water resource management, and educational strategies.
The strengthening of educational strategies at the school level may be done through increased involvement and participation in the ‘Eco-bag’ initiative. ‘Eco-bags’ are briefcases that have been carefully prepared and selected to contain interactive materials for teaching environmental topics. The aim is to provide simple and engaging activities that maintain students’ interest, while relieving teachers from constant lesson planning, and having alternate teaching materials readily available. Materials in the bag are related to four main key areas: ecosystems, benefits of forests, contamination and waste management, and climate change. Currently, the ‘Eco-bags’ initiative is undergoing evaluation to determine impact and scalability. Other ongoing initiatives include community gardens and food safety, promotion of sustainable agriculture practices, recycling and waste management projects, permanent and temporary exhibits at the new visitors’ center, and an annual festival where the center is open to the public.
M+ PATRONATO NACIONAL DE LA INFANCIA (PANI)
LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency
PANI is the national government KEY AREAS OF WORK agency in charge of child protection Public Health services and welfare. The organization Epidemiology was created in 1930, and works toward Biostatistics ensuring, promoting, and Domestic violence guaranteeing the rights of all underage
Health promotion individuals in the country. PANI works Psychology by executing various plans, programs, Social work and projects in collaboration with other Child health government entities, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
PANI ensures that other agencies and organizations are complying with child protection laws, detect and intervene in situations where there are risks for the minor, manage the foster care and adoption systems, provide social assistance and psychological
support, as well as numerous education and workshop opportunities for children, adolescents, and family members.
Due to high poverty levels in the Coto Brus area, PANI faces numerous social and health challenges on a daily basis. Mental health and behavioral health interventions are in very high demand, and staff is limited. Workshops related to domestic violence, reproductive justice, right to education, empowerment, and healthy lifestyles are scarce and limited by resources and small available staff.
Other ongoing initiatives that are managed by PANI include the training of peer health promoters, development of guidelines for the management of particular situations at the national level, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, among others, and promotion of widespread and available recreational activities for minors.
M+ SEPROJOVEN
LOCATION: La Casona, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Nonprofit
KEY AREAS OF WORK Public Health SEPROJOVEN is a nonprofit Gender empowerment organization that specializes in personal and group development, and Health promotion Sexual and reproductive health the promotion of human rights through
Health policy the creation of formative experiences Interculturality and innovative strategies, such as Human rights sport and soccer as an educational and developmental tool. The organization’s mission is to generate and develop organizational capabilities in communities that will allow for the protection of human rights, gender equity, and social justice. This is carried out through the use of pedagogical tools guided through art,
sport, and recreation.
SEPROJOVEN works with vulnerable populations living in poverty, adolescent women,
and indigenous populations. The organization has established programs in 18 of the 24 indigenous territories in Costa Rica, including the Ngöbe in La Casona territory. The organization’s methodology stimulates gender equity, intercultural dialogue, respect for human rights, and responsibility with the environment. Soccer is used as a tool to promote leadership among young individuals, and provide these leaders with tools to become positive examples in their communities.
Young women in indigenous communities struggle with high rates of adolescent pregnancy and underage marriage. SEPROJOVEN often engages in collaborations with other organizations to educate women in their programs, however, these are often isolated initiatives. The organization has a very wide reach, and this resource needs to be channeled to increase health promotion and education strategies. SEPROJOVEN works mainly with young volunteers who engage and organize recreational activities with the women. These volunteers, if adequately trained could help deliver important public health messages to the women that SEPROJOVEN reaches, and increase the impact the organization has on the lives of individuals in the programs.
M+ HANDS FOR HEALTH
LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Nonprofit
KEY AREAS OF WORK Public Health Hands for Health is a local non-profit Health promotion committed to improving opportunities Oral health and health of indigenous communities Water & Sanitation in the Brunca region. Sexual and reproductive health Interculturality Human rights Social Justice
The Brunca region is comprised of five cantons of the Puntarenas province (Coto Brus,
Osa, Golfito, Corredores, and Buenos Aires) and Perez Zeledon, from the province of San Jose. It is the most impoverished region in the country, with high unemployment rates, poor roads and transportation services, illiteracy, extreme poverty, teenage pregnancy, and deficient health and welfare services. Hands for Health collaborates
with government entities, the private sector, and other nonprofits and foundations to develop hands-on activities and initiatives in the community to improve health outcomes
and quality of life.
