Poverty
Stories of Poverty in Blair County
Students create stories of individuals living in poverty locally by merging readings/research into poverty; their own direct or indirect experience and/or exposure to, or conversations with, individuals living in high-risk socioeconomic environments; and research into local public benefits eligibility and levels. Selected stories will be posted on the Healthy Blair County Coalition (HBCC) website. The project goal is to broaden and enrich the public's understanding of poverty.
Course: HDFS 496, 445
Faculty: Kelly Munly
Community Partner: HBCC Poverty Work Group
Poverty Stories: Media
Advertising campaign for HBCC's Poverty Stories project
Course: COMM 421W
Faculty: Bob Trumpbour
Community Partner: HBCC Poverty Work Group
Poverty Stories: Media
Alternative platforms for presenting project stories to the target audience of professional associations.
Course: COMM 470C
Faculty: Nick Mohammad
Community Partner: HBCC Poverty Work Group
Social Determinants of Health: A Pilot Program for Next Gen Health Professionals
Clinic-based social needs screening and in-person patient navigation have been shown to have a positive impact on patient health. This pilot project engages undergraduate health professions students in learning about social determinants of health and interacting with individuals in a "patient navigator" capacity.
Course: BIOL 297
Faculty: Mary Kananen
Community Partner: Altoona Family Physicians
Local Food Systems
Product Pricing Analysis and the Hidden Costs of Supermarket Foods
Researching and analyzing the Real v POS cost of selected food items.
Course: AGBM 102, 106
Faculty: Melissa Kohler
Community Partner: Allegheny Food Connection
Assessing Wholesale Buyers' Perceptions and Preferences Concerning Local Sourcing
In partnership with the Allegheny Food Connection, the student will conduct market research to better understand the needs of local produce buyers (restaurants, coffee shops, small grocery chains) so that local agricultural producers may better meet those needs. Findings will be used to build stronger producer/buyer networking events and partnerships in the future. Research findings will also enhance the Allegheny Food Connection’s grant applications for funding to develop a Blair County local food aggregator.
Course: BA 494
Faculty: Melissa Kohler
Community Partner: Allegheny Food Connection
Food Access: Mapping Opportunity in Blair County
Mapping the local food environment.
Faculty: Tim Dolney
Community Partner: Allegheny Food Connection, HBCC Poverty Work Group
Active Living
Research Project: Steps Challenge
Research: Effectiveness of a community-based steps challenge on cardiovascular health outcomes in previously sedentary adults
Faculty: Nicole Gilbertson
Community Partner: HBCC Let's Move Committee
Healthy Eating and Activity Survey
Adapting a survey created at UP by Madison Galascio for student-athletes at Penn State Altoona about Healthy Eating and Living habits. The goal is to continue and adapt a new survey to be used for the young professional demographic in Blair County.
Course: KINES 496
Faculty: Nicole Gilbertson
Community Partner: Allegheny Food Connection
WalkWorks Enhancement
Assessment of Blair County WalkWorks trails
Course: KINES student club
Faculty: Nicole Gilbertson
Community Partner: Blair County Planning