The document proposes a social determinants of health internship program for secondary school students in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. The program aims to develop a pipeline of students interested in public health careers by training them on the social determinants of health and having them conduct community-based research projects. It would leverage strategic partnerships between government agencies, academic institutions like UWI, and NGOs. Over three years, the program hopes to engage 20 students in Trinidad and Tobago the first year, expanding to 40 students across Trinidad and Jamaica in year two and 60 students across three locations in year three. The goal is to strengthen the regional health system by fostering the next generation of health leaders.

1. 1
Ruth C. Browne, ScD.
CEO, Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health
Principal Investigator & Fulbright NEXUS Awardee (2011-2012)
Social Determinants of Health Internship
Program: Training Program for Caribbean
Secondary School Students

2. Conditions responsive to interventions that address
the SDOH, such as CVD/Diabetes/HIV, are among
Trinidad and Tobago’s leading causes of death
Shortage of public health care professionals remains
a major cause of health sector problems in the
Caribbean region, specifically Trinidad and Tobago

4.  Invest in pipeline programs with proven effectiveness in
developing a public sector workforce who:
• Are interested in health careers
• Understand the role of socio-determinants of
health, social justice and sustainability in health
equity & healthcare
• Are committed to applying these frameworks to
address health equity issues
OUR APPROACH

5. Strategic Partnerships
Replication & Adaptability
Sustainability
5

6.  NGOs’ expanded capacity to participate in research and
policy advocacy
 Increased knowledge of the social determinants of
health & the field of public health by the youth
 Youth’s Increased efficacy & awareness of themselves
as agents of change.

7.  Encompasses all levels of socio-political structures &
leverages their skills towards addressing health
outcomes in Trinidad & Tobago .
 Develops a grass-roots, culturally relevant, age-
appropriate curriculum focused on social determinants
of health and improving health equity locally &
throughout the Americas.

8. Social Determinants of Health
Develop strategic
partnerships
(Government,
Academic & NGOs)
Train 20 students
interested in
public health
(Trinidad & Tobago)
Implement
student engaged
community-
based research

9. “Gender Roles, Race & Cultural
Competency in Access & Health-
Seeking”
“Environmental Justice”
“Clinical Overview of Chronic
Diseases/Epidemics: Diabetes”
SAMPLE
CURRICULUM
SAMPLE
RESEARCH
PROJECTS
“Profile of Patient Ethnicity &
Religion in CVD”
“Waste Management in the
Healthcare Sector”
“Diet & Exercise Patterns in
Patients Diagnosed with Diabetes
Type I & II

10.  Develop sustainable community-academic government
partnerships
 Adaptation of an existing model and international
replication 
 Development of instructional curriculum that is relevant to
Trinidad & Tobago & the Caribbean 

11.  By leveraging the resources of UWI,
government ministries, NGOs, schools, and
students, the Internship Program:
◦ Creates pathways for community and youth to
become engaged in health equity solutions
◦ Supports a pipeline of students who are
academically prepared to pursue careers in health
◦ Strengthens the region’s health system and services
by fostering the next generation of health care
leaders
11

12. •Knowledge scales of levels of
learning
•Increase motivation to pursue
careers in the health care field
•Increased understanding of SDOH
•Tracking of students through
college
•Presentation of students’ research
to International agencies,
academia, government & NGO
community
Engagement:
•Joint development of
research projects
•MOUs with academic
partners, NGOs and schools
•Letters of endorsement
from government agencies
•Faculty interaction with
secondary school students
•Faculty interaction with
NGOs

13. Sustainability & Replication:
Years UWI Campuses Students
2012 Trinidad &
Tobago
20
2013 Trinidad &
Tobago; Jamaica
40
2014 Trinidad &
Tobago;
Jamaica;
Barbados
60

14. Curriculum enhancement:
 Webinars & live broadcast (Brooklyn-T & T)
 Cross-cultural exchanges (Brooklyn- T &T/Regional)
 UWI cross-campus collaborations
Curriculum Integration:
 Incorporate the curriculum in existing
secondary school/public health curricula

15. Location/Commute
IT support
Staffing
Establishing linkages
between NGOs &
Academic Institutions
Infrastructure for
research
Workshops-SDOH,
Health Equity
Increasing student
participation
LOGISTICS CAPACITY
BUILDING (NGOs)
FUNDING

16. Nexus
Award:
$30,000
23%
20%
57%
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Student support &
development
NGO capacity
development
Direct Replication
costs

17. $6,850
$6,080
$17,070
37,060
11,000
15,870
$-
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
$40,000
Student Support/Development CBO Capacity Development Direct Replication Costs
Anticipated costs
Actual Costs

18. Cash Contributions: $35,000 (Current Need)
In-kind Contributions:
 AAIUH leadership and staff
 UWI leadership and Faculty
 NGO leadership and staff
Potential Support Sources:
 T&T: Government, Corporations, NGOs, UWI
 Private Foundations, International agencies & NGOs

19. COMMUNITY PARTNERS
(NGOS)
• Cropper Foundation
• Diabetes Association of Trinidad &
Tobago
• Environment Tobago
• Families in Action
• Heartbeat International
• Heart Foundation of Trinidad &
Tobago
• Kinds in Need of Direction
• Oil Workers Trade Union
• Red Cross of Trinidad & Tobago
• Toco Foundation
SECONDARY
SCHOOLS
• Iere High School
• Naparima Girls High School
• Queen’s Royal College
• San Fernando Central Secondary
School
• St. Joseph’s Convent, St. Joseph’s
• St. Mary’s College
• St. Stephen’s College
• Vessigny Secondary School

20. GOVERNMENT OF
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Science,
Technology & Tertiary
Education
• Tobago House of Assembly
ACADEMIC
PARTNERS
• University of the West Indies
Faculty of Medical Sciences,
St. Augustine Campus
(Trinidad & Tobago)