SWITCH - Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health

Our Vision: All residents of Saskatoon have equitable access to healthcare, nutrition, education, and employability skills to better arm them with tools to create opportunities for themselves. Our Mission: SWITCH augments the training of future professionals while improving the health, education, and skills of people from Saskatoon’s core communities, ultimately achieving lasting positive change for everyone involved. SWITCH offers free after hours health and wellness services to under-served populations of Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods. We operate out of the Westside Community Clinic two evenings a week and Saturday afternoon. Post-secondary students in health and social sciences volunteer their time and provide various interdisciplinary health and outreach services under the supervision of qualified professional mentors. SWITCH offers service-learning opportunities for the students volunteering while addressing the social determinants of health affecting the marginalized populations we serve (food insecurity, housing, aboriginal status, health and education literacy, unemployment and job security, to name a few). Programming is offered each shift in areas ranging from women's health, financial literacy, health literacy, stress management, cultural issues, employment, homework help, etc. All programming is targeted to the needs of the community with input from community members. We also provide basic hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, feminine products, and condoms to anyone requiring them. Childminding is offered to all members of the community so they can take advantage of services. Fruits and vegetables and a small hot meal are also provided each shift.