“The Connection” Community Consultant Group

Mindi B. Levin, MS, CHESDirector, SOURCE (Student Outreach Resource Center)

Lainie Rutkow, JD, MPHConnection Program Manager

Overview of “The Connection”

In 2005, the Connection, a community consultant group, was launched in

response to student requests for more short-term service

opportunities in Baltimore.

Overview of “The Connection”

Working in teams, the Connection’s consultants

partner with local community-based

organizations (CBOs) to carry out finite projects

that usually last from 3 – 5 weeks.

Developing Our Name

Connecting:• Students with the Community• Learning with Experience• JHU with Baltimore

Small Working Teams Focus On:

• Strategic Consulting• Fundraising Strategy and Grants• Performance Measurement• Communications Consulting

Sample Connection Projects

Caroline Street Clinic for the Uninsured

Goal: To improve community outreach and address residual community needs (such as HIV testing)

The Connection team developed an intake questionnaire for the clinic. The questionnaire will be administered to people seeking HIV testing by trained counselors.

Sample Connection Projects

Dr. Rayner Browne Elementary School

Goal: To develop a nutrition curriculum for theschool

The Connection team developed a nutrition curriculum (four food groups, portion control, smoking education, hygiene, and heart and GI tract functioning).

Received donations from Whole Foods for taste-testing healthy foods.

Received a $1,000 grant from the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association, which will allow the educational program to continue.

Sample Connection Projects

Environmental Justice Partnership

Goal: Assist with EJP’s 501c3 application

The Connection team drafted a set of bylaws for EJP. The bylaws, which provide a comprehensive overview of EJP’s operations, contain information about EJP’s objectives, membership, board of directors, officers, meetings, fundraising and development, and conflict resolution system.

Sample Connection Projects

The Men’s Center

Goal: Write a grant for the Men’s Center

The Connection team wrote a grant requesting funds to upgrade the Men’s Center’s facilities. In addition, the team developed materials to help the Men’s Center apply for a grant to enhance Lifeskills, the Center’s main program. Created grant template for future use.

Sample Connection Projects

Greater Homewood Community Corporation

Goal: Assist GHCC with evaluating their programs

The Connection team developed basic monitoring and evaluation tools for GHCC’s Youth Development Initiative. Conducted an “Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation” session for GHCC staff; Facilitated a ½ day workshop to further define processes and objectives; Identified a comprehensive set of indicators to be used for monitoring and evaluation of program processes and outcomes; Constructed a set of tools and strategies for data collection that related to the indicators.

Sample Connection Projects

International Rescue Committee

Goal: Create a needs assessment survey for

clientele.

The Connection team developed a survey for refugees who were resettled in the Baltimore area through the IRC. The survey will be used to determine their clients’ satisfaction with the IRC’s services and will help the IRC to determine what additional services it should offer.

Sample Connection Projects

The Men’s Center

Goal: Quality assurance project

The Connection team worked to improve the Men’s Center’s database management to better enable staff to run progress reports on each of its clients. The team delivered an improved database and plans to train the Men’s Center staff in its use.

Connection Support

SOURCE Community-based organizations JHU Alumni Association Faculty and staff YOU!

How to Connect

Fill out a Consultant Profile Form Submit your resume to SOURCE

(source@jhsph.edu) Projects will be announced on an on-

going basis beginning in September Connection consultants self-select

projects of interest Diverse Connection teams are organized Group leaders are assigned Connect with your CBO and you’re off! SOURCE support, Evaluations

How to Connect

Check us out on the web:

www.jhsph.edu/source/Students/Connection

Want to see what we did last year?

Our 2008-2009 year-end report is online.

Get involved with the Local Community!

Questions?