29 Dec What governmental policies

MPH500 Introduction to Public Health Systems, Organizations, and Practice

Module 2 Assignment

Interview Exercise

During the first two modules of this course, you are to contact a public health agency of your interest. This exercise will assist you in understanding the scope of public health and the diverse roles and functions of public health agencies. The agency of your choice can be selected at your local level (e.g., Planned Parenthood), at the state level (e.g., Center for Black Women’s Wellness) or at the national level (e.g., Centers for Disease Control). This exercise will heighten your awareness and interest of a public health agency that you may select to complete your applied practice experience (APE) work during the final stages of this program.

As part of this exercise, you are to connect with the public health agency and interview a leader or public health agent about the purpose of the agency, population of focus, and current public health programs the agency has initiated. You will be using the answers from the interview questions and applying what you learned in the weekly discussions during Modules 3–7.

To receive approval of your Public Health Agency, you must submit it in the text box of this assignment, by 11:59pm (MT), Sunday, end of Week 2. Your instructor will reply to your submission with an update on this exercise.

Public Health Agencies

Below is a list of public health agencies, but not an inclusive list, to get you started on this exercise. You can research other public health agencies that are local and of your interest to interview. You will not be required to conduct your applied practice experience with this agency, but this exercise may help you in selecting a site to use in the future.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

American Cancer Society

American Red Cross

Area Agency on Aging

CARE

Center for AIDS

Center for Black Women’s Wellness

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Center for Rural Health Science

Children’s Healthcare

Community Action Program (HCAP)

Community Food Bank

Food and Drug Administration

Health Resources and Services Administration

Indian Health Service

Mental Health America

National Kidney Foundation

Tropical Agriculture, Food and Animal Sciences

Planned Parenthood

Questions

The following interview questions are to be asked during your interview with a public health agency:

What is the purpose of the agency?

What is the target population?

What are the goals of the agency?

What governmental policies are supporting the goals of the agency?

What environmental factors are influencing the health of the target population?

What research studies are being conducted to address the needs of the target population?

What evidence-based practice initiatives are being conducted to advance the goals for the agency?

What prevention programs are being instituted to address the needs of the target population?

Are any health promotion activities being instituted to address the needs of the target population?

What future programs are being considered to address the need of the target population?