Beshear honors Louisville nonprofit for expanding medical education program in Bardstown – WDRB

Report on the Expansion of the Future Healers Program and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction and Program Overview

An educational initiative by the Louisville-based nonprofit, Christopher 2X’s Game Changers, has expanded its reach to rural communities, significantly advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The “Future Healers Kiddos Medical” program, developed in partnership with the UofL Hospital’s Trauma Institute and the University of Louisville School of Medicine, provides children impacted by violence with opportunities in medicine and science. The recent expansion to Bardstown, Kentucky, demonstrates a commitment to extending these critical resources to underserved rural areas, aligning with global efforts to foster health, education, and equality.

2.0 Core Objectives and SDG Alignment

The primary mission of the Future Healers program is to mitigate the effects of trauma on children and create pathways to positive futures. This mission is directly aligned with the following SDGs:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The program directly supports children impacted by the trauma of gun violence, focusing on wellness and introducing them to health sciences. This fosters both mental and physical well-being and inspires a new generation of healthcare professionals.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education: By providing hands-on STEM programming and a specialized curriculum, such as the “Future Healers Journey to Wellness” workbook, the initiative delivers inclusive and equitable quality education to children aged 4 to 13.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program’s expansion into Bardstown, its first rural outreach in Kentucky, actively works to reduce inequalities by providing educational and developmental opportunities to children outside of urban centers.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: By offering a constructive and healing response to the impact of violence on children, the program helps build a foundation for more peaceful and resilient communities.

3.0 Program Expansion and Community Impact

The initiative’s expansion into Bardstown has extended its reach to an additional 230 elementary school students, bringing the total number of participants in the rural area to 330. This growth was facilitated through new collaborations and implementation at key community sites.

• Bardstown Elementary School
• The Rose Dodson Community STEM Program
• Flaget Memorial Hospital

Dr. Joshua DeWar, principal of Bardstown Elementary School, noted the program’s value, stating, “This opportunity will introduce students to careers in healthcare and equip them with essential life skills, fostering resilience and self-direction. The impact of this program will be felt throughout the Bardstown community and beyond—strengthening the future of healthcare across Kentucky.”

4.0 Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Development (SDG 17)

The success and expansion of the Future Healers program serve as a powerful example of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The initiative is built on a multi-sector collaboration that leverages the unique strengths of each partner to achieve a common objective.

• Nonprofit Sector: Christopher 2X’s Game Changers and Our Commonwealth
• Healthcare Sector: UofL Hospital’s Trauma Institute and Flaget Memorial Hospital
• Academic Sector: University of Louisville School of Medicine
• Public Education: Bardstown Elementary School

This collaborative framework has been recognized by state leadership. Governor Andy Beshear praised the initiative, stating, “Investing in our kids is always the right thing to do, and I am thankful to see the Future Healers Medical Program expand into our rural communities… Our children are our future, and this program is ensuring that future is bright for Kentucky.”

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article highlights the “Future Healers” program, which supports children’s wellness and helps them cope with the trauma of violence. It introduces them to health sciences and uses a “Journey to Wellness workbook,” directly contributing to the promotion of mental and physical well-being.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The initiative is fundamentally educational, aiming to introduce “children to medicine and science as a way to provide opportunity and learning.” It operates in elementary schools, provides hands-on health education, and equips students with “essential life skills,” thereby enhancing the quality of their education and future opportunities.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The program specifically targets vulnerable children, including those “impacted by gun violence” and those in “rural communities.” By expanding to Bardstown, its “first rural expansion,” the initiative works to reduce the inequality of opportunity between urban and rural children.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The program was created as a direct response to violence, specifically “supporting children impacted by gun violence.” By providing positive engagement, education, and fostering resilience, it aims to heal trauma and build a better future for children in affected communities, contributing to a culture of peace.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article emphasizes the collaborative nature of the program. It is a “partnership between the Game Changers, UofL Hospital’s Trauma Institute and students at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.” The expansion involves further collaboration with nonprofits like “Our Commonwealth” and local institutions such as “Bardstown Elementary School,” showcasing a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving its goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The program directly addresses this by supporting children impacted by the trauma of gun violence and using a “Journey to Wellness workbook” to promote mental health and resilience from a young age.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The program introduces children to “careers in healthcare” and “health sciences,” aiming to inspire them to become “health care heroes,” which lays the foundation for acquiring relevant skills for future employment.
   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles… and promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence. By focusing on children affected by violence and “fostering resilience and self-direction,” the program contributes to promoting a culture of peace and providing skills for a sustainable future.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The program empowers children from vulnerable situations (affected by violence, living in rural areas) by providing them with unique educational opportunities and skills, thereby promoting their social and future economic inclusion.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The program is a direct response to the impact of violence on children, providing support and healing mechanisms for those who have been victimized by violence in their neighborhoods.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article is a clear example of this target in action, detailing the “collaboration in Bardstown” between nonprofits (Christopher 2X Game Changers, Our Commonwealth), a university (University of Louisville), a hospital (UofL Hospital), and a local school (Bardstown Elementary).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Number of Participants

   • The article provides specific quantitative data that can serve as an indicator of the program’s reach and impact. It states the expansion will bring “hands-on health education to 230 elementary school students” and increases the program’s impact to “330 participants in the rural area.” This directly measures progress in providing quality education (SDG 4) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10).

2. Geographic Expansion

   • The expansion of the program to “Bardstown” as the “first rural expansion in the state” and its presence in “Nashville” are clear indicators of its scalability and success in reaching new, underserved communities. This measures progress towards reducing inequalities (SDG 10).

3. Number and Diversity of Partnerships

   • The article implicitly points to the number of collaborating entities as an indicator of a strong partnership model (SDG 17). It names several partners, including a nonprofit, a hospital, a university, and a local elementary school, demonstrating a multi-sectoral approach.

4. Development of Educational Materials

   • The creation and use of the “Future Healers Journey to Wellness workbook” is a tangible indicator of the program’s commitment to providing quality educational resources (SDG 4) and promoting well-being (SDG 3).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wdrb.com