High-risk vulnerable populations and volunteers: a model of education and service collaboration.

Extending our earlier work (Hutchison & Quartaro, 1993) describing a training program for volunteers caring for high-risk vulnerable populations, we identify and explicate factors contributing to the successful collaboration of education and service organizations. Addressing the management of linkages essential to mutual goal setting and shared responsibility for planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient/client outcomes, each factor is discussed with specific reference to improving caregiving to persons with AIDS and their families through well-trained volunteer services. The model has been applied to training for service to homeless persons and to the frail elderly and may be more broadly applicable to other high-risk vulnerable populations.

Training imperatives for volunteers caring for high-risk, vulnerable populations.

Today, vulnerable populations expand as the threats of homelessness and communicable diseases continue to grow. Volunteers are moved to serve in areas in which they may not be well prepared. We identify the caring needs of high-risk, vulnerable populations and the needs of volunteers; we also conceptualize, develop, implement, and evaluate a training program for volunteers who serve homeless persons and families.

Interdisciplinary education for community health: the case for nursing and social work collaboration.

A nurse educator and a social work educator developed an interdisciplinary team-taught course in community health for both social work and nursing students. This account of their experience elaborates the implications of interdisciplinary education for the student learning experience including theory and practice content, socialization, and transition; faculty development; and the larger university community. Although this particular instance is limited to baccalaureate education, the authors underscore the potential of interdisciplinary course work for the enrichment of all levels of nursing and social work education.