Service-Learning Cardinal Courses

MED 219: Housing Equity & Intro to Community-led Case Management

Autumn Quarter

About

Developed by the Stanford Housing Equity Project, MED 219 provides foundational skills in basic on-site case management, with a focus on benefits navigation, for students interested in community-based social work services. The course emphasizes the importance of centering the lived experiences of people experiencing homelessness and those experiencing material deprivation, and strategies for connecting them with essential resources. Students will gain practical experience in benefits navigation and case management through service learning activities with The United Effort Organization, Inc. (UEO), a non-profit organization that provides case management services to the homeless and housing-insecure populations in Mountain View and the surrounding areas. The course aims to increase housing equity and address other forms of inequity by providing an understanding of effective community partnerships, and the causes and consequences of homelessness. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the importance of centering the lived experiences of unhoused individuals when developing solutions to address homelessness.

Contact Mike Mayer (mayerm@stanford.edu) with inquiries.

Email housingequity@stanford.edu if interested in teaching.

MED 139:  Child and Family Resilience: Health Impacts and Interventions

Winter Quarter

About

This class offers an exploration of family and childhood resilience. In a world where children confront an array of formidable challenges, spanning from global crises like poverty and displacement to national issues such as escalating social disparities and mounting childhood trauma, it is imperative to recognize their innate capacity to surmount adversity. In this class, we will discuss how robust social support networks such as friendships, mentorships, and community initiatives play a pivotal role in fostering a child's resilience amidst adversity and serve as protective factors in nurturing cohesive family structures. Furthermore, examining the role of community partners in bolstering resilience will unveil the intricate network of support crucial for vulnerable populations. Students will leave the course with a profound understanding of how families collectively navigate challenges, illuminating their dynamic responses as a cohesive unit while recognizing the child's experience with adversity and a family's response. With this understanding, they will be better prepared as future healthcare providers to support families in navigating adversity. This is a Cardinal Course certified by the Haas Center for Public Service.

Contact Saumya Sao (ssao@stanford.edu) with inquiries.

Email housingequity@stanford.edu if interested in teaching.