Running head: SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL 1

Service Learning Proposal

Amy Johns
Ferris State University

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SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL
Abstract
This paper is a proposal for the completion of my Service Learning Project for the Ferris State
University RN to BSN Completion Program at My Sisters House, a residential home that
provides physical, emotional and spiritual support for women from 18-22 years of age. It
contains a description of the organization and my proposed role and activities. It also describes
my learning goals as they pertain to the RN to BSN program and to my nursing practice as well
as suggestions for ways to evaluate my impact of service. Agency contact information is
included.
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SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL
Service Learning
Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful
community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic
responsibility, and strengthen communities. This concise and efficient definition given by the
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (2012) describes a learning tool useful to students of
all ages. Service learning, as an educational tool, provides a student with direct work experience,
fosters a sense of responsibility to the community, and also provides a needed service. It
facilitates a feeling in the student of empowerment and effectiveness as an active participant in
their own education and profession, and as a productive community member.
Ferris State Universitys RN to BSN program has made service learning a required part
of its curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to describe my proposed service learning project
for submission as part of my RN to BSN program. I will describe the agency that I have chosen,
the need in the community that it fills, my proposed service role and activities I will perform to
fulfill this role, and a plan for evaluating the effectiveness of my service.
Agency Description
I have chosen to do my service learning at a place called My Sisters House located in
Kingsley, Michigan. It is a home for young women between the approximate ages of 18-22 that
may be homeless or are at risk for homelessness. They may have had homes-of-origin that were
abusive and/or neglectful that resulted in placement in the foster care system and in reaching the
age of 18, age out of that system. They may be working their way out of situations or
relationships of abuse. My Sisters House provides a place of residence that encourages
emotional growth and provides emotional, physical and spiritual support for these women to
become independent, productive and happy (My Sisters House, 2012a).

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SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL
Activities, education, counseling and mentoring are provided toward the following goals:
To provide safe, stable living conditions in a home-like family atmosphere.

To teach life-skills through hands-on application and through education in areas
of housekeeping, cooking, consumer education and budgeting.

To provide tools regarding interpersonal skills such as self-worth, decision
making, managing stress and building healthy relationships.

To help girls set and reach education and employment goals.

To provide mental health care including individual and group counseling.

To help girls access physical health care, including routine physicals, emergency
treatment, health assessments and education regarding physical health and
wellness.

To show girls the love of Christ and provide opportunities for spiritual growth.

To provide girls with a personal mentor while in the house and as they leave the
house to live independently.

To provide support in finding healthy living accommodations outside the house.

(My Sisters House, 2012a)

My Sisters House was born from an idea of director Cristy Allen. (My Sisters House, 2012b)
It is brand-new, built in 2011 and, as such, most parts are under development, including
acquiring residents, formulating curricula and activities to support the goals as stated above and
making connections in the community. Community connections are important for the purposes
of finding public support through volunteers and donations and for publicizing services to
professionals and schools that have contact with women who may benefit from the services
provided.


