DATE: 8:50 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 31, 2011, at health departments and community sites in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, or Genesee counties.

EVENT: University of Michigan School of Public Health Practice Plunge, tied to orientation for new SPH students.

For orientation, the University of Michigan School of Public Health gets students right out in the trenches even before classes officially start. During the Practice Plunge, which is part of new SPH student orientation, students volunteer at community health sites in one of four counties, which gives them a first-hand introduction to the kind of work they could be doing the rest of their careers.

Accompanied by faculty mentors, students will spend the morning at one of five health departments, and the afternoon volunteering at a community public health site. They learn about different areas of public health and different public health problems.

MEDIA: The media is encouraged to attend. The community site portion of the day will provide the best opportunity for photos and interviews. See below for schedule of visits. Reporters must contact Laura Bailey to RSVP. One site being featured is the Catherine Ferguson Academy, a school for pregnant teens, and a working farm. The school was slated for closure but is now staying open.

SCHEDULE, TIMES and LOCATIONS:

10 a.m. – Students arrive at one of the five health departments for an informational tour.

Noon – Students and faculty have lunch at health department.

1 p.m. – Students arrive at various community sites for volunteer work.

Community sites:

• Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, 2310 Lapeer Road Flint 48503-4221
• Baldwin Center, 212 Baldwin Ave., Pontiac, 48342
• Greening of Detroit/Catherine Ferguson Academy, 2750 Selden St., Detroit, 48208-2544
• ACCESS, 6450 Maple St., Dearborn, 48210
• Food Gatherers, 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, 48105-9290
• SOS Community Service, 101 S. Huron St., Ypsilanti 48197-5421
• Growing Hope, 922 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti 48198

Health Departments:

• Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, 1151 Taylor, Detroit
• Wayne County Public Health Department, 33030 Van Born Road, Wayne
• Genesee County Public Health Department, 630 E. S. Saginaw St., Flint
• Oakland County Health Department, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Bldg. 36E Pontiac
• Washtenaw County Public Health, 555 Towner, Ypsilanti

The University of Michigan School of Public Health has been promoting health and preventing disease since 1941, and is ranked among the top five public health schools in the nation. Whether making new discoveries in the lab or researching and educating in the field, our faculty, students, and alumni are deployed around the globe to promote and protect our health. http://www.sph.umich.edu/