UMass-Dartmouth College of Nursing students, who are part of a Global Health Collaborative, came to the Congregational Christian Church in Somerset, MA on February 27, 2016 to provide a health screening to families living in the area, an event also sponsored by The Church of Our Savior in Somerset. "This is our third screening effort here in the Fall River Area," stated UMass-Dartmouth College of Nursing Professor Paula Walsh. The group met first in Haiti and then  traveled to Mississippi before choosing do health screenings in the Fall River/New Bedford Area. Transportation for the families was provided by People Incorporated and by Partners through a Vela Foundation grant. The project was organized by UMass-D Assistant Professor Maryellen Brisbois and Wendy Garf-Lipp, Executive Director of United Neighbors of Fall River and Chairperson of the Coalition for Health and Well-Being.  Click here for a similar clinic offered a year ago. Click here for photos of an effort to help homeless families through one of the local churches. Click here for a nine-minute video of the meal and entertainment that followed the clinic. For more information, contact Dr. Brisbois at 508-999--8581 or Partners Outreach Manager Jack Shipley at 508-324-7900.

(Top row, left) A yellow school bus arrives with families at the Congregational Christian Church where the Southcoast Health Wellness Van was already set up to do screenings. (Top row, center) UMass-Dartmouth College of Nursing students Olivia McNelis and Chelsea Correia join UMass-D Assistant Professor Maryellen Brisbois and University of the Acores faculty member Helder Pereira for a group photo. (Top row, right) Congregational Christian Church Pastor Rev. Cheryl Rieder prepares to offer grace with her crew of church volunteers. (Row two) Nursing Student Nicholas Joswick practices drawing blood with fellow student Dana Foley before Nenita Hiller disposes of the used instrument. (Row three) Renee Rodrigues of the HealthFirst Dental Outreach Clinic and Lisa Alves of the WIC Program talk with Partners Outreach Manager Jack Shipley who organized the event as Dr.Brisbois talks with the nursing students. (Row four) Volunteer Owen Sawyer puts out plates of cornbread as family members line up for lunch and before Linda Hennessey of the HealthFirst Famiy Care Center is served. (Row five) Church volunteer June Murphy checks to be sure everyone has enough food before volunteer Shirley Dennison gets ready to serve cupcakes and ice cream, while some of the young people sample the questions about sugar at the Partners' sugar-free challenge table. (Bottom row) Hip hop dancers Brandon Medeiros, Chris Vongkhamkeo, Jay Wong and Andrew Mercury Dill practice and perform for the group before teaching some moves to several of the nursing students.