Public Health Policy Engagement and Action - Food Insecurity and Nutrition Education in Ontario Schools

HST407H1-S
Closed
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Assistant Professor
2
Timeline
  • January 6, 2023
    Experience start
  • February 4, 2023
    Project Scope Meeting
  • April 8, 2023
    Experience end
Experience
2 projects wanted
Dates set by experience
Preferred companies
Canada
Any
Any industries

Experience scope

Categories
Public health Healthcare Community engagement Social justice Scientific research
Skills
information synthesis online communication scientific literature nutrition education research lecturing
Learner goals and capabilities

Looking to elevate your organization, and bring it to the next level? Bring on students from the University of Toronto to be your student-consultants, in a project-based experience. Students will work on one main project over the course of the semester, connecting with you as needed with virtual communication tools.

Students in this course critically evaluate the scientific literature about health policies and “knowledge gaps” wherein a call to action recommends the scientific community to respond with further research and policy engagement. They gain skills to analyze and synthesize information from lectures, readings, media and video links, in order to examine, critique, analyze and apply their learning. This cohort will focus on the topic of food insecurity and nutrition literacy in K to 12 education in Ontario.

Learners

Learners
Undergraduate
Any level
15 learners
Project
20 hours per learner
Learners self-assign
Teams of 4
Expected outcomes and deliverables

Deliverables are negotiable, and will seek to align the needs of the students and the organization.

Some final project deliverables might include:

  1. A 10-15 minute presentation on key findings and recommendations
  2. A detailed report including their research, analysis, insights and recommendations
  3. Create an output/deliverable that advances the conversation/discussion/target of food insecurity and nutrition literacy in Ontario Schools/curriculum
Project timeline
  • January 6, 2023
    Experience start
  • February 4, 2023
    Project Scope Meeting
  • April 8, 2023
    Experience end

Project Examples

Requirements

Students in groups of 3-5 will work with your company to identify your needs and provide actionable recommendations, based on their in-depth research and analysis.

Project activities that students can complete may include, but are not limited to:

  • Formulate SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timebound) ideas, expressing these using scientific protocol and policy writing conventions: background, methodology and scientific justification
  • Analyze literature (ex. press-releases, protocols, scientific findings, public health policies) for ethics and human health relevance/impact expressing understanding in written and oral assessments
  • Identify & evaluate variables that contribute to the development of a policy from various perspectives
  • Critically evaluate different information sources for knowledge transfer & public health implications
  • Engage in team building through scaffolded assignment design
  • Describe structural issues in the translation of science to policy for actionable change (ex. where are impediments and opportunities?) using reliable supporting evidence
  • Engage in a dialogue to debate where health policy supports or hinders healthcare initiatives and demonstrate understanding of public health/epidemiology research that supports presented ideas
  • Synthesize research evidence behind health policies of related to public health interventions/approaches, considering the Canadian and global implications for policies
  • Synthesize linkages between concepts around bias, predisposition and risk vs. social and developmental determinants of health outcomes weighing these from different population and geographical perspectives
  • Practice negotiating to generate consensus through deliberation and conflict resolution of selected public health policy topics using supporting evidence and effective oral and written communicate

Additional company criteria

Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:

A representative of the company will be available to answer questions from students in a timely manner for the duration of the project.

A representative of the company will be available for a pre-selection discussion with the administrator of the course to review the project scope.

Provide an opportunity for students to present their work and receive feedback.

How is your project relevant to the course?

Provide relevant information/data as needed for the project.