Public Health Core Functions Ten Essential Services And Heal

Public Health Core Functions Ten Essential Servicesand Health Educat

Review the module’s Learning Resources related to the Public Health Core Functions, the Ten Essential Services, and the Health Educator Areas of Responsibility. Complete both Part I and Part II of this assignment. In Part I, analyze four provided scenarios to identify the relevant Public Health Core Function and a corresponding Essential Service for each. In Part II, select two scenarios from Part I and explain how a health educator could fulfill specific responsibilities through activities related to these scenarios, with detailed descriptions and appropriate citations.

Paper For Above instruction

Public health plays a crucial role in preventing disease, promoting health, and organizing community efforts through its core functions and essential services. These frameworks guide public health agencies in systematically addressing health issues, ensuring effective service delivery, and fostering collaborative efforts between health professionals and communities. This paper examines four scenarios to identify the relevant core functions and essential services and explores how health educators can contribute meaningfully by fulfilling specific areas of responsibility in two selected scenarios.

Part I Analysis of Scenarios

Scenario 1: Scientists in Australia discover a treatment for Vivax malaria that also protects against re-infection. The core public health function addressed by this event is Assessment, since it involves identifying health problems and new solutions. The associated essential service is Monitoring health status to identify community health problems because the discovery informs understanding of malaria's treatment and re-infection risks.

Scenario 2: Public health professionals refer clients to the newly opened Palm Valley Clinic, which provides medical, dental, and pharmacy services to uninsured and underinsured individuals. The core function here is Policy Development because establishing the clinic involves creating policies to improve access to healthcare services. The essential service is Mobilizing community partnerships to identify and solve health problems as the clinic acts as a community resource addressing health access issues among vulnerable populations.

Scenario 3: The Cole County Health Department partners with schools to provide flu shots to over 2,215 elementary students. This reflects the Assurance core function, which involves ensuring that necessary health services are accessible and delivered. The corresponding essential service is Ensuring a competent public health workforce, as providing immunizations requires trained health personnel to administer vaccines safely and effectively.

Scenario 4: A local childcare facility reports a lice outbreak, prompting the health department's lead health educator to respond. This scenario involves Assessment, as identifying and addressing the outbreak is essential to controlling and preventing further spread. The related essential service is Diagnosing and investigating health problems and health hazards in the community, which entails investigation, data collection, and implementing control measures.

Part II: Applying the Framework of Health Education and Public Health

Scenario 1: The malaria treatment discovery exemplifies a public health success that requires ongoing assessment of health risks, treatments, and community impacts. A health educator can fulfill the area of Assessment responsibility by developing and conducting community health surveys to understand malaria's prevalence, health literacy regarding prevention, and treatment uptake. The educator might organize community forums to share information about the new treatment, evaluate knowledge gaps, and collect feedback to tailor health communication strategies effectively. Conducting these activities helps bridge the gap between scientific discovery and community health needs, empowering populations with accurate information and fostering healthy behaviors.

Scenario 2: The opening of the Palm Valley Clinic aligns with the health educator's responsibility in Communication and Education. The educator can develop outreach programs targeting uninsured and underinsured populations, emphasizing the availability and importance of utilizing the clinic’s services. Activities could include culturally appropriate educational campaigns, outreach to community organizations, and health literacy workshops to inform residents about accessing healthcare, managing chronic conditions, and understanding dental and pharmacy services. These efforts foster community engagement, enhance health literacy, and support equitable access to vital health services.

Through targeted education and community engagement activities, health educators play a vital role in ensuring the effectiveness of public health initiatives, especially within underserved populations. They act as vital links between health services and the community, advocating for health equity and empowering individuals to make informed health choices.

References

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2011a). Core functions of public health and how they relate to the 10 essential services. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/about.html
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). Leading causes of death in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014b). The public health system and the 10 essential public health services. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/publichealth/publications.htm
  • Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century. (2002). The future of the public's health in the 21st century. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
  • National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). (2010). Areas of responsibility, competencies, and sub-competencies for health education specialists (2010).Retrieved from https://www.nchec.org
  • Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice. (2014). Core competencies for public health professionals. Retrieved from https://www.phf.org
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018). Public health core functions and essential services. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/publichealthservices/index.html
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2016). Public health planning and evaluation. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549176
  • Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2005). Health program planning: An educational and ecological approach. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Stoto, M. A., et al. (2019). The role of community health education in addressing social determinants of health. Journal of Community Health, 44(2), 325-331. doi:10.1007/s10900-018-0577-4

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