Public Health

OBJECTIVE:
Demonstrate commitment to the community by participating in professional activities that promote health for all.

ASSIGNMENT:
1. Prepare for and attend a virtual political/professional (private or public in nature) meeting concerned with
health of a community or groups within a community
a. Determine when and where “political” meetings related to the health of the community, or groups within the community are occurring (examples are legislative hearings, county or city health committee meetings, meetings of official or voluntary agencies when topics are appropriate to assignment etc.)

2. Write an account of the meeting attended with the following guidelines:
a. Discuss the organization/committee sponsoring the meeting and its general purpose.
b. Describe frequency of meetings and participants.
c. Identify issues discussed during the meeting.
d. Relate how one issue discussed – impacts on the health of the community and the role/functions of community health nursing. Incorporate the core functions of public health in your response – refer to https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/ephli/core_ess.htm
this website for the core public health function
e. Go into the literature and search for articles that relate to your community meeting’s content. Discuss your literature findings in your write-up, include article citations in your write-up (must be in APA format).
f. Identify interventions used to influence members or participants during the discussion observed.
g. Relate your opinion regarding the issues discussed and interventions you would utilize to promote your opinion.

Possible options for a Community Meeting include attending one of the following: (there are many other options NOT listed):
School board meeting, a village or city council meeting, or Joining Forces for Families meeting (http://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/cyf_jff.htm)
Dane County’s Immunization Update – only during the fall semester.
Dane County Immunization Coalition quarterly meeting (on Tuesdays)
Dane County Hunger Care Coalition or Food Policy Council meeting
Environmental health related meeting (several around lake pollution and large scale farming)
Attend an RA meeting on Edgewood’s Campus
Board of Health meeting in the county you are assigned for clinical or live in.
Community action meeting or legislative meeting
Tribal legislative or committee meetings
Other community meetings approved by your clinical instructor

There is a “community meetings” link on your clinical course BB site and will be discussed with your clinical instructor.