1,2RN Subject Matter Expert Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Marist Avenue, General Santos City, Philippines
Ser Rosenkranz G, Espartero RN, MAN Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Marist Avenue, General Santos City, Philippines
8 July 2020 ; 20 July 2020
Notre Dame of Dadiangas University and the College of Health Sciences offered myriad of community health programs to the different communities in General Santos City and in Sarangani Province, Philippines. However, it was only in 2005 that the College formally adopted Sitio Daan Banwang, Barangay Upper Labay, General Santos City, Philippines.
After more than three decades of existence of the College of Nursing in NDDU, no research study was conducted on the impact of its Community Development Plans to the adopted communities. The College was not able to evaluate the Community Development Plans and programs being implemented in its various adopted communities. This was because of the dearth of personnel and of the College’s capacity to conduct the study.
During its last survey in February 2016, the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools and Universities (PAASCU), the Team recommended for the assessment of the impact of programs on the beneficiaries. Specifically, the Team recommended that the College’s CIS have to (1) review the existing five-year community development plan as to the: level of community empowerment, sustainability of livelihood programs, impact on the health status of vulnerable members of the adopted communities (2) increase alumni participation in the various community extension projects (3) involve the Business Resource Center (BRC) of the NDDU in designing and evaluating appropriate livelihood programs that would enhance the socio- economic status of the indigenous communities; and (4) Conduct research that would evaluate the impact of community involvement programs on the different adopted communities.
It is on the aforementioned premises that the researcher conducted this study. The purpose of this investigation consequently was to evaluate the plans and programs of the College of Health Sciences.
This study attempted to conduct an evaluation of the Community Development Plans and services of the College of Health Sciences to its adopted communities from 2012 to 2017.
Specifically, this study worked on the following sub-problems:
- What is the current status of the five (5) year community development plan as to the:
- extent of community empowerment;
- sustainability of livelihood programs;
- impact on the health status of vulnerable members of the adopted communities;
- 2. What is the extent of participation of the:
a. students;
b. faculty;
c. alumni; and
d. other stakeholders (Business Resource Center);
3. Based on the findings of the study, how can the Community Development Plan be improved in terms of:
a. level of community empowerment;
b. sustainability of livelihood programs;
c. impact on the health status of vulnerable members of the adopted communities; and,
d. participation of the students, faculty, alumni and other stakeholders.
The paradigm of this study was fundamentally rooted on a descriptive – quantitative research study. A validated questionnaire was the instrument used to gather the data needed in the study.
Five sets of respondents were used in this study: community people, students, faculty, alumni and stakeholders. The community people involved the residents of Angie Village II, Barangay Kawas, Alabel, Sarangani Province, Philippines. The students, faculty, alumni and stakeholders were those from the College of Health Sciences.
Data analyses showed that the community activities obtained an average mean of 4.43, interpreted as Highly Empowering. The sustainability of livelihood projects garnered an average of 4.11, interpreted as Highly Sustainable. The impact on the health status of vulnerable members of the adopted community attained an average of 3.93, interpreted as High Impact. The involvement of students, obtained an average of 4.69, interpreted as Very High Involvement. The involvement of faculty got an average mean of 4.71, interpreted as Very High Involvement. The involvement of alumni revealed an average of 3.5, interpreted as Highly Involved. The involvement of stakeholders, got an average of 4.36, interpreted as Highly Involved.
The study concluded that the community activities and projects conducted in the community were Highly Empowering; the livelihood projects rendered to the adopted community were Highly Sustainable; the community involvement services at the community had High Impact on the health status of vulnerable members of the adopted community; the students and faculty were Very Highly Involved in the Community Involvement Services of the College; and both the alumni and the stakeholders were Highly Involved in the Community Involvement Services of the community.