Health programs are designed to address the societal need to maximize the well-being of people so that society can achieve its most valued goals, including ensuring children grow up healthy and are ready to learn, that workers are productive and able to support their families, that people enjoy long, fulfilling lives with dignity and independence, and that the elderly are able to live at home safely. This is accomplished by addressing a range of public health issues from promoting healthy lifestyles to reducing the impact of disease, injury and disability on individuals and communities.
A successful public health program requires political commitment, broad coalitions and effective communication. Compelling data and evidence for action along with anecdotes, stories of individuals who were harmed by inaction or benefited from specific programs are essential for building political will. This can be done by highlighting unacceptable existing disease burdens, health outcomes, disparities and threats to health, along with an analysis of cost-effectiveness.
Implementing a new public health program requires careful planning, resource allocation and management. This is often complicated by the fact that, unlike in the private sector where metrics like revenue and profit provide immediate feedback on success, the success of many public health activities may not be evident for months or years. It is also important to develop a technical package that includes only those interventions with high levels of scientific evidence, can be implemented and sustained in different settings with varying size, demographic composition and geographic distribution, and are likely to have a significant impact on population health. The challenge is to avoid being tempted to include more strategies for the sake of inclusion, as more components will result in more expensive and unwieldy programs with a lower likelihood of success.
The ability to communicate a clear and convincing message about the importance of a health program to policy makers, decision makers and potential sponsors is also crucial. This is particularly true for programs aimed at achieving sustainable behavior change and addressing intractable public health problems such as smoking, obesity, drug-resistant tuberculosis or malaria. A powerful narrative about the potential benefits of a new program coupled with a compelling visual communication tool can help to generate the needed momentum to ensure that it receives the necessary level of funding and implementation.
Workplace health programs are a great way to encourage employees to make healthy lifestyle choices. They can include offering healthy food in the breakroom and arranging walking or fitness events to get employees moving. Incentives, such as gift cards to healthy restaurants or paid gym memberships are also a good way to boost participation.
A health educator’s competencies are defined by the Commission on Certification of Health Education Specialists (CCHES). The CCHES exam covers a broad range of topics, including teaching, learning and assessment; planning, implementing and evaluating health education programs; communicating with clients; and assessing client needs, concerns and resources. Health educators also need to keep abreast of health trends, emerging diseases, and community and workplace influences on health.