Peace Corps
Dominican Republic
Healthy Families
Project
How was the Project Developed ?
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FACTORS
 PARTNERS
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Peace Corps involvement in the
health sector began in 1982 when,
at request of the Ministry of Health,
the volunteers started assisting the
Nutrition Recuperation Centers
administered by their Department
of Nutrition.
 Changes in the public sector
priorities and high turn over rate in
project partners encouraged Peace
Corps to cut down the level of
assistance to the Ministry of Health
and to respond to the assistance
solicited by Non-Government and
community-based Organizations.
 The project plan is based in 3 main
interventions: a) Reproductive
Health, b) Child Health and
c)Prevention of HIV/AIDS.
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Ministry of Public
Health
Ministry of Youth
MUDE
CE-Mujer
IDAC
Batey Relief Alliance
Community Based
organizations
Snapshot View of Health in the DR
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24% of the population lives below
the poverty line
Under 5 mortality rate: 47/1000
Maternal mortality rate:
110/100,000
Prevalence of malnutrition in
children under 5: 5%
Life Expectancy: 66.7 years
130,000 people living with
HIV/AIDS
Public expenditure in health: 6.5 %
of GDP
Healthy Families
PROJECT PLAN
Project Purpose
Low-income families living in the rural
and marginal urban communities of the
Dominican Republic will have increased
health education opportunities and access
to resources that will result in healthier
lives .
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Project Goals
 GOAL #1:
Promoting healthy
decisions by youth
 GOAL #2:
Improved nutritional
practices
 GOAL #3:
Improved reproductive
health practices
GOAL #1:
Young people will be empowered to make healthy
decisions about their sexual and overall health.
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Objective 1: By 2006, 72 PCVs and Project Partners will
have trained 6,000 youth in making healthy lifestyle
decisions and preventing STDs .
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Objective 2: By 2006, 72 PCVs and Project Partners will
have organized and trained 72 Healthy Choice student
groups in local high schools and trained them on a variety
of health issues including STD prevention and peer
education .
GOAL #2:
Mothers will improve nutritional practices that reduce
malnutrition among children under 5 years of age.
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Objective 1: By 2006, 72 PCVs and Project Partners will
have trained 1800 mothers in improved nutrition practices.
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Objective 2: By 2006, 72 PCVs and Project Partners will
have trained 1800 mothers to establish small-scale food
production units.
GOAL #3: Women will improve reproductive health
practices that reduce the occurrence of breast and
cervical-uterine cancer.
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Objective 1: By 2006, 72 PCVs and Project Partners will
have trained 1,800 women to mothers to carryout periodic
self-exams and access other exams of their reproductive
health .
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Objective 2: By 2006, 72 PCVs and Project Partners will
assist 1,800 rural women to access low cost reproductive
health services through information sharing.
Typical Volunteer Cycle
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Pre-Service Training (12 weeks including CBT)
Months 0-3: Community Diagnostic and Relation
Building
3 Month IST: Diagnostic Report and Start the 1st Year
Project Planning Process
Months 3-12: Complete Project Plan, Implement, and
Monitor project
12 Month IST: Evaluate 1st year progress and Plan 2nd
Year
Months 12-24: Reformulate, Implement, Monitor, and
Evaluate project
Months 21-24: Begin transition process
Pre, 3, 12 month Site Visits
Close of Service Conference
Top Ten Activities in the Healthy
Families Sector
HIV / AIDS Prevention Youth Groups
Organic gardening and nutrition
Latrine construction and hygiene
Small animal production
Woman’s reproductive health groups
Ceramic Stoves
Girl’s groups
Women’s banking groups
Libraries
Youth sports leagues
Success Stories: Ann Smyntek
Ann Smyntek (2002-Present) lives in the rural
community of Mena Abajo, in the southwestern zone
of the Dominican Republic, from November of the
2002. Her main project consists of working with
MUDE (Mujeres en Desarrollo, Inc.), a Dominican
NGO, in their HIV/AIDS/STD prevention project
with youth. Ann works with young people of 12
communities of the area of Tamayo, preparing them to
be peer educators in their respective communities.
Ann facilitates monthly workshops with these 33
youth people and then she visits them in their
communities when they present their charlas.
In October 2003, Ann initiated a home gardens project in Mena Abajo. During the first
stage of this project, 12 patios were fenced with galvanized hen house wire and planted
with common vegetables. In January 2004, nutrition training was delivered to the
community, focusing on the prevention of malnutrition, diarrhea and dehydration,
especially in children under five years of age. This course will also be open to the
community women who do not have home gardens, and when finished, 15 additional
fences will be built to plant more home gardens.
Being a Volunteer is…
 A Unique Experience
 A Challenging Experience
 A Growing Experience
 A Sharing Experience
 An Unforgettable Experience
 IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU DECIDE
IT WILL BE!
Peace Corps
Dominican Republic
Are you ready for the challenge?
Welcome to the
Healthy Families
Project