The final project for this course is the creation of an analysis paper.
As a public health practitioner, it is critical that you are intimately aware of unaddressed public health issues in your community, as well as have a solid understanding of the complex social and behavioral factors that impede good health. Historically, public health programs have been developed with a one-size-fits-all mentality that ignores the underlying diversity of the target population. The range of risk factors that prevent people from achieving optimal health is wide and varied, and several key demographic indicators such as race, ethnicity, culture, age, gender, and social status must be considered.
For your summative assessment, you will critically examine an existing public health program that attempts to address a public health issue. You will evaluate the program to determine if it considers and accounts for the myriad social and behavioral risk factors that contribute to the public health issue. You will also analyze the factors that must be considered to successfully implement a targeted and appropriate public health program that aligns with the needs of the population.
The project is divided into four milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Three, Five, and Seven. The final project will be submitted in Module Nine.
Outcomes
This assessment addresses your mastery with regard to the following course outcomes:
Analyze social and behavioral factors associated with increased risk of prevalent public health issues for informing development of appropriate programs or interventions
Evaluate public health programs’ use of social and behavioral theoretical approaches for encouraging change and fostering community engagement in public health strategies
Assess public health programs for the extent to which they consider social and behavioral factors in addressing public health issues
Recommend appropriate strategies that consider social and behavioral risk factors for addressing public health issues
Analyze public health trends for identifying critical public health issues impacting communities
Prompt
Select a public health program at the local or national level that attempts to address a public health issue and evaluate the program with regard to how it addresses social and behavioral risk factors. Your final analysis and recommendations paper must contain the following critical elements:Program Analysis
To what extent does the program use theoretical approach(es) to encourage social and behavioral change in the target population? Provide specific examples to support your response.
To what extent does the program use social and behavioral theoretical approach(es) to foster community engagement? Provide specific examples to support your response.
Of the social or behavioral risk factors you previously identified as associated with the public health issue, which are being addressed by the selected program? Was the program developed specifically to address those factors? Be sure to substantiate your response. By what mechanism(s) and how effectively have the social and behavioral risk factors been addressed in the program?
What do data and trends indicate about the program’s efficacy in meeting its intended public health outcome? Be sure to provide specific evidence from the program to substantiate your response.
What are the successes and failures of this particular program? In other words, explain in detail the program’s strengths and weaknesses in addressing the social and behavioral risk factors associated with the public health issue. If you feel the program has either no successes or no failures, be sure to justify your reasoning.
What do you feel has been the overall impact of the program in addressing the social and behavioral risk factors that contribute to the public health issue? What public health trends have you noted that helped to form your conclusion? Be sure to support your reasoning.
The two previous papers are attached to build off of my milestone