One of the strongest programs is an oral health outreach project, where dentists and advanced dentistry students volunteer and travel to highly inaccessible regions to deliver oral health services. Oral health in indigenous populations is very poor, this is partly because of changes in traditional diets and the increased availability of low cost, high-sugar packaged foods. The outreach project differentiates itself in that not only does it provide dental interventions for the community, but they have a very strong health promotion and education component. Additionally, all interventions are monitored through simple surveys to evaluate knowledge related to dental care. The organization has a very strong relationship with the community and local leaders, as the president of the organization is a recently retired physician who worked as area director for the national health provider (Dr. Pablo Ortiz Roses), and has been a longstanding member of the community and fearless human rights advocate.
M+ CEN-CINAI
LOCATION: La Casona, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency
KEY AREAS OF WORK CEN-CINAI stands for Centers for Education and Nutrition and Centers Public Health for the Comprehensive Attention of Nutrition Children. The centers’ mission is to Child development contribute to the current and future Epidemiology well-being of children, by providing Health promotion quality, accessible, and equitable Water & Sanitation preventive nutrition services, child Health policy protection, and promotion of growth and development.
These services are directed toward children under the age of 13, as well as their family members and community, thus promoting social participation and development. The main functions of the organization are to improve the nutritional status of mothers and
children, and ensuring the appropriate development of children who live in poverty or are in social risk; provide children living in poverty the opportunity to receive daily daycare services; and promote the collaboration of different entities involved in child welfare.
In 2015, a CEN-CINAI center was built in the La Casona indigenous territory with the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development, along with the collaboration of local area health service providers, and community members. The center offers access to health promotion services, preventive nutrition, and interdisciplinary attention to infants, and pregnant women. The center distributes powdered milk to over 500 families each month, food packages to around 100 families, and provided training in health and nutrition to 150 mothers and fathers.
The work carried out by the center is particularly important in this community due to high incidence of failure to thrive and other poor nutritional outcomes in young children. Food insecurity is high, additionally, consumption of high sugar content foods has increased significantly in the territory in past decades.
M+ AREA DE SALUD DE COTO BRUS
LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency
KEY AREAS OF WORK
Public Health The Caja Costarricense del Seguro
Epidemiology Social (CCSS) is Costa Rica’s national Biostatistics health provider. The mission of CCSS is
Surveillance to provide health services in an Health promotion integrated manner to individuals, Vector-borne diseases families, and the community, and to Water & Sanitation provide economic, social, and pension Sexual and reproductive health protection, as stipulated by the law to
Health policy the Costa Rican population.
The main values of the organization are universality, solidarity, unity, equality, and
equity. The organization seeks to provide continuous training and motivation to employees, have a customer service orientation, provide innovative management techniques and be open to change, ensure financial sustainability through an effective collection system, and the promotion of health research.
Unfortunately, due to poor collection of mandatory financial contributions, and mismanagement of existent funds, many of the main objectives of the CCSS have been overlooked, and the organization merely focuses on service provision and treatment of diseases, instead of prevention, research, health promotion, or staff training. CCSS provides services to the population by dividing the country into health areas within the five sociopolitical regions. The Coto Brus health area is located within the Brunca region, which is the region with the highest levels of poverty in the country. Due to the structural inequalities, the population has been historically faced with poor health outcomes, in comparison to the rest of the country. Despite the fact that Costa Rica has good overall health indicators, the Brunca region lags behind the rest of the country. For this reason, the Coto Brus health area has a difficult task, which is providing health services to historically disenfranchised populations, and spreading very scarce resources to generate innovative approaches to health service delivery, prevention, and health promotion. Additionally, doing all of these in ways that are culturally appropriate for the vastly heterogeneous population they serve.
