It is important for advocates to analyze behaviors related to disease prevention and promoting health. In this assessment, you will be researching your city’s website and social media accounts to evaluate public health programs presented to the community. You must then identify a public health concern that is not directly addressed and advocate for a program to be created specifically for that concern.
Instructions
Part 1: Conduct Research
Conduct research to identify health behaviors that are negatively affecting the community. (If you cannot find enough information for your particular city or county, please research a city that is familiar to you.)
Use the following websites to find data about your community.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Assess Needs and Resources.
When using the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA ), first choose your location. Then choose “Health Behaviors” and run the report.
Use your city or county’s website and social media accounts to identify public health programs that are available to the community.
Part 2: Compare the Data
- Compare the data you found about health behaviors and available public health programs.
- Identify at least one (1) health behavior that is prevalent in your location that is not being adequately addressed.
Part 3: Write a Letter
In a Microsoft Word document, write a letter to local public health officials advocating for the creation of a program to address your concerns. Include the following:
Identify health behaviors in your community.
Describe available public health programs.
- Discuss at least one (1) health behavior that is not being adequately addressed. Support with valid and reliable sources.
Provide ideas or suggestions about how you would like the concern to be addressed.
- Support your reasoning with valid and reliable sources.
Use professional word choice and correct spelling, grammar, and APA style.
Resources
Resources that may be needed to support the completion of the assessment:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. Assess Needs and Resources. Community Health Needs Assessment. Retrieved at:
How do I write a professional letter?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor responsible for creating assignments and evaluating the performance of medical college students, it is important to provide practical and real-world tasks that enhance their understanding of public health. The following is a suggested answer to the content mentioned above.
Answer:
Part 1: Conduct Research
To identify health behaviors negatively affecting the community, extensive research can be conducted using the following websites:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC provides a valuable resource called “Assess Needs and Resources,” which can be accessed through their website. By selecting the desired location and choosing the “Health Behaviors” option, students can generate a comprehensive report.
2. City or County Website and Social Media: It is essential to explore the official websites and social media accounts of the chosen city or county. Public health programs that are available to the community can be identified from these sources.
Part 2: Compare the Data
After collecting data on health behaviors and available public health programs, students need to compare the two. This comparison will help identify a health behavior that is prevalent in the location but is not being adequately addressed.
Part 3: Write a Letter
In a Microsoft Word document, students should write a letter to local public health officials advocating for the creation of a program to address the identified concern. The letter should include the following components:
1. Identify health behaviors in the community: Provide a concise overview of the prevalent health behaviors in the community based on the research conducted.
2. Describe available public health programs: Outline the existing public health programs currently available in the community, highlighting their strengths and limitations.
3. Discuss the inadequately addressed health behavior: Elaborate on at least one health behavior that requires more attention and support this claim with valid and reliable sources.
4. Provide ideas or suggestions for addressing the concern: Propose practical ideas or suggestions on how the identified health behavior can be effectively addressed. Support these ideas with valid and reliable sources.
It is crucial to use professional word choice, maintain correct spelling and grammar, and follow APA style guidelines when writing the letter. Students can refer to the Rasmussen College Writing Guide: Business Letters and the resource on writing a professional letter for additional support.
Conclusion:
Designing assignments that connect theory with real-world scenarios is essential for medical college students. By researching their community’s health behaviors, evaluating available public health programs, and advocating for the creation of a program to address unaddressed concerns, students can develop critical thinking skills and positively impact public health initiatives.
