Local to Global: Incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Into Chapter Programming

Monday, 30 October 2017: 1:55 PM

Rebecca Schafer, BS
The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Jessica Wendorf, BS, CAE, CNP
Constituent Services Center, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN, USA

STTI provides a solid nursing presence at the United Nations and continues to conduct outreach around the world to help our nurse members better understand the work and aims of the United Nations, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

In July 2012, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Special consultative status to STTI, which refers to expertise in the field of nursing and global health. This move helps STTI demonstrate its commitment to achieving international cooperation toward solving humanitarian related issues while at the same time providing a blueprint for how STTI will support its mission and goals.

Special consultative status grants STTI greater privileges and access to nearly all intergovernmental processes at the UN dealing with economic and social development. This designation allows STTI to participate on United Nations committees through which STTI has a voice. As part of this affiliation, STTI commits to disseminate information and raise public awareness about the purposes and activities of the United Nations and related issues of global concern. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is one way chapters can achieve the mission of STTI.

As prescribed by chapter bylaws, each chapter has the responsibility of contributing to the achievement of STTIs goals through various activities. Our focus to support nurses’ efforts to improve the health of the world’s people can be accomplished in many different ways and the Sustainable Development Goals offer one avenue chapters can utilize to help realize the mission of the organization. The Sustainable Development Goals offer a structure in which chapters can engage their members.

This presentation will assist chapter leaders with the role they can play as a catalyst to identify which Sustainable Development Goals are of interest to its membership, to establish a process to incorporate those Sustainable Development Goals into chapter activities and to engage members. Various resources to encourage engagement will be shared.