Assessing Health Needs for Com

Catalog description

Section information text: It is important for health educators and other health professionals to understand the unique characteristics and health needs of a community in order to provide effective and relevant health education and services. This course will introduce the student to the principles and processes of needs assessment and community capacity-building as a first step in the program planning process. Students will learn about individual, small-group, and community-based assessments as well as quantitative and qualitative approaches. Students will directly apply what they are reading and discussing in class to their own communities by conducting an assessment unique to their community. Other topics covered include: use of primary and secondary data; exploration of instruments to collect community data; interpretation and analysis of data, and prioritization of health education needs. Community mapping tools and other technology used in the assessment process will also be explored.