Want to learn more about topics like social determinants of health, cultural humility, healthcare, public benefits, immigration law, gentrification, and LGBTQA+ rights? Interested in health advocacy, social justice, whole patient care, and serving your community? Pursuing a career in medicine, public policy, law, public health, hospital administration, the nonprofit sector, or social work? Then you should take The Health Advocacy DeCal! This fun and interactive class explores various aspects of health care such as the social determinants of health, public benefits, and American health policy. The DeCal aims to train students to become potential volunteers for the Health Advocates of Alameda Health System (HA of AHS).

HA of AHS is dedicated to assisting low-income populations in the Bay Area navigate through various social services including public benefits, immigration challenges, employment, housing, and food access. However, you do NOT need to be interested in the Health Advocates program in order to take the class! This is a great opportunity for any student interested in learning about health disparities and working with the underserved. We encourage students from a variety of different backgrounds and majors to apply!

The goal of this class is for students to critically think and engage in thoughtful discussions on a range of public health topics in the Bay Area, while gaining strong communication skills and learning to work with patients from all different backgrounds.

The course will be comprised of student and guest speaker facilitated lectures, discussions, reflection papers, documentaries, and activities to reinforce course content. Typical classes will consist of a quiz, a lecture over the big idea of the week’s topic, such as food access, public benefits, housing, etc. from either the facilitators or a guest speaker, video clips, activities, and teaching students how to specifically assist patients with these issues, as they would as Health Advocates.

There will be short weekly readings and quizzes, 2 easy papers, and 1 final evaluation. Attendance is mandatory.

To take this DeCal, simply submit a Google Form application, and we will email you whether you were accepted or not. If you are accepted, you will receive the course code to enroll on the first day of class. The class will meet: Thursdays 6:30-8:00 pm in VLSB 2038 The first day of class is: 01/31/2019