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SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL
Role Description
Because My Sisters House is so new, my role may change over time. In my discussions
with Ms. Allen, we have talked about the need for education for the residents with regard to
nutrition, health, budgeting, job acquisition skills and relationship skills. We have talked
specifically about a role for me providing education about nutrition in the forms of discussions,
classes, field trips to grocery stores and, in the process of getting to know the residents, being
creative in ways of teaching that are individualized to each womans needs. I will also have a
role as a mentor to any of the women with whom I will be working.
For my role as an educator of health and nutrition, I will first meet the residents and
assess the type of information they need and their preferences for how the information is
delivered. I anticipate doing research and finding sources of information that are fun and
creative such as YouTube videos, handouts, comparisons of nutrition labels, shopping trips, and
cooking projects for the nutrition aspect. Education for health will include awareness and
prevention of common chronic health risks such as obesity, diabetes, sexually transmitted
diseases, and cardiovascular disease. If the women have children, I will also be providing
education related to the health and nutrition of their children, with topics including childhood
communicable diseases, the importance of vaccinations and well-child visits, growth and
development of the different stages of childhood, but also parenting with love and positive
techniques, teaching respect of the child and modeling unconditional positive regard for all.
Objectives Related to the Program
I want to fulfill the objectives of the RN to BSN program, which includes the following:
developing and executing a plan to provide education and service that fulfills a community need,
demonstrates my personal and professional knowledge, values, accountability and commitment
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SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL
to the profession of nursing, and promotes health and well-being (Ferris State University, 2010) .
I hope to demonstrate my communication and interpersonal skills by becoming a positive and
productive part of the team at My Sisters House. I hope to be a positive influence on the
womens lives that I touch by using my nursing skills but also through communicating the
unconditional, non-judgmental, positive regard, support and nurturing that women and society as
a whole should offer each other. I hope to reflect my values and learning experience clearly and
effectively through my professional documentation in my in the form of written papers for
inclusion in my professional portfolio. I also hope to have the positive service-learning
experience as described by the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. I hope to have this
experience to benefit my own life and nursing practice, but also to pass on to other nurses,
nursing students, young people and community members as a demonstration of my personal and
professional belief of the importance of service and respect of every other human being.
Activities to Meet Objectives
Of course, the activities listed in the description of my role will be a large part of what I
do at My Sisters House. Other activities include writing and submitting this paper to the BSN
program and also to Director Cristy Allen for her review. Including this paper and other
documents, pictures, or projects in my professional portfolio will demonstrate my progress
toward my goals and provide a place to capture my nursing life, values and accomplishments for
review by whoever may be interested.
Remaining open to the needs of the residents and to the vision of Ms. Allen will be first
and foremost in my mind while I plan any activities. Being a mentor and developing
relationships with all the people associated with My Sisters house and showing that I live what I
teach will be much more effective than just activities alone. Sharing my life and my concern
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SERVICE LEARNING PROPOSAL
with the lives of others will also develop the human connection that will make my activities more
meaningful.
Ms. Allen and I have not specified a number of hours per week yet, and although 20
hours is the minimum for the program, I can foresee much more time spent. I anticipate many
hours researching nutrition and health topics and teaching tools and even more hours still,
individualizing them to the needs of the residents.
Evaluation Plan
I would like to schedule a time with Ms. Allen once per month during which we review
my activities and evaluate their impact. I will come to this monthly discussion with a list of my
research, communications and activities both at the residence and on my own for her review. We
would evaluate each activity as it relates to the states goals and mission of the residence.
I would also observe the residents for signs that they are implementing the new
information and tools of healthy living in their lives. I would assess their knowledge of nutrition
through discussions and through their analysis and critique of things such as nutrition labels,
advertisements and lifestyle choices. Evaluation of their learning related to job acquisition skills
could be shown by having the residents fill out a mock job application and role-play a mock
interview. Informal role-playing could also be used to evaluate the teaching of new relationship
and interpersonal skills.
Again, because My Sisters House is such a young organization, remaining flexible and
open to change will be necessary and valuable to both the organization and to the residents.



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Contact Information
My Sisters House
1093 Fenton
Kingsley, MI 49649
Cristy Allen-Director
E-mail: cristy@mysistershouseonline.org
Telephone: (231) 620-0483 (for instructor use only)
Conclusion
In summary, I propose to complete my Service Learning assignment at My Sisters
House in Kingsley, Michigan, which is a residence that provides emotional, physical and
spiritual support to women, ages approximately 18-22, who may have aged out the foster care
system or who need to change their life situation because of abuse or neglect. My activities will
include providing education related to nutrition, general health, life skills, job acquisition skills,
relationship skills and also to support and mentor the residents through unconditional positive
regard and living what I teach. My goals are to find the benefits of service learning as described
by the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse and to develop positive community health
education and involvement in my nursing practice and my life. I would evaluate my progress
and impact through monthly meetings with Director Cristy Allen and through observation of the
incorporation of healthy actions in the lives of the residents.




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References
Ferris State University. (2010). Service learning requirement undergraduate (BSN) programs.
Retrieved from
https://fsulearn.ferris.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_group=courses&url=%2Fweb
apps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2FdisplayLearningUnit%3Fcourse_id%3D_1854_1%2
6content_id%3D_64519_1%26framesetWrapped%3Dtrue
My Sisters House. (2012a). Goals. Retrieved from
http://www.mysistershouseonline.org/transformation-transition.html
My Sisters House. (2012b). In the News. Retrieved from
http://www.mysistershouseonline.org/in-the-news.html
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. (2012) Retrieved from
http://www.servicelearning.org/what-service-learning

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Appendix A
RN to BSN Track

SERVICE LEARNING AGENCY CONTACT FORM

Agency Name:____________My Sisters House____________________

Contact Person:___________Cristy Allen_________________________

Contact Phone:____________(231) 620-0483_____________________

Contact Email:_____________cristy@mysistershouseonline.org______

Contact Address:_____1093 Fenton, Kingsley, MI 49649_____________
_____________________________________________

Description of Agency and Type of Service Learning Student will be engaged in:







Signature of Agency Representative (Agreeing to student volunteer):


Printed or typed name


Signature