Sample Partnerships - San Francisco de Asis
Over the last few years International Giving has developed a strong relationship with and provided much support to San Francisco de Asís Foundation in Nicaragua (www.SFANicaragua.org). San Francisco de Asis is an independent non-profit organization operating in Nicaragua since 1993 whose purpose is to provide a fair opportunity at a dignified life for the poorest within the country. San Francisco de Asis provides services and programs that meet basic human needs, including: nutrition, education, health care, psychological counseling, housing and vocational training. The list below outlines a few of the projects that we have sponsored to support SFA. Select the projects for more details.
Assessment, Development, and Enhancement of el Dispensario: This two-fold project (a) enhanced the existing patient intake system used by SFA at el Dispensario, and (b) evaluated the clinic’s emergent care and case prioritization methods (triage system). The previous intake system was somewhat antiquated, and the extent of tracking accurate patient history and pharmaceutical assistance was somewhat minimal. Incorporating a triage aspect and prioritization system for the clinic’s high patient volume best serves those Nicaraguënses in most need of emergent care. Projects entailed an initial review and evaluation of the current systems in place. Input from physicians, staff, and volunteers at el Dispensario were sought as to what information collected from patients would serve to enhance the continuum of care provided by SFA, including organized patient record-keeping, databases, and enhanced efficiency of the intake and triage systems. This project also involved the creation of a new standardized intake document, which collects valuable information on SFA's clientele.
Program Evaluation of Programa Niños Desnutridos: This project involved the design and implementation of a program evaluation for Programa Niños Desnutridos, one of the agency's most established programs. The program evaluation collected a mix of quantitative data (i.e. infant's birth weight, which is recorded weekly when families arrive for their food rations at Centro Pan y Amor, and time-in-program), as well as qualitative data, aimed at seeking the benefiting families' perceptions of the program through brief interviews. A survey instrument was designed and developed. Information was collected, assimilated, and organized; SFA staff and volunteers were trained to administer the same data-collecting instrument (interview). With a simple ‘pre-/post-test’ program evaluation design, outcomes from this SFA program/intervention (i.e. food assistance) were documented professionally, and used in the solicitation of funds. The benefits of the program included: improved management, increased results for beneficiaries, facilitation of fundraising.
Analysis of SFA Special Cases: This project involved increasing the agency's understanding around the numerous complex patients the agency deems as 'special cases' (casos especiales). A significant part of SFA's 2004 annual budget went toward financially assisting 20+ patients per month that experience chronic health issues or complex (and expensive) medical procedures (x-rays, ultra-sounds, chemotherapy, surgery, etc.). The agency had large financial expenditures for casos especiales. With a better understanding of the types of medical conditions, needs, and services provided to these patients, SFA was able to target area-specific institutes, organizations, or research centers focused on specific conditions (i.e. oncology, pre-natal care, diabetes, etc.) in attempts to obtain funding to assist with agency endeavours to serve these chronically ill populations. Qualitative data (content-rich) was collected for current SFA special cases, while an analysis of these patients (and their medical needs) was undertaken for all such patients served during 2004.
Medicine in Practice - Physician's Assistant Position: This project entailed carving out a 'physicians’ assistant' position at SFA's Dispensario. International Giving sponsored a medical student Summer Associate that acted as a physician's assistant for the summer in Managua, experiencing first hand the medical practices and techniques implemented by the three SFA physicians on site at el Dispensario on an established rotation. By increasing knowledge surrounding overall practice methodology, the Summer Associate examined the extent of health services provided to SFA patients utilizing el Dispensario. Best practice methods were incorporated, and both needs and strengths of the clinic, as perceived by the SFA physicians, were better understood and addressed.
Sample Programs - The International Interdisciplinary Development Program (IIDP)
International Giving coordinates project based summer internships for university students to selected charitable organizations serving children and families living in poverty in Central America. IIDP provides meaningful and rewarding experiences to undergraduate and graduate students while providing skilled volunteers and services to families in Central America. Interns from around the world work as a part of an interdisciplinary group on projects of significant importance to charitable organizations in Central America. The interdisciplinary group is responsible for becoming familiar with the organization, analyzing the problem presented, creating a proposal to address the issue and ultimately implementing their solution. International Giving provides the group with financial resources in order to successfully analyze and implement their proposal. Summer interns have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the challenges and realities faced in third world countries and make an impact to the local communities through their hostess organization. In addition to providing wonderfully rewarding work, the program provides interns with great practical experience.