M+ RIO SERENO BORDER CROSSING
LOCATION: Rio Sereno, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency (CCSS)
KEY AREAS OF WORK The Costa Rican health system provides health care at the primary Migration level through health teams called Poverty EBAIS (Equipo Básico de Atención Public Health Integral en Salud), which stands for Human rights Basic Team for Integrated Health Care Health promotion in Spanish. Current guidelines state Surveillance that there should be a permanent Communicable diseases EBAIS stationed for every 4,000 to Biostatistics 6,000 population.
Thousands of Ngöbe-Bugle people migrate every year to Costa Rica for coffee harvest season, and one of the busiest points of entry is the Rio Sereno border crossing. Initially, regional health services established temporary health posts to tend to migrants
crossing during peak season. To ensure the health and wellbeing of the migrant population, a permanent EBAIS was built on the border and is a notable example of binational coordination, as CCSS actively collaborates with the Panamanian health authorities. This EBAIS does not have a physician on staff, so they focus more on health
promotion and disease prevention. Emphasis is given to screening for important diseases, vaccinating those who need vaccines, and teaching proper hand-washing.
Costa Rican health authorities made sure to include indigenous cultural advisors, as well as visiting indigenous ‘caciques’. This increased the amount of people who crossed through the formal border post, as caciques encouraged people to bring their documents and vaccine booklets, and to cross through Rio Sereno.
This project is only operational during peak migration months, when indigenous people migrate to Costa Rica for coffee picking season. The coffee picking season may shift slightly year to year because of climate and rainfall conditions, but it usually starts around September and continues for several months.
M+ FINCA “NIGHT VISITS”
LOCATION: Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Government Agency (CCSS)
KEY AREAS OF WORK
Migration In an integrated effort along with the
Poverty Rio Sereno EBAIS, a system for “night Public Health visits” was devised. The aim of these
Human rights visits was to deliver basic health Health promotion services to indigenous migrants who Morbidity Surveillance live on the coffee farms where they Communicable diseases work (fincas). Biostatistics
Primary health care
An important barrier to accessing health care services is the fact that EBAIS and clinics
are only open during the day, which is when people are in the fields working. To address this limitation, primary health technicians were assigned to visiting fincas in the evening
when people have returned from their day of work in the field.
Cultural advisors and community leaders were also trained in health promotion and disease prevention in the months leading up to the coffee picking season, so they could assist the primary health technicians. Similar to the strategies at the Rio Sereno EBAIS, vaccination, infectious diseases, and handwashing are prioritized during visits. Data has shown that the distribution of hand soap during these “night visits” has contributed greatly to reducing the incidence of diarrhea and acute respiratory diseases in the population. Yet there is plenty room for more formal monitoring and evaluation initiatives. During the coffee harvest, almost all fincas in Coto Brus where indigenous populations work, are visited. Visits usually start at 17:00 and end at 22:00.
+ HOGAR DE ANCIANOS
M LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Nonprofit organization
KEY AREAS OF WORK Public Health The Hogar de Ancianos is a nonprofit home for the elderly that was founded Health promotion in 1989. Their mission is to provide Gerontology Nonprofit management elderly persons with integrated care, a
Development harmonious environment, respect, Public administration professionalism, and humanity.
The home provides medical attention to their residents, but due to budget constraints,
preventive and health promotion activities are limited and depend on sporadic volunteering activities.
The center requires assistance to engage in health promotion activities related to nutrition, healthy lifestyles, exercise, mental health, sexual health, and human rights.
Assistance related to fundraising, development, logistics, and administration are also required.
+ ASOCIACIÓN DE DESARROLLO INDÍGENA
M LOCATION: La Casona, Coto Brus
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Civil society
KEY AREAS OF WORK The La Casona indigenous territory has a development committee that meets Nonprofit management twice a month to discuss local Development community issues and needs. The Social enterprise committee is involved in many local Project management projects, entrepreneurship, and Social justice approval for research projects in the Advocacy area.
The organization’s president has expressed interest in obtaining outside assistance for fundraising, development, budgeting, and strategic planning.
The organization is in charge of representing the needs of the people who live in La Casona and surrounding areas. The Ngöbe who live in La Casona were originally a nomadic group that would migrate between Costa Rica and Panama, and decided to settle permanently. Following the International Labor Organization Convention 169, lands where the Ngöbe inhabited were declared an official protected indigenous
territory.
