Nursing Dean Barbara Witt said the foundation's $15,000 contribution will enable the nursing care clinics to provide care for the approximately 700 client visits by residents in public housing.

Witt said the School of Nursing and the Housing Authority have created a successful social investment program that features best practices of a community-based, service education partnership. The partnership between AU's School of Nursing and Auburn's Housing Authority began in 1998 with a nursing care clinic provided by nursing students and faculty one day a week.

Due in part to that partnership, the AHA received the 2003 National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Merit Award for Program Innovation in Resident and Client Services. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in housing and community development programs throughout the nation.

With the aid of a two-year start-up grant from a private foundation, students and faculty provide clinics three days a week at AHA sites to promote health care and disease prevention. Students and faculty monitor blood pressure and vital signs, perform vision screenings and conduct blood sugar and cholesterol tests. They also counsel residents on health education topics such as tobacco, alcohol and other drug abuse preventions, sexually transmitted disease prevention, heart healthy diet, exercise and self-examination.