Preparing Professional Degree Students to Tackle Grand Challenges: A Framework for Aligning Social Work Curricula

Meeting the Grand Challenges in a Rural Community

“…Students engaged in the IET course gained increased awareness of the limited resources available to families in rural communities and how interprofessional education can extend these resources. The IET course provides an opportunity to ensure the healthy development of youth and to close the health gap for local families who have run out of options for their children's health and social care needs (Nurius et al, 2017). This project is an exemplar of how interprofessional practice is situated to address the "Grand Challenges" of health care practice in a rural community (Gilbert et al, 2010;Nurius et al, 2017).…”

“…In 2010 the WHO recognized a shortage of well qualified health care workers worldwide and identified interprofessional practice education as a mechanism to mitigate this crisis (Gilbert et al, 2010). In 2017 social work policy makers, practitioners, educators and leaders identified 12 Grand Challenges for social work practice (Nurius et al, 2017). Three of these Grand Challenges are especially important to rural, interprofessional practice: a) Ensuring healthy development for all youth; b) Closing the health gap; and c) Advancing long and productive lives (Nurius et al, 2017).…”

“…In 2017 social work policy makers, practitioners, educators and leaders identified 12 Grand Challenges for social work practice (Nurius et al, 2017). Three of these Grand Challenges are especially important to rural, interprofessional practice: a) Ensuring healthy development for all youth; b) Closing the health gap; and c) Advancing long and productive lives (Nurius et al, 2017). Routine and specialized health care services, like pediatrics and associated children's specialists, are limited in rural communities (Moore & Sapien, 2012).…”

“…In 2018 access to dental health was the leading health concern in Idaho statewide (IDHW & DPH, 2019). These needs are reflective of the "Grand Challenges" facing rural communities (Nurius et al, 2017).…”

“…Rural Idahoans are experiencing a number of "Grand Challenges" (Nurius et al, 2017). Compared to the national average, Idaho has a low per capita income, with nearly half of the university community considered low income (Census Bureau, 2017;Cooper, 2018;Get Healthy Idaho, 2019).…”