PRACTICUM
CATEGORIES
MONITORING AND EVALUATION+
The field of global health has been rapidly growing, and alongside this development, the emphasis on data driven decisions has also increased. In response to this, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) processes throughout the field have been systematized and strengthened. The aim of M&E is to collect information, appropriately store the files, analyze the material, and transform this data into strategic recommendations that can inform decision-making processes. Unfortunately, M&E requires careful planning, is quite time-consuming, and requires specialized skills and knowledge. Most government and nonprofit organizations that operate in the southern region of Costa Rica have very limited resources and small staff,
which means that M&E is deprioritized and rarely conducted. However, M&E is paramount for these organizations to ensure appropriate use of resources and maximization of cost-effectiveness of interventions and programs.
Monitoring & Evaluation Organizations that have
activities that may be conducted: expressed interest in M&E projects M&E in the development of new Ministry of Health
interventions, by integrating M&E in Municipality of Coto Brus
the initial strategy M&E of existing interventions CEN-CINAI M&E of public policies SEPROJOVEN M&E to expand programs IMAS M&E to modify and improve
programs Casas de la Alegría
Logic models and theory of change Hands for Health models for M&E Área de Salud Coto Brus Hogar de Ancianos PANI
EPIDEMIOLOGY+
Epidemiology is a cornerstone discipline of public health. Epidemiological data is crucial for decision-making in health and other social impact activities. However, epidemiology is a specialized field within public health, and there are few professionals with enough education and experience in the field to conduct all the analyses and evaluations that
are needed in global health organizations in Costa Rica. There are numerous practicum opportunities in this area with our partner organizations.
Epidemiology activities that may Organizations that have expressed be conducted: interest in Epidemiology projects
Disease surveillance and tracking Ministry of Health
Developing epidemiologic research Municipality of Coto Brus studies Disease causation CEN-CINAI Outbreak investigation IMAS Screening Hands for Health Population-based health
management Área de Salud Coto Brus Risk management PANI
Organization for Tropical StudiesHogar de Ancianos
PANI
BIOSTATISTICS+
Biostatistics is a crucial element of global health, as it entails “turning data into
knowledge”. The adequate analysis and interpretation of available data allows public health practitioners to make evidence-based decisions regarding public health interventions, treatment guidelines, screening policies, and other related activities. Many government and non-government entities collect massive amounts of data, without having specific data analysis strategies and plans. Data continues to be collected without any specific purpose, and resources are poorly allocated because funding for activities is not based on concrete evidence.
Biostatistics activities that may Organizations that have expressed be conducted: interest in Biostatistics projects
Data management plans Ministry of Health Statistical analysis strategies Municipality of Coto Brus Designing statistical models Área de Salud Coto Brus Data management/statistical analysis of health intervention PANI Data management/statistical analysis of health policy CEN-CINAI Data management/statistical Organization for Tropical Studies analysis of specific disease or IMAS syndrome Data management/statistical Hogar de Ancianos
analysis of causality of specific disease or syndrome Research analyst on epidemiological studies
PLANETARY HEALTH+
Planetary Health is the new multidisciplinary field within Global Health that is concerned with understanding and addressing the health issues secondary to poor environmental management and anthropogenic ecosystem transformations. This is a
very wide field, encompassing topics such as marine conservation and associated health outcomes, climate change and vector-transmitted diseases, and water resource management. Despite knowledge of broad effects of climate change, pollution, and deforestation on human health, there is a lack of systematized studies and evaluations of health impacts associated to environmental conservation efforts.
Planetary Health activities that Organizations that have expressed may be conducted: interest in Planetary Health projects:
Research design to evaluate health
impacts caused by environmental conditions Municipality of Coto Brus Data collection of health impacts caused by environmental conditions Asociación de Desarrollo Indígena
Data analysis of health impacts caused Ministry of Health by environmental conditions
KAP surveys to understand perceptions Organization for Tropical Studies of environmental conservation Ethnographic analysis of environmental conservation efforts Health promotion activities related to
environmental conservation
NUTRITION AND FOOD SYSTEMS+
Within a Global Health framework, food systems for health includes safe and sustainable land use, food production, food storage, food processing, food delivery, toxicology, food safety, food and water security, and nutrition. As an essential element
for sustainable development and a core component of public health practice, nutrition and food system require well thought out processes to ensure population wellbeing.
