College of Allied Health Sciences Service-Learning

The Better Place Project for first year College of Allied Health Sciences students supports continued growth and success in all facets of the learning process academically, interpersonally, and intrapersonally.

Through the Better Place Project within Learning Communities, Allied Health students complete service-learning experiences in the diverse communities where we study, work and live. These experiences facilitate personal growth and the development of professional skills needed to be successful in a broad range of allied health professions.

Service-Learning Sites

Below is a series of promotional or video interviews for agencies that have been pre-selected for CAHS students. 

The information below and service-learning site availability is subject to change.

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with Advancement and Transition Services on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Sadie Everett
513-535-3929
everetsh@ucmail.uc.edu

2610 McMicken Cir
Cincinnati, OH 45221

https://cech.uc.edu/education/ats/cees.html

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with Bearcats Academy on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Rickey Terrell
Program Coordinator
513-815-6862
bearcat.academy.uc@gmail.com

2610 McMicken Ct.
Cincinnati, OH 45220

sites.google.com/view/bearcatacademyuc

Learn more about Bearcat Buddies and register for a Spring Semester session here. Please note that you are expected to respond to each weekly session and make a semester-long commitment in order to participate.

Antione Spriggs 
Center for Community Engagement
513-556-1559
bearcatbuddies@uc.edu

2639 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45221

uc.edu/campus-life/cce/ lsemesterlongprograms/bearcat-buddies.html

Find opportunities with Breakthrough on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Dr. Tiffany Dolder-Holland
Program Director
513-815-6862

btcprogram@breakthroughcincinnati.org

breakthroughcincinnati.org

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with the Cincinnati Center for Autism on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Haley Damron
Organizational Administrator
513-874-6789
hdamron@cincinnaticenterforautism.org

305 Cameron Road
Cincinnati, OH 45246

cincinnaticenterforautism.org

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with EnableUC on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Sumedha Kappagantula
President
(513) 356-1639
kappagsa@mail.uc.edu

2220 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45221

enableuc.org

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with foreverfitness on volunteer.uc.edu here. Please note that you are expected to respond to each weekly session and make a semester-long commitment in order to participate.

Sarah Palmer
Owner
513-404-1918
sarah@foreverfitnesscincinnati.com

4542 Cornell Rd.
Blue Ash, OH 45241

www.foreverfitnesscincinnati.com

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with Girl Scouts on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Cheryl Shrider
Volunteer Coordinator
513-619-1424
cherylshrider@gswo.org

www.gswo.org

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with Good Samaritan Hospital on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Kim Henry-Kuehn
Volunteer Coordinator
513-862-2374
kim_henry-kuehn@trihealth.com

375 Dixmyth Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220

www.trihealth.com

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with the Hearing Speech + Deaf Center on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Steve Wesselkamper
Director of Development and Marketing
513-487-7716
swesselkamper@hearingspeechdeaf.org

2825 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45219

hearingspeechdeaf.org/

Opportunities with Iron Core are currently full, but you can find future opportunities on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Tommy McQuaid
Director
(614) 390-7818
achieve@ironcorefitness.org

www.ironcorefitness.org/

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with Pause on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Emily Denlinger
Volunteer Coordinator
513-855-2816
emily.denlinger@pauseforparents.org

5962 Hamilton Mason Rd
Liberty Twp, OH 45011

pauseforparents.org

Find service-learning opportunities with St. Francis Seraph Ministries on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Theresa Diersen
Volunteer Services Director
513-276-7037
tdiersen@sfsministries.org

1615 Republic Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202

sfsministries.org

Find service learning opportunities with Christ Hospital on volunteer.uc.edu here. 

Madison Kramer
Supervisor
Volunteer Services
513-585-3877
Madison.Kramer@TheChristHospital.com

2139 Auburn Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45219

TheChristHospital.com

Service learning opportunities with The Healing Center can be found on the agencies website.

Eric Trevino
Volunteer Program Manager
513-346-4080 ext. 919
eric.trevino@healingcentercincinnati.org

11345 Century Circle W
Cincinnati, OH 45246

healingcentercincinnati.org

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with The Jewish Hospital - Mercy Health on volunteer.uc.edu here. Please note that you are expected to make a commitment beyond the 10 hour minimum.

Jennifer Williams 
Volunteer Coordinator
(513) 686-5330

jwilliams16@mercy.com

4777 East Galbraith Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45236

https://www.mercy.com/about-us/careers/volunteering/apply-now

Respond to CAHS Better Place Project service learning volunteer needs with The Jewish Hospital - Mercy Health on volunteer.uc.edu here.

