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An 11th Essential Public Health Service- Strengthening Communities
When looking at health disparities, data indicates that the health of community is strongly determined by the income gap between the richest and poorest members of the community- the greater the gap, the more unhealthy the community. Dahlgreen and Whitehead’s illustration of the determinants of health depicts the overarching impact of socio-economic, culture, and the environment.
Research has assisted in defining community and its key elements. As identified by MacQueen et. al., a community has core elements including having a locus, shared interest and perspective, joint action, diversity and social ties. Numerous evidence based public health practices and interventions are based on leveraging these community elements to improve health outcomes.
Public health has relied on the 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS) to direct its work in improving a community’s health. While the EPHS guide public health on how to work within the community using assessment, health education, policy, and mobilization of partners, it does not specifically address the identification, strengthening, and celebration of community’s core elements. The addition of an 11th EPHS- to strengthen community core elements- would put community into community health by building upon its social capital and culture.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and culturePlanning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health
Learning Objectives:
Describe how strengthening communities leads to better health outcomes.
Identify the data, information, and evidence that supports public health's role in strengthening communities.
Explain reasons why strengthening communities should be considered as an 11th essential public health service.
Keyword(s): Community-Based Partnership & Collaboration, Community Development
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in ensuring the implementation of the Essential Public Health Services for over 15 years in various sectors including governmental, international, non-profit organization, research, and academia. I have led public health systems assessments. Currently I teach with University of New England's MPH program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.