Lara Arce

MPH Community Health Science

Baylor University
Summary of Practicum Experience
During my practicum, I had the privilege of joining the Baylor in Brazil team. The Baylor
in Brazil Summer Study Abroad Program originated in 2006 as a study abroad initiative in
Espirito Santo, supported by the Baylor Department of Public Health and the Baylor Department
of Biology. The coordination and educational aspects of the trip are overseen by Dr. Eva Doyle
and Dr. Robert Doyle, who serve as the program directors. They are responsible for organizing
the trip school and church activities and also take on the role of educators during the groups time
in Brazil.
The program's primary objective is to empower local churches with essential resources to
establish health promotion initiatives within their communities. Baylor in Brazil is dedicated to
involving students and faculty in community-based collaborations that have a positive influence
on community health. The Baylor in Brazil program offers training and partnership building with
local churches aiming to establish community health and health promotion initiatives in
underserved areas, particularly focusing on Vitoria and Anchieta. These two communities,
situated in the state of Espirito Santo, serve as the primary focal points for the BIB program's
activities. The program is dedicated to empowering churches to make a meaningful impact on the
well-being of the communities and schools they serve.
When immersed in the communities the program activities revolved around children and
adolescents. The activities focused on children included puppet performances, physical exercise,
and games. The main target audience for our educational presentations were adolescents from 5th
to 9th grade. The presentations key subjects of interest encompassed sexual health, mental well-
being, bullying prevention, and fostering positive decision-making.
During my practicum experience, I had two key goals and objectives: first, to update and
implement a healthy choices presentation, and second, to develop a brand new presentation
addressing interpersonal violence. My healthy choices presentation centered around three main
questions: “Who am I?”, “What do I want for my future?”, and “What are the steps to achieve
that future?”. Additionally, we conducted an engaging activity during the presentation where
students identified both positive and negative potential futures, to then to select the ones they
desired. The core purpose of this presentation was to explain to the adolescents that their futures
are shaped by the decisions they make. The presentation went beyond merely considering their
future careers, it encouraged students to reflect on the kind of life they wanted.
The second goal I had for my practicum experience was to develop a presentation
focusing on interpersonal violence. This presentation encompassed several subtopics, including
different types of violence, recognizing signs of abuse, understanding what unhealthy
relationships are, reasons for why people stay in such situations, and emphasizing safety
planning. Moreover, I developed an interactive activity for students to apply critical thinking
skills to identify unhealthy relationship warning signs. The primary goal of this presentation was
to raise awareness among adolescents about the issue of interpersonal violence and its potential
impact on their lives.
As a result of the efforts made during my practicum, several groups of adolescents
received important information to make positive decisions for their future. Furthermore, our
program directors initiated discussions on interpersonal violence with our partners, leading to the
piloting of my interpersonal violence presentation in Vitoria with two groups of adolescents. This
initiative successfully raised awareness about interpersonal violence and shed light on the
realities faced by many Brazilians.
This practicum experience provided me with an understanding of the role of a public
health professional who actively engages with communities and genuinely listens to their needs.
Prior to this experience, I was solely and MPH student with knowledge of theories and program
development methods. However, now I am a student who comprehends the influence of
partnerships on programs and recognizes the significance of effective communication. Being
immersed in a new culture, with its distinct language, taught me the importance of flexibility and
empathy when collaborating with diverse communities.