EDUCATIONAL & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Students are a powerful force for making a difference for organ donation

Students across the nation are making a difference for organ donation in powerful ways. Golden State Donor Services is helping to coordinate the efforts of students within its eleven county service area to convert interest into action. Currently in California more than 18,500 people wait for an organ transplant and sadly one-third of those will die waiting because of the critical shortage of organs. Students can help to educate and dispel myths about organ donation peer-to-peer. Golden State Donor Services knows that when students team together the “donate life” message is more effectively heard. Students have the power to help lead their classmates in the effort to save lives.

Students for Organ Donation Chapters– College/High School

With an ever-increasing number of Americans in need of an organ transplant, the national organ shortage is a growing crisis. However, this is one issue in which the efforts of students can truly make a difference for life.

Hundreds of students on college and high school campuses across the country have taken action to make a difference in the lives of the thousands of Americans in need of an organ transplant by establishing Students for Organ Donation (SOD) chapters. This is a unique opportunity to gain real leadership experience while producing measurable results in an effort to improve the lives of thousands.

Leadership Opportunities- Individuals who establish chapters of Students for Organ Donation are more than just part of a national organization, they are the founders and presidents of their own local organization. The national office provides chapters with resources, direction, ideas, and a national network of contacts, but SOD also relies on the ingenuity, initiative, and leadership of our coordinators to make an impact on their own campus.

Real Results- Students for Organ Donation is a results-based organization. While SOD recognizes the value of general awareness campaigns, our primary goal for our chapters is to register as many individuals as possible for organ donation. When all is said and done, not only will you have increased public awareness of the need for organ donors, you will have measurable results to validate your efforts.

Make a Difference- Every single person who registers as a donor has the potential to save up to 8 lives, and improve up to 50 with tissue donation. Unfortunately, studies show that there is a tremendous gap between the number of Americans that do support donation and the number that actually donate. Recruiting new donors on college campuses will increase the pool of potential donors, and make an invaluable difference in the lives of those in need of organ transplants.

Please visit : www.studentdonor.org and call GSDS at 916.567.1600 to start a Students for Organ Donation chapter at your school!

Decision: Donation– A High School Program

This program was created in response to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Former Secretary, Tommy G. Thompson’s vision. He took the lead on creating a model instructional package for high schools to educate the nation’s youth about the importance of organ and tissue donation. The program also emphasizes the need to make an informed decision about whether to sign up to be a donor and the importance of sharing donation wishes with one’s families.

Free Materials- The model instructional package is a multifaceted set of materials— print, video, CD-ROM and Web-based tutorials and activities. It can be used by public and private educators to integrate the topic of organ and tissue donation into existing curriculum such as drivers’ education and health classes.

Please contact Brenda Owen, GSDS Public Education Coordinator at 916.567.1600 or BOwen@dcids.org to have this program in your high school.

For program materials and information please visit: www.organdonor.gov/student The Web Site Includes: -Program Materials -Online Interactive Student Activities -Guided Tutorial Of Activities To Complete In Class Or At Home -Related Organ Donation Web Links

•Kids on the Block

Kids on the Block Puppet Shows– for 4th and 5th Graders

GSDS, with the help of the Assistance League of Sacramento, offer FREE Kids on the Block puppet shows designed to bring the facts about organ donation to 4th/5th graders in a fun and educational way. This program educates and enlightens children about disability awareness, medical differences and social concerns with the power of cheerful puppets and scripts that resonate.

Call Brenda Owen, GSDS Public Education Coordinator, 916.567.1600 or BOwen@dcids.org, to find out how your school can book these shows ................
• Speakers for Secondary Education/Civic Community Programs Available

Other Donation / Transplantation Web Sites
• Transplant News - Sacramento lists local support groups, links to informative web sites and other useful information related to the organ & transplant community.

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