Students highlight disparities issues for Department of Human Services advisory council - School of Public Health

Five School of Public Health students recently provided reports on disparities issues to members of the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council. Council members advise Department of Human Services on reducing disparities that affect racial and ethnic groups within DHS programs.

The project presentations were part of the council’s Dec. 11, 2015 meeting at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul, Minn.

The interns researched issues related to disparities affecting people served in human services programs. The topics they chose to research were aligned with the council’s priorities, which were highlighted in its 2014 legislative report (PDF).

public health students who interned at the department of human services — DHS Community Relations Director Antonia Wilcoxon, second from right, poses with Community and Partner Relations interns, from left: Anyamele Nkechi Jane Frances, Carrie Vogelsang, Amanda Pedersen and Stephania “Cookie” Walker Anderson.

Interns and their presentation topics:

Ming Yi — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation rates for certain populations
Stephania “Cookie” Walker Anderson – Equity as a goal and a process
Amanda Pedersen — Gaps analysis on disability services
Anyamele Nkechi Jane Frances — Disparities in the child protection program
Carrie Vogelsang — Opportunities to increase community engagement in programs and services for older adults

Post and photo courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Human Services