Poverty simulation for health professional students

The Western Regional Area Health Education Center in cooperation with CHHS organized a three-hour poverty simulation at Western Michigan University’s Grand Rapids-Beltline location. Faculty recruited approximately 80 students from occupational therapy, public health and social work, creating an interprofessional education experience for health professional students.

Students assumed the roles of low-income family members who needed to manage a month of living in poverty, while accomplishing daily tasks to keep their households functioning and together.

Volunteers from WMU, Cherry Health, Mercantile and Chase Banks, and the Department of Health and Human Services in Kalamazoo assumed the roles of vendors representing law enforcement, banking, utility company, homeless shelter, social service agency, childcare agency, employer, and health center.

The simulation was designed to expose health professional students to the difficulties faced by low-income families trying to survive from month to month. The objective was to sensitize future healthcare professionals to the realities faced by some of their future patients and clients.

At the end of the simulation, faculty, students and vendors participated in a debriefing period which allowed participants to share their observations, experiences and thoughts surrounding the simulation. Students commented on feeling frustrated and confused as they did not know where to go for help. They shared feelings of irritability as they waited in long lines for services. They expressed lack of understanding of the required paperwork to receive healthcare services.

Our next simulation is scheduled for the end of October at CHHS. We are looking for interested faculty to recruit their students to serve as family members and community agencies to serve as vendors. If you are interested, please contact Lisa Brennan at (616) 771-9497.