Nutrition and Food Systems Organizations that have expressed activities that may be conducted: interest in N&FS projects:
Nutritional Surveys Evaluation of policies related to Municipality of Coto Brus food systems and nutrition Evaluation of interventions related IMAS to food systems and nutrition CEN-CINAI Community nutrition programs Nutrition for special populations: Ministry of Health
maternal, pediatric, diabetes Área de Salud Coto Brus management Food system sustainability Health promotion and education
Food justice
NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT &
ENTREPRENEURSHIP+
The field of non-profit management has been emerging in recent years as an effort to professionalize the non-profit sector. Traditionally, nonprofit organizations have been run by professionals in other disciplines such as public health, public policy, medicine, and social sciences, which has generated financial, strategic, and logistical issues at the organizational level.
The private sector, the public sector, and the nonprofit sector have very distinct characteristics, aims, and methodologies. This means it is important to have staff members well trained in the specific aspects of nonprofit management, such as fundraising and development, managing your board, strategic planning, financial management, and organizational behavior.
Nonprofit management and Organizations that have expressed social entrepreneurship interest in nonprofit management
activities that may be conducted: and social entrepreneurship projects:
Development portfolios Fundraising strategy Hands for Health Strategic planning for organization SEPROJOVEN Financial management Marketing and communications Hogar de Ancianos
Social media and online presence Casas de la Alegría Partnerships with other organizations
ANTHROPOLOGY+
Anthropological perspectives are fundamental for feasible and sustainable global health interventions. Detailed anthropological studies can provide a wealth of information on the target population, local customs, perceptions, and understanding of issues. This information can be used to customize interventions to each specific situation in time and place. As global health interventions are often aimed at developing countries, there is a high risk of essentializing culture and promoting interventions that are not in accordance to the reality of that community. The other important aspect of anthropological studies is listening to what the community really sees as a priority. Traditional top-down approaches to global health means that people outside the communities decide what the problem is, and what the solution to said problem is. Anthropological methods allow
us to understand whether a particular issue is seen as a problem to a given community, and if so, what local knowledge exists in order to collaborate on solutions. out processes to ensure population wellbeing.
Anthropological activities that Organizations that have expressed may be conducted: interest in Anthropology projects:
Participatory action research Casas de la Alegria Policy evaluation
Ethnographic research SEPROJOVEN Qualitative surveys Hands for Health Cultural domain analysis Ministerio de Salud Qualitative data management
and analysis Área de Salud Coto Brus
Ethnobotany IMAS
CEN-CINAI
HEALTH PROMOTION+
Health promotion is a very important element of primary care services, yet it is often deprioritized due to budget constraints in different organizations. Health promotion is a broad term that encompasses all interventions aimed at increasing knowledge of health and empowering people to make healthy choices in their lives. Health promotion in most Costa Rican government organizations is reduced to poorly organized lectures/workshops in schools or clinics where people are already seeking health services, yet this model of conducting health promotion is outdated. Both public and nonprofit sector organizations in Costa Rica would greatly benefit from new approaches to health promotion.
Organizations that have expressed Health promotion activities that may be conducted: interest in Health Promotion projects:
Evaluation of current health promotion Hands for Health initiatives SEPROJOVEN Data collection and evaluation plans for health promotion initiatives Casas de la Alegria Development of new health promotion Ministry of Health initiatives Behavioral analysis Área de Salud Coto Brus
Cultural domain analysis CEN-CINAI Health behavior models PANI Health literacy Healthy lifestyles and cultural IMAS adaptations Hogar de Ancianos Population-based health promotion
HEALTH POLICY+
Policies are plans, strategies, approaches, systems, or guidelines that have been
agreed to explicitly or implicitly within a given organization. Ultimately, all health care interventions and decisions are based on established policies with the goals of achieving given health care outcomes. Traditionally, health policy has been steered by custom and seniority, without assessing evidence and impact. More recent trends in health policy seek to promote evidence-based, or evidence- informed policies, to ensure maximum use of available resources by eliminating those policies that are not proven effective, and expanding those that are.
