School of Nursing Hosts Poverty Simulation
On Monday, Oct. 23, Lee’s School of Nursing and the Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management (DHMM) club hosted the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) for Hixson High School students and Lee nursing students at the DeVos Student Recreation Center on Lee’s campus. CAPS is designed to help people better understand the reality of poverty and the financial difficulties people face with basic needs.
“This event was an incredible opportunity for learning and collaboration,” said Jake Fast, assistant professor of emergency management and director of DHMM at Lee. “We love working with our area high schools, and partnering with Hixson High on this endeavor was a fantastic experience for all involved.”
Members of the DHMM club, School of Nursing faculty, and teachers from Hixson High School played the roles of various agencies and groups, such as social workers, bill collectors, and police officers. The students role-played the lives of low-income families, including recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, disabled citizens, and senior citizens. They were then tasked with providing basic needs over the course of four 15-minute “weeks.”
“The poverty simulation was a huge success in teaching students about what poverty looks like for the millions of Americans that live it every day,” said Sarah Livingston, president of the DHMM club. “Personally, my table gave out free resources, but not many people utilized them because they did not realize or remember they were there. This opened my eyes to realize the gap in knowledge regarding what community resources are available and where to find them.”
Forty-three high school students participated in this simulation, along with 26 of Lee’s nursing students.
CAPS enables its participants to consider poverty from many different angles, creates an awareness of the realities of poverty, and prompts discussion for the potential change that can occur within participants’ local communities.
“The simulation really helped our students who haven’t experienced poverty bridge the gap with those who have those challenges,” said Renee Parker, a member of the Hixson High School staff who attended the simulation. “As future health professionals, this really opened students’ eyes to the struggles facing many of their peers, and it challenged them to address resource needs in their communities. We are so blessed to have Lee University’s School of Nursing partner with us in bringing this simulation to our students.”
For more information about the Community Action Poverty Simulation, visit https://www.povertysimulation.net/
