As a community-based health professions school, community service is integral to the NEOUCOM/NEOUCOP mission. The office of student affairs considers active community participation and social responsibility central to educational concerns at NEOUCOM/NEOUCOP. The office supports students, staff, and faculty interested in promoting service, activism, and community-based research to address needs identified by the community. We believe students can make valuable contributions to the world as they gain challenging educational experience. To this end, we provide opportunities to:

Increase community involvement and strengthen leadership skills through direct service,
Connect community-based work with academic study,
Build meaningful relationships between members of NEOUCOM and the community.


Why get involved in community work?

What are my options?

Local and National Community Service Opportunities

International Service Opportunities

Summer Camps

 


Why get involved in community work? ^ top

Students get involved in community work for a variety of reasons -- to explore social issues, as a class requirement, to gain professional experience, or to experience the community beyond NEOUCOM. The connections and relationships that emerge through community work differ based on each individual's time commitment, interests, and experience.

It is important to think not only about the kind of work you will be doing, but also about with whom you want to work and why. • What are your motivations?

• What do you hope to gain from this experience?
• What do you have to offer?
• What do you hope to achieve?
• Are there particular social issues that you would like to address?
• Are there particular kinds of people, age groups or communities you would like to work with?
• How much do you already know about the issue or constituency?
• Is there a need to learn more before acting?
• Would you like to continue a past interest or pursue new experiences?
• Are you interested in direct work with people, or would you rather do administrative, research, or policy work?
• How can you connect your community experiences with your academic and professional goals?
• What kind of work would challenge you the most?
• How much time do you realistically have?

Student Affairs staff members are available to talk about these questions and help you make an informed decision.


What are my options? ^ top

Most community service projects at NEOUCOM can be categorized into one of 3 groups; outreach, charitable contributions and education. Service areas range from the immediate NEOUCOM community to the surrounding northeastern Ohio counties to the world community.

The majority of community service projects take place within the student organization structure. NEOUCOM currently has 33 active student organizations . Student activities are coordinated through the office of professional development and organization leaders are encouraged to register all community service projects with the student affairs specialist in that office.

Some community service projects are ongoing and have become a NEOUCOM tradition, such as the Robert A. Blanch MD Charity Softball Tournament, which benefits the Akron Children's Hospital and Tods Children's Hospital, and the Aseculapius Charity Ball which benefits the Sarah Cho Foundation Scholarship fund. Other projects are short term or in answer to an immediate need, such as food and clothing drives for disaster relief. Click here for a partial listing of community service projects carried out by NEOUCOM student organizations during the 2003-04 academic year.

NEOUCOM students also participate in community service projects not related to a particular student organization. One of the longest running service projects for NEOUCOM students is the Childhood Cancer Buddy Program which pairs a NEOUCOM student with a young cancer patient and their family. Community service opportunities also extend to the world community through student participation in medical mission trips. These trips are sponsored by outside organizations, such as the Global Health Outreach Program of the National Christian Medical Dental Association, and frequently combine medical work with Christian ministry. In the summer of 2004 NEOUCOM students participated in trips to Kenya , Honduras and Mexico .

Local and National Community Service Opportunities ^ top

Akron Area

Canton Area

Youngstown Area 

Portage County
Family and Community Services of Portage County at http://www.portagefamilies.org/start.html

National Opportunities
Habitat for Humanity http://www.habitat.org/

International Opportunities

 

Other Useful Links and Resources
Americorp at http://www.americorps.org/
Campus Compact at http://www.compact.org/aboutcc/

Funding Opportunities for Community Service Projects
AAMC Caring for Communities Grant Program http://www.aamc.org/about/awards/cfc.htm

Women in Touch with Akron's Needs (WITAN)http://www.witaninfo.org/

 

 

International Service Opportunities ^ top

Summer Camps   ^ top

There are numerous opportunities to combine learning, service and employment through work with specialty summer camps. These include overnight camps, day camps, special needs camps, sports camps, teen tours, performing arts camps and more. Opportunities are local and national. The following links are a good place to start searching for these opportunities:

Camp Jobs - General - a searchable database of summer camp job openings.

Special Needs Camps - searchable database of special needs camps throughout the country.

Fresh Air Camp - For children who are ventilator dependent.

Recreation Unlimited - Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun (Recreation Unlimited) is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing year-round programs in sports, recreation and education for individuals with disabilities while building self-confidence, self-esteem and promoting positive human relations, attitudes, and behaviors.