Health Policy activities that may Organizations that have expressed be conducted: interest in Health Policy projects:
Evaluation of policy Situational analyses PANI Stakeholder analyses IMAS Organizational behavior
Literature review Ministry of Health Cost-benefit analyses Área de Salud Coto Brus Grassroots development Government relations CEN-CINAI Case-study analyses Organization for Tropical Studies Financial impact and budget review Policy briefs and recommendations
HEALTH COMMUNICATION+
Health communication is a very important aspect of global health. The field includes all forms of communication in health, including health journalism, education campaigns, health promotion materials, and even doctor-patient communication. By ensuring adequate and high-quality health information, the population may improve health literacy, decision-making capabilities, and improve their own health. An important challenge for health communication in the Brunca region, is its very heterogeneous population. The Brunca region has urban populations, rural populations, and multiple indigenous groups. This means that health communication cannot be a “one size fits all” approach, and care must be taken to ensure that the message is received as intended by all audiences.
Health Communication activities Organizations that have expressed that may be conducted: interest in Health Communication projects: Health journalism guidelines Hands for Health Health journalism workshops and trainings SEPROJOVEN Intercultural education materials Casas de la Alegria Evaluation of health promotion
materials PANI Discourse analysis of health promotion IMAS campaigns Communication strategies and CEN-CINAI
guidelines for organizations Ministry of Health Health marketing Development of efficient delivery Área de Salud Coto Brus channels for health information
Social media presence and strategy
ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE+
Advocacy & Social Justice are very important in the region. Historically, rural, impoverished, and indigenous groups have been invisibilized, and most policy-makers are unaware of the extreme conditions people are living in. For some, the oppression and exploitation of indigenous people was a thing of the past, something that occurred during colonial times, yet they are unaware that inequality and abuse continue today. Indigenous groups in the country have been banished to “protected territories” which many times have no running water, electricity, poor roads, non-existent public transportation, difficult to access health care services, and sub par education. We do this in the name of “protecting their culture”, yet we are subjecting them to inhumane living conditions. In order to bring attention to the myriad of extreme conditions some people live in, more
advocacy and social efforts are needed. Not only is advocacy important, but a comprehensive advocacy and social justice strategy needs to be developed to bring together the isolated and duplicated efforts into a strong united front.
Advocacy & Social Justice Organizations that have expressed activities that may be conducted: interest in Advocacy & SJ projects:
Stakeholder analysis Hands for Health
Grassroots development Asociación de Desarrollo Indígena Community engagement Mediation and conflict resolution Casas de la Alegría Strategic planning SEPROJOVEN Development and fundraising
Lobbying and legislative action Área de Salud Coto Brus
Media and communications Hogar de Ancianos management CEN CINAI
PRACTICUM
EXAMPLES
+ MONITORING & EVALUATION M
LOCATION: Paso Canoas, Corredores PRACTICUM GOALS
ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Health The general aim of this practicum is to
develop a comprehensive Monitoring &
DURATION: Eight weeks (320 hours) Evaluation plan for vector control strategies in the area, so that this KEY WORDS information may be used at the local level
Public Health, Monitoring & Evaluation, by the Ministry of Health for planning and Infectious Diseases, Vector Control, Health targeted interventions.
Promotion, Public Policy, Planetary Health 1. Learn about the Costa Rican public health system Vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and zika are an important 2. Understand how to apply theoretical principles (stakeholder analysis and health issue in low altitude regions of Costa Rica. During the rainy season, high logic models) to real-life
incidences of these diseases generate interventions
saturation of health centers. Each year 3. Improve networking, regional offices of the Ministry of Health communication, and mediation skills partner with local municipalities to carry in the workplace out vector control initiatives, yet results 4. Strengthen critical thinking skills are highly inconsistent and poorly tracked. Monitoring and evaluating (M&E) public 5. Develop a feasible M&E plan with a health interventions is crucial, however, in strategy for successful resource-constrained settings, it is often implementation over-looked.
