In recognition of its efforts in helping northern Kentucky’s underserved population, the Northern Kentucky University Nurse Advocacy Center for the Underserved (NACU) has been awarded the 2012 Award of Excellence in Public Health by the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department.

NACU was nominated by the clinical services staff of the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department and chosen by a Health Department committee. The committee specifically commended the NACU collaborations with the Health Department in its efforts to provide flu and Hepatitis B vaccination to the homeless and efforts to reduce unnecessary visits to local emergency rooms.

NACU was developed by what is now the NKU College of Health Professions in 2006 with a focus on providing outreach nursing services, following a university-led community project that provided nursing services to women in three area shelters starting in 2003.

Community partnerships are fundamental for the NACU program. Faculty and students collaborate with community physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers and therapists to assist clients to improve their health. They have formed partnerships to provide services with the Madison Avenue Christian Church; Turfway Park; Ida Spence United Methodist Mission at City Heights; Transitions, Inc.; Welcome House of Northern Kentucky; Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky; the Women’s Crisis Center; and the Covington Housing Authority.

NACU provides an unlimited source of opportunities for NKU students through community outreach, service, course requirements and research. Each semester, between 15 and 20 students fulfill some course requirements working with the 13 faculty that participate in the NACU program.