Everyday Innovation: CleanSlate Leaders Participate in Poverty Simulation
Oct 24, 2018
Late last month, CleanSlate leadership had the opportunity to participate in a Community Action Poverty Simulation with Vanderbilt University School of Nursing?s Office of Diversity.
The simulation allowed CleanSlate colleagues to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty during a three-hour experience where participants assumed the roles of low-income family members living on a very limited budget.
During the simulation, participants provided for their families and maintained their homes for ?one month? during the course of four 15-minute ?weeks.? This activity allowed CleanSlate leaders to rethink the challenges experienced by millions of low income individuals throughout the country and discuss the potential for change within the local communities we serve every day.
CleanSlate would like to thank the Vanderbilt School of Nursing Office of Diversity facilitators, Tamika Hudson and Jannyse Starks, along with the wonderful team of Nashville Edgehill community volunteers.
Below are a few takeaways from the group:
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?It?s very easy to forget how difficult most of our patients? lives are outside of our centers. Not only are they battling addiction and fighting to just survive every day, but they are most likely having to jump through hurdles and overcome obstacles that many of us couldn?t even begin to imagine. We have to keep those hurdles in mind when we are treating our patients, working them in to our schedules, speaking with them, etc. We can?t lose sight of the outside factors that all play a role in their treatment. The simulation was a breath of fresh air for me. It was a resurgence and reinforcement as to why I specifically chose to join CleanSlate,? said Juliana Serafini, Physician Talent Acquisition Consultant.
How can you put yourself in the shoes of our patients to relate to their daily challenges?