Health Fairs Beyond the Numbers: Focusing on Meaningful Resident and Student Impact

The IU Center for Rural Engagement, together with health sciences units at IU Bloomington, has collaborated with many local community partners to help plan, develop, and implement community health fairs to address unique health barriers that rural communities face. One recent event, the Greene County Wellness Fair, occurred on November 9, 2024, at the Greene County Health Shakamak Clinic. The fair provided community members access to free health services and the opportunity to explore wellness resources in Jasonville, Indiana.

Residents participated in free health screenings, such as blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, diabetes risk assessment, blood glucose, hearing, cognitive assessment, tooth and gum, oral cancer screenings, balance, gait, and foot screenings, mental health screenings, social work solutions, and nutrition education. In addition, many local agencies and organizations tabled at the event. The overarching goal of this collaboration was to increase health access, provide quality healthcare, and increase health literacy.

The event was successful on many fronts—building partnerships and facilitating screenings—but it was also foundational to student opportunities, allowing students to work within an interdisciplinary team facilitated by the Interprofessional Practice Education (IPE) initiative through Indiana University. The Greene County Wellness Fair provided a meaningful impact not only for community members who attended, but also for students who worked the fair. This fair gave students a unique opportunity to use and apply their knowledge and learn skills in a real-world setting, one specifically focused on the needs of a rural community.

Through activities such as conducting health screenings, engaging with community members, and working with professionals from a variety of disciplines, the students were able to develop a deeper understanding of providing holistic health care. The interdisciplinary piece of the wellness fair was especially meaningful for students, and a majority of them highlighted the importance of this. This initiative allowed students to work with professionals in other fields and disciplines, helping them learn how different disciplines collaborate to provide the best care. Not only did this whole experience strengthen students’ teamwork skills, but it also provided them a chance to witness how collaboration with other professionals can improve health outcomes. This experience allowed students to network with professionals and gain insights from experts in their field, and aligned with the IU Bloomington 2030 Plan pillar Student Success and Opportunity by “providing immersive opportunities that set them apart in the workplace and beyond” (IU 2030).

For the community, the fair was a vital approach to connect rural communities with local health resources. With more than 30 community vendors, attendees gained access to free health screenings, informational booths, and opportunities to connect with service providers. Some attendees stated that they did not have insurance or the means to receive healthcare, and this fair connected them to these resources while also providing free health screenings. These efforts encouraged community members to get in touch with local resources, which helped empower these residents to take charge of their health. In post-event surveys, 100 percent of local community members who attended the event reported that the fair provided them with sufficient health resources—leaving many feeling supported and more confident in finding local services they may not have known about before.

The Greene County Wellness Fair also helped address the specific challenges that rural communities face, such as limited access to health care and barriers surrounding transportation.

By bringing these services directly to the community, the fair helped reduce these barriers and ensured that rural residents had the opportunity to receive the care and support they needed.

Furthermore, this event helped create meaningful connections between students, professionals, and community members. These relationships not only enhanced the fair's impact but also laid crucial groundwork for future collaboration and community engagement. It’s vital to have and maintain these partnerships to ensure the long-term success of initiatives in rural areas.

Ultimately, the Greene County Wellness Fair was more than a single event. It was a learning experience, a community-building opportunity, and a bridge that addressed barriers in rural communities. The fair tackled challenges while also providing future service providers with tools to make a meaningful impact in their careers and communities.