Program Planning:
Program
planning is the process of designing programs as interventions to target
specific needs. This phase of work generally occurs after a health concern has
been identified and a health needs assessment has been conducted. In my experience,
program planning has been essential in providing guidance throughout the
implementation phase. Successful and efficient program implementation is
reliant upon how well the program is planned.
Public health theories, much like the Health Belief and Transtheoretical Models, are combined with previous evidence based research to serve as the backbone of program planning and reasoning for why programs are expected to be successful. Logic and planning models are used as templates to define the program components and outline the various program activities. Together they comprise the program's framework.
I have used program planning to complete various public health tasks including the development of a housing resource manual, internship proposal, and health data collection tools.
Public health theories, much like the Health Belief and Transtheoretical Models, are combined with previous evidence based research to serve as the backbone of program planning and reasoning for why programs are expected to be successful. Logic and planning models are used as templates to define the program components and outline the various program activities. Together they comprise the program's framework.
I have used program planning to complete various public health tasks including the development of a housing resource manual, internship proposal, and health data collection tools.
MPH Internship Proposal: Addressing Alzheimer's Disease within the American Indian/Alaska Natie population of North Carolina
In preparation of my internship that was done in
collaboration with the Maya Angelou Center for Heath Equity and the North
Carolina American Indian Health Board, I completed an internship proposal,
which outlined the objectives and activities that I planned to complete. Once Alzheimer’s
disease was chosen as the primary health concern to be addressed and the
American Indians living in North Carolina was selected as the target
population, I conducted a literature review of the previous research and
programs servicing this need. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)
and ethical analysis was completed to identify organizational factors
that could potentially affect the productivity of the internship.
I created a conceptual map, which provides a visual depiction of the primary risk factors that contribute to AD development, while also illustrating the factors that influence those risk factors. The Health Belief Model was used to assist me with identifying the interconnection that each factor has with the others. Those risky behavior are influenced by an individual’s motives, which act through his/her intentions. Those motives are subjected to the influence of his/her perceptions and overall awareness of AD. More specifically, one’s perceived consequences, perceived risk, and perceived susceptibility of developing AD define his/her motivation to engage in certain behaviors.
Furthermore, a logic model and Gantt chart were completed to outline the internship activities and provide a projected timeline of when each activity would be completed. The compiled internship proposal is shown below.
I created a conceptual map, which provides a visual depiction of the primary risk factors that contribute to AD development, while also illustrating the factors that influence those risk factors. The Health Belief Model was used to assist me with identifying the interconnection that each factor has with the others. Those risky behavior are influenced by an individual’s motives, which act through his/her intentions. Those motives are subjected to the influence of his/her perceptions and overall awareness of AD. More specifically, one’s perceived consequences, perceived risk, and perceived susceptibility of developing AD define his/her motivation to engage in certain behaviors.
Furthermore, a logic model and Gantt chart were completed to outline the internship activities and provide a projected timeline of when each activity would be completed. The compiled internship proposal is shown below.