Prompt
Imagine that you are the environmental health expert for the local health department. You have been tasked with writing a letter to the U.S. Congressional Representative—on behalf of the local health department. This letter will also be published as an “open letter” within local media outlets as an opinion editorial (i.e., an “Op-Ed”).
Gathering information for your letter
Determine a local environmental health concern: You will need to search the internet for an environmental health concern in your area.( Arkansas) If you live within the United States, you are encouraged to use your own community. You can search the websites of health departments and environmental agencies in your area. For example, if you live in New Hampshire, you could visit the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services website in order to search for a specific environmental health concern for that area.
Identify the U.S. Congressional Representative: Identify the U.S. Congressional Representative for this community by searching the Find Your Representative site of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In this letter, you must address the following:
Summarize the environmental health concern (250 words): Break down the environmental health concern into the specific hazards at play and the quantifiable effects on population health. Discuss how this concern diminishes the health status of the population/community. Your summary should address the following questions:
Health Concern and Hazard(s): What types of health problems may be caused by your identified environmental hazards? What environmental hazards and stressors (stimuli in the environment that cause stress) are people exposed to, at what levels, and for how long?
Quantifiable Effects on Population Health: What is the chance that people will experience health problems when exposed to different levels of these hazards and environmental stressors? Is there a level below which these environmental hazards or stressors don’t pose a human health risk?
Health Status of the Population: Are some people more likely to be susceptible to environmental hazards or stressors because of factors such as age, genetics, pre-existing health conditions, ethnic practices, gender, etc.? Are some people more likely to be exposed to environmental hazards or stressors because of factors such as where they work, where they play, what they like to eat, etc.?
Frame the issue through health equity (500 words): Describe the community or population at risk. What are relevant social determinants of health? How do these determinants create a health disparity? What aspects of the system make this environmental health concern related to health inequity? Summarize why there are barriers to health equity with this particular issue.
Advocating for policies and programs (250 words): Make recommendations that may improve the health among the marginalized, vulnerable, or disadvantaged populations within the region. Please ensure your recommendations include the following:
One (1) recommendation that focuses on a health campaign (i.e., political advocacy).
One (1) recommendation that focuses on a social program (e.g., free clean water stations).
One (1) recommendation that focuses on an economic policy (i.e., funding for environmental health efforts).
Guidelines for Submission: Submit your Public Health Letter Assignment as a Word document with double-spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Your letter should be 1,000–1,250 words in length. Any sources should be cited in APA format.