ACTIVITIES DELIVERABLES
Develop a comprehensive Stakeholder analysis for vector stakeholder analysis, noting level of control initiatives in the region
engagement, interest, and power in Logic model and/or theory of change relation to vector control strategies in model for M&E the area Proposal M&E plan Construct a logic model and/or theory of change model through a End of practicum reflection participatory approach; bringing important stakeholders together
Identify vector control strategies
Become acquainted with epidemiological surveillance
mechanisms, and study incidence patterns of relevant diseases
Analyze and integrate findings into a comprehensive M&E plan tailored to
the regional offices of the Ministry of Health
Present final documents to organization
+ SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH M
LOCATION: La Casona, Coto Brus PRACTICUM GOALS
ORGANIZATION: SEPROJOVEN The general aim of this practicum is to
create a sexual and reproductive health
DURATION: Eight weeks (320 hours) education strategy that SEPROJOVEN can routinely implement in communities KEY WORDS where they are working.Learn about the
Public Health, Gender Studies, Anthropology, Costa Rican public health system Interculturality, Sexual Health, Education, 1. Learn about gender issues in Costa Nonprofit Management, Psychology, Social Work Rica and specifically in indigenous communities SEPROJOVEN works with young women in migrant and indigenous communities. The 2. Understand different methodologies
organization aims to empower young and approaches to female
women through sport, recreation, and art. empowerment Their signature program is through 3. Improve networking, soccer; to encourage local female leaders communication, and mediation skills to commit to working in the community in the workplace and become role models. 4. Strengthen cultural competence Young women in indigenous communities skills struggle with high rates of adolescent pregnancy and underage marriage. 5. Conduct a needs assessment SEPROJOVEN often engages in 6. Develop a sexual and reproductive collaboration with other health health education module organizations to educate young women in their programs, however, these are often isolated initiatives.
ACTIVITIES DELIVERABLES
Become familiarized with protocols Needs assessment of SRH and procedures for creating new Proposal for SRH module training programs and workshops in
SEPROJOVEN Pilot education modules
Conduct a needs assessment of Final guidelines for SRH module sexual and reproductive health needs End of practicum reflection with the communities served by the organization
Create a proposal for an education module
Implement pilot sexual and reproductive health (SRH) modules
Finalize guidelines for SRH with adequate monitoring and evaluation
strategies
+ FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT M
LOCATION: San Vito, Coto Brus
ORGANIZATION: Hands for Health PRACTICUM GOALS
The general aim of this practicum is to
DURATION: Eight weeks (320 hours) create a diverse fundraising and development strategy for the oral health KEY WORDS program at Hands for Health.Learn about Nonprofit Management, Fundraising & gender issues in Costa Rica and Development, Public Health, Public specifically in indigenous communities
Administration, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation 1. Learn about health delivery and oral health in Costa Rica The Brunca region of Costa Rica is the poorest in the country, and within the region, 2. Understand different methodologies indigenous communities are even more and approaches to oral health disadvantaged. Hands for Health is a local nonprofit committed to improving the health 3. Improve networking, of the Ngöbe indigenous communities. communication, and mediation skills
The strongest health outreach program in the workplace
currently running at Hands for Health is an 4. Strengthen critical thinking skills oral health initiative, where dentists travel to highly inaccessible regions and deliver oral 5. Develop a fundraising and health services. Oral health interventions are development portfolio
expensive, require lots of materials, and highly specialized volunteer staff. Due to resource limitations, these visits are infrequent and often cannot provide services
to all those who are in need.
ACTIVITIES DELIVERABLES
Become familiarized with protocols Needs assessment for funding at and procedures for fundraising and oral health program
development in Costa Rica Proposal for fundraising and Conduct a funding needs assessment development portfolio
of the oral health program Final strategy for diversifying and Develop a fundraising and expanding fundraising and
development proposal development
Create a monitoring and evaluation End of practicum reflection
strategy to accompany the development proposal
Diversify fundraising and development opportunities