When Michael M. Lai '98 joined Project HEALTH,he immediately signed up for a mentorship with Dr.Suzanne Steinbach, director of theallergy/respiratory department. As an asthmatic,Lai empathized with Steinbach's patients anddeveloped a fitness and education program forthem.
The Asthma Swim, an arm of Project HEALTH,program brings 20 Kids to the Madison ParkCommunity Center in Roxbury twice a week. Duringthe first hour, 18 Harvard counselors teachchildren how to manage their asthma on aday-to-day basis. The next hour is spent in thepool improving the children's respiratory capacitythrough swimming exercises.
"We fill in a gap for low-income parents," Laisays. "Many poor families have inadequate healthcare so we try to provide preventive care on awhole new level."
Members of the Asthma Swim program meet once amonth to reflect on their experiences withpractitioners in health care or public policy.
Members of the Human Faces program--anotherbranch of Project Health--had a chance to discusstheir findings with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56(D-Mass.) on Monday afternoon. Four parents,three Harvard students and their mentor from theBMC met with Kennedy for about 45 minutes toemphasize the importance of child care.
"The parents learn about participating in thepolitical process," says Lauren R. Garsten '00,co-director of the program. "Human Faces is notjust about telling people's stories but abouthelping people participate."
Studying Welfare
At Harvard, researchers are on the ground andin the field trying to figure out the effects ofwelfare reform.
Wiener Professor of Social Policy William J.Wilson, director of the Kennedy School's Centerfor Joblessness and Urban Poverty, is about tobegin a five-year longitudinal study inconjunction with researchers in Chicago and SanAntonio.
Wilson's project will be a comprehensiveethnographic study of 1,800 welfare recipients ineach city.
Lisa Dodson, a fellow at the Radcliffe PublicPolicy Institute, takes a more qualitativeapproach in directing Radcliffe's Welfare inTransition program.
Dodson believes in empowering welfarerecipients to advocate for themselves.
"Frankly, in this state, welfare recipients arenot welcome in policy discussions," Dodson says.
Over the past decade of research, Dodson hastried to involve the people of her studies inpolicy talks.
"More than telling a story, I believe[low-income workers] are thinkers," Dodson says."They are more than data; they have primaryknowledge."
Along the lines of including low-income peoplein the debate, Pamela H. Wescott directs groupdiscussions on the implications of welfare reform.
About 50 advocates met once a month last yearin round-table dialogues that brought academicstogether with service providers to address policyissues.
"Many low-income people had questions onwelfare reform but hesitated about askingauthority figures any questions," Wescott says.
At the Family Stabilization Program inCambridge, families are able to pursue theirquestions in the less-threatening environment of afood pantry