Community Mental Health Nursing: Evaluation & Policy Impact (2024W UBC-Based)

This program is part of the Global Experiential Education Program (GEEP) and is informed by ORICE values. GEEP aims to strengthen the bridge between classroom learning (theory) and application (practice) to address pressing global issues, in this community-based praxis initiative. Students who participate in GEEP can participate in experiential education projects designed and led by global community partners.

Details at a Glance

Round 1 Application Deadline: September 15th, 2024

  • Program Type: Co-curricular (Not-for-credit)
  • Project Type: Community-Engaged Research Project in collaboration with Kamili Organisation
  • Placement Location: In-person, UBC-Based
  • Duration: 4 months starting in January 2025
  • Eligibility: Open to UBC-V Undergraduate (60+ credits) & Graduate students (more details below)

Project Description

Current Project

Kamili Organisation is interested in undertaking an evaluation to understand the impacts of this training for selected nurses once they return to their home site. They would like to understand the facilitators, barriers and impacts the nurses experience when bringing their specialized knowledge to their practice site. The purpose of this evaluation is both to inform the current program and to develop evidence to influence policy at multiple levels/sites in Kenya.

This one-term engagementship (January-April 2025) will be an opportunity to work with the Kamili team to refine the evaluation research questions and design a study that can be implemented in the summer of 2025 or beyond. Activities associated with this project will include a full review of program materials to date, project planning, literature reviews, environmental policy scans, research on impact metrics, evaluation design, methodology reviews and the development of data collection tools. 

Background

For 11 years, Kamili Organisation has been offering scholarships for qualified general nurses to come to Kamili for specialized training in mental health. Selected nurses come to Kamili in Nairobi, Kenya for 1 week intensive and receive training on the Kamili model – a community based approach that aims to provide mental health care at a primary level health facility, making services accessible, affordable and sustainable. The newly trained nurses return back to their place of work around the country and become part of a growing network of Kamili-trained nurses with a mental health specialization. This network now comprises 156 nurses in 44 of 47 counties across Kenya. Once trained, the network supports one another and has access to the staff at Kamili for guidance, receives site visits from Kamili leadership and participates in annual training and network development activities.   

Organization Details

Kamili Organisation provides affordable mental health services via 30+ clinics across Kenya. Our model clinic in Nairobi provides: accurate diagnosis, treatment, support to patients and their families and psychosocial care in the form of education. We also regularly work with the local community to raise awareness about the symptoms and stigma associated with mental health.

Program Overview

Over a period from January to April 2025,  the selected team of students will spend 3-5 hours each week working collaboratively towards completing the objectives of this project. Students will be asked to participate in weekly scheduled in-person meetings (on the UBC Vancouver Campus) to ensure collaboration and accountability goals are defined and met. However, the remainder of the allotted time will be self-directed or in small work teams as per agreements with teammates. 

More Information

Round 1 Application Deadline: Sunday September 15th, 2024 @ 11:59pm.

  1. Review project details (please contact ubc.orice@ubc.ca with any questions you may have).
  2. Next, fill out the ORICE program application form (Qualtrics Survey) below.
  3. Successful applicants will be contacted by email to continue the selection process through a 15-minute individual interview.
  4. After interviews, you will be notified of a decision; successful candidates will be sent an offer letter with further details on the program and detailed instructions on how to accept. Your selection into the program includes meeting eligibility requirements, as well as your initial application and your performance in the interview. Student project teams will be comprised of 3-5 students. 

Note: Although there are rounds of multiple deadlines scheduled, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we can not guarantee the number of spots remaining in the following round of deadlines. We encourage interested students to apply as soon as possible. 

  • Be an undergraduate (domestic or international) at the UBC Vancouver campus with 60 or more completed credits, or graduate student as of August 31st, 2024. 
  • Have access to a reliable internet connection and computer to collaborate with peers & international partners and attend meetings remotely if online meetings are required.
  • Demonstrate the ability to think critically and creatively and be willing to take responsibility and initiative to meet project deliverables.
  • Prior experience with research design is an asset, but not necessary
  • Willingness to have occasional meetings that accommodate time zone considerations for guests joining from Uganda or elsewhere.

Project dates: Week of January 6, 2025, to April 9, 2025

Weekly in-person meetings: TBD - applicants will be asked to be flexible as we will be seeking a weekly standing 2 hour meeting block during M-F, 9am-5pm 

Note: Team members need to be available for occasional meetings with the community partner at 8am due to time zone differences.

Timeline 
Applications OpenWed, August 14, 2024
Round 1 DeadlineSun, September 15, 2024, 11:59 pm PST
Round 1 Short InterviewsSeptember 19 - 24, 2024
Round 1 Offers Made bySeptember 27, 2024
Round 1 Acceptances DueSun, September 29, 2024, 11:59 pm PST

Funding available for this program: ORICE Experiential Education Accessibility Award 

Note: Students may only hold one award at a given time. Please visit our funding page for more information.