PH 420 - Community Health Improvement Series Syllabus

Series Description
Series Objectives
Readings
Evaluation of Learner Progress

Series Description

The Community Health Assessment (PH 420) course series provides a comprehensive introduction to the public health function of assessment. Content includes measurement of selected determinants of community health status and use of health services, identifying community assets, selecting appropriate qualitative or quantitative tools, maximizing community participation, ethical issues in use of power and authority, capacity-building and consultation in the community, and moving from aggregate or state level data to a smaller, defined population. Case studies and a variety of practice-related exercises serve as a basis for learner participation in real world public health problem-solving simulations. The various components of these courses aim to stimulate interactions among learners and instructors around important problems and issues facing public health. Since computers and the Internet's World Wide Web are now basic tools for public health practitioners, these courses also seek to foster and enhance skills related to the use of technology for accessing and using information and communicating with colleagues.

The complete series consists of independent courses. Learners work at their own pace and can take any individual course or combination of courses. Instructors are continuously available to monitor learner progress, provide feedback, evaluate submissions, and verify completion of courses. Course participants must individually arrange for Internet access and ensure that they have the appropriate computer hardware and software capabilities. The method of instruction emphasizes understanding of the basic concepts through active learner participation in a variety of computer-mediated activities and interactions. Material presented in the various courses is linked to the readings and other course resources

Series Objectives

The overall goals for the Community Health Assessment course series are for learners to become proficient in defining, assessing, and understanding the health status of populations, determinants of health and illness, factors contributing to health promotion an disease prevention, and factors influencing the use of health services as well as in developing, implementing, and evaluating a community public health assessment.

Through these courses the learner will acquire basic knowledge, attitudes and skills that are important for public health practice. The series is designed to enhance specific competencies. As a result, learners will be proficient in:

1. describing assessment in public health, including its unique and important features, to general audiences (PH 421 - What Is Community Health Assessment?)
2. obtaining, applying, and interpreting measures of population health status that are commonly used in community health improvement processes (PH 422 - Applying Informatics to Community Health Assessment)
3. obtaining, applying,and interpreting measures of community capacity that are commonly used in community health improvement processes (PH 423 - Assessing Community Assets and Capacity)
4. obtaining, applying, and interpreting qualitative measures of community health that are commonly used in community health improvement processes (PH 424 - Community Risk and Protective Factors)
5. developing and applying a logic model demonstrating interrelationships among risk and protective factors for population health that are commonly used in community health improvement processes (PH 425 - Community Agenda Setting)
6. describing and applying research, evaluation, and strategic planning designs commonly used in community health improvement processes (PH 426 - Community Problem Solving), and
7. identifying and applying principles for community engagement and participation in community health improvement processes (PH 427 - Community Engagement).

Upon successful completion, learners will have achieved the specific expectations for these competencies that are detailed in each course overview document. Since there are neither clear nor easy answers to many of the public health problems and issues examined in these courses, an important over-arching objective is to encourage learners to think independently and critically about the issues, rather than to assume the role of passive recipients of factual information.

Readings

• Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) web site and the MAPP Field Guide.
• Community Toolbox web site
• Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN) web site

Evaluation of Learner Progress

Within each course, several learning activities are evaluated, including the individual exercises, simulated group exercises, and an objective assessment quiz.

Each course is scored based on a maximum of 100 points. Successful completion requires a minimum score of 80 points. Failure to submit assigned exercises or class conference postings will result in no points for that activity.

• Individual Exercises (60 points per course): learner submissions will be determined to be satisfactory (48-60 points) or unsatisfactory (<48 points) based on the extent to which they respond to all questions with germane content that relates to the readings and exercises for that course. Submissions that fail to address all questions/exercises or that do not reflect familiarity with the course content and materials will be rated "Unsatisfactory." The exercises within most courses include a variety of discussion questions, case studies and web explorations.
• Multi-learner Conferencing Exercise (20 points per course): within each course, learners will participate in a simulated group exercise and class wide discussion. Satisfactory participation will earn 16-20 points.
• Assessment Quiz (20 points per course): quizzes can be retaken up to three times.

Progress Reports: Use the "Progress Reports" feature in LearningSpace to track your progress across the different activities in each course. Most activities, including the assessment quizzes, are automatically recorded as "completed" after they are launched or opened. These items will then appear in your Progress Report as complete, your scores for those activities will not appear until your instructor has received and evaluated them!