Health programs focus on prevention rather than on medical treatment of disease or illness. By reducing the need for expensive medical interventions, health promotion programs can save the individual, employer, family, insurance companies, medical facilities, communities and the nation money. Moreover, preventive health measures can also reduce suffering and death from preventable diseases.
There are many different types of health programs. They include smoking ban policies, school and worksite fitness programs, immunization campaigns, screening and vaccination efforts for sexually transmitted diseases, nutritional and physical activity promotion, mental health counseling, and disease management and prevention.
Several health programs have been proven effective in improving the quality of life for individuals. These programs may help to control diseases and illnesses, or they may help to improve living conditions, such as in the case of a program that provides home care for elderly or disabled people.
Other programs focus on addressing the social determinants of health (SDoH). These factors include access to healthcare services, education and employment opportunities, housing, economic status, nutrition, social support systems, and more. The success of these programs depends on how well they can address the SDoH in a community and how integrated they are with other public health initiatives in a given area.
Generally, people who have lower incomes and are not insured are less likely to receive proper healthcare treatment. As a result, they tend to suffer from a range of health problems. Some of these programs aim to provide healthcare coverage to such populations, with specific criteria dictating who is eligible for the insurance. Typically, these programs target citizens and lawfully present non-citizens with incomes below 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
The structure and operation of health programs vary widely depending on the population targeted, the objectives of the program, and the available resources. Some programs are comprehensive and cover a wide range of health-related topics, while others focus on specific areas such as consumer, environmental, emotional and sexual health; first aid, safety and disaster preparedness; human growth and development; and nutrition and eating issues.
A person who works in the field of health promotion must have a very specific set of knowledge, skills and abilities. Para-professionals and other health professionals are often not familiar with the specialized body of health education knowledge, methods and theories, and so their effectiveness with clients or community members is limited. Health educators usually hold bachelor’s or master’s degrees in health education, health promotion or a closely related discipline. In addition, they are required to obtain national voluntary credentialing as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). This is available through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). A health education program can be a great way to gain hands-on experience and launch a rewarding career in healthcare.