Kerry Wolfer
Campus Life Coordinator
513-607-5738

tap@uc.edu

Teachers/Dyer Complex 2610

https://cech.uc.edu/schools/education/ats/tap/employment.html

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 and other illnesses present a constantly changing set of circumstances that impact service learning in a variety of ways. Your patience, flexibility, and understanding are greatly appreciated

Students are expected to adhere to all university of cincinnati policies and protocols at all times. In addition, students are expected to adhere to the policies and protocols of their service-learning site as well.

You are presented with a variety of service-learning opportunities, and if any given opportunity does not meet your needs, please consider another option. Contact your Peer Leader or the Center for Community engagement with questions or concerns.

Individual needs on the volunteer.uc.edu site indicate where and how each activity takes place. Virtual and face-to-face activities are subject to change, so be sure you understand the expectations of your service learning site before you finalize your placement.

If you are not comfortable with a given option, please contact your Peer Leader to talk about alternative options.

Community service and service-learning are aligned with the ethos of the allied health professions. This, in part, is why service-learning is a feature of College of Allied Health Sciences curricula. Community service and service-learning provide opportunities to deepen learning, build relationships, and gain new perspectives. Community service and service-learning are a crucial part of the application process to many graduate and professional programs and careers in the allied health professions. Service can also make you eligible for scholarships.

Elizabeth Camp King Scholarship for Service-Learning
Students who have a sustained commitment to service-learning throughout their undergraduate career by taking courses denoted as service-learning and completing service hours, could possibly be eligible to apply for the $1,000.00 Elizabeth Camp King Scholarship for Service-Learning. Applications are accepted annually starting in January. An announcement with an invitation to apply and the deadline is sent to students with eligible service-learning course credits.

Annie Fitzgerald Award for Leadership and Service
The Annie Fitzgerald Award for Leadership and Service is awarded each year to University of Cincinnati undergraduate students who have shown leadership and possess a passion for service. Students who apply for the award must be actively participating in some form of community engagement and/or service to qualify for this award. You can learn more about this scholarship and apply online: uc.edu/campus-life/cce/volunteer/awardsandscholarships.html

10 service hours must be completed during the 2023 Spring Semester. Ideally, service is completed consistently and regularly (weekly or every other week, depending on your site). Service cannot start prior to the semester and cannot be completed after the end of the semester.

Please note: Many community partner agencies require MORE than 10 hours in order to recoup a reasonable return on their investment in you. This includes time training you, expenses related to your intake process (such as background checks), and more. These opportunities directly add to your personal and professional growth, and give you a headstart on your future goals. Do not shy away from an opportunity simply because it asks more than 10 hours of you.

If you're having individual issues meeting the service expectations for this course, contact your Peer Leader.

Students cannot double-count hours for course requirements AND scholarship requirements, in accordance with scholarship guidelines. Any hours beyond the required 10 service hours for this course can be counted toward other requirements.

If you have a Cincinnatus scholarship, for example, you are expected to complete 10 service hours for this course in addition to your scholarhip requirements, but you can use any hours beyond the initial 10 to satisfy your Cincinnatus requirement.

  • Make a plan! Look at the academic calendar, the calendar of your service-learning site if applicable, and do the math.
  • If you have scholarship community serive requirements:
    • Get ahead on your scholarship service requirement in the Fall Semester, or during academic breaks, if possible.
    • Use winter break and other breaks in the academic schedule to earn scholarship service hours. You cannot earn hours for this class until the start of Spring Semester.
    • In the Spring, if you serve more than 10 hours at your site, you can count those additional hours toward your scholarship or other requirements.

Most UC scholarships are overseen by Student Financial Aid. Contact cincinnatus@uc.edu for more information.

You do! Check out volunteer.uc.edu and the content on this page for site options and instructions for how to start the placement process.

As soon as possible!

You can initiate the process by clicking the "Respond" button associated with a specific volunteer need. Note that some agencies have a series of needs and you are required to respond to all needs in the series in order to participate. Read the need description thoroughly, and ask the agency contact person any questions you may have.

Here's an example of what you might say: "Dear Contact, My name is Liz Lemon, and I'm a first-year student in the College of Allied Health Sciences at UC, majoring in xxx. I am participating in the service learning course and am interested in volunteering at your site this spring because xxx. I'd like to move forward with the application and training process. I can be reached by email or phone at xxx. Thank you! Sincerely, Liz Lemon"

Most sites have an application and training process. Some sites require additional documentation, a background check, and/or immunizations and immunization records.

For general questions contact your Peer Leader or the Center for Community Engagement (community.engagement@uc.edu, 513-556-1559).

For questions about specific volunteer needs, contact the agency manager (contact person) listed on the agency's profile page within volunteer.uc.edu. You can search for agencies using the tools menu on volunteer.uc.edu.