91探花

Social and economic inequity has lasting effects on societies and the health of populations. 91探花scholars from a wide range of disciplines are addressing equity in innovative ways. Solutions range from addressing income inequality to education quality, poverty to criminal justice reform, and many other equity issues that directly and indirectly affect human health and well-being.

Since Seattle passed legislation providing for an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour, the nation has been watching and waiting to see the effects on the local economy and quality of life. Tracking these effects and more is the Minimum Wage Study, a five-year research effort led by investigators from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance with the School of Social Work.

The team seeks to answer such questions as, does a higher minimum wage improve quality of life measures, including health, nutrition, and family daily life? As more cities anticipate hikes in their minimum wage, this research will inform future decisions about the effects on workers, their families, employers, and the community.

Each year, there are millions of babies in developing countries born prematurely or with oral clefts who struggle to breast feed. These babies are often at high risk for malnourishment, infection, and often death. Thanks to Christy McKinney, a clinical assistant professor of oral health sciences, a new feeding aid is now readying for widespread distribution across Africa.

In partnership with PATH and Seattle Children鈥檚, McKinney developed the NIFTY鈩� cup (Neonatal Intuitive Feeding TechnologY), a low-cost silicone cup with a small reservoir and spout that allows mothers to easily and safely feed these vulnerable newborns. This innovative intervention has the potential to solve a major global challenge, which could save millions of lives.

Why do some states place more kids into foster care than others? A new study connects the hidden dots between a state鈥檚 approaches to social problems and their rate of foster care. Author Frank Edwards is a 91探花doctoral student in sociology who found that states with more punitive criminal justice systems remove children from their homes far more frequently than states with more generous welfare programs. This means that two states with similar rates of child abuse and neglect could have very different rates of foster care entry, significantly impacting the futures of already vulnerable children.

What does it mean to be homeless in the U-District? Drama students created 鈥淪kies Over Seattle,鈥� original theater pieces inspired by the intersection of volunteerism and artistic creation in pursuit of understanding that question. Graduate students in acting, design and directing, as well as several undergraduates, volunteered for three community organizations that serve the homeless around the UW鈥檚 Seattle campus.

Over the course of a year, their lessons learned and questions asked inspired the students to write, design and perform original pieces that challenge assumptions about the communities that share the space beneath one sky. 鈥淲e want the community to know that we鈥檙e not giving them a voice 鈥� they already have a voice,鈥� says AJ Friday, a student in the Professional Actor Training Program.

Education is a key component of lifelong health, yet the underrepresentation of Native American teachers across the United States often negatively impacts young Native students. The new Native Education Certificate seeks to address that challenge by providing a knowledge base for non-Native teachers to create a culturally relevant curriculum for Native students. Mixing online learning and community projects, the 10-unit program is designed to reduce the disconnect between non-Native teachers and Native children, making public schools more inclusive.

Inadequate sidewalks and navigational infrastructure can be a nuisance to anyone, but for people with mobility limitations or low vision, these conditions can not only feel insurmountable, but become hazardous. The聽Taskar Center for Accessible Technology聽and the聽OpenSidewalks聽team from the 91探花eScience Institute鈥檚聽Data Science for Social Good聽program held a Map-a-thon to address these issues. Data collected by Seattle community members will be integrated with the OpenStreetMap open source聽platform to offer more robust sidewalk information and navigational assistance for those with limited mobility.

Less than 20 percent of the U.S. nursing workforce are from low income or underrepresented backgrounds 鈥� yet the patients those future nurses will serve are increasingly likely to be minorities. The 91探花School of Nursing is widening the pathway to nursing for minority students through the 91探花Nurse Camp. Each summer, high school students get hands-on experience in the world of nursing. Not only do they gain insight into medical career options, many begin to see earning a degree as a real option for the first time, something many low-income or underrepresented students may struggle to visualize.