Describe an example of how your practicum organization solicits input from individuals
and organizations within the communities they serve. Explain the steps they take in
gathering information about community needs, preferences, and priorities. What barriers
have they encountered? What suggestions for improvement would you make?
At my current practicum organization, the solicitation of input from individuals and entities
within the community it operates entails the involvement of interns and aspiring public health
officials in working collaboratively with the members. It further involves helping them plan and
implement effective channels for delivering health care products and services. The placement of
these interns and potential public health officials within community outreach programs allow
them to participate in promoting health and boosting the welfare of the members (Brooks et al.
2018). For instance, through epidemiological case studies, projects, and initiatives on HIV/AIDS,
lung cancer, and cigarette smoking, the organization obtained sufficient information on the
community members’ opinions on how locally-grown and independent interventions can be
developed and implemented. The acquisition of this information occurs through additional steps
that include community leaders’ engagement in the forums’ preparation and organization through
which the members can gather and share their ideas or express their challenges (Brooks et al.
2018).
Similarly, the interns and potential public health officials work hand-in-hand with Faith-
Based Organizations (FBOs) to distribute the healthcare-related services and other resources and
find solutions to public health problems. While working under the supervision of the practicum
director and site preceptor, the interns report their findings on the case studies, allowing the
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organization to determine suitable courses of action that would appropriately address their public
health problems (Brooks et al. 2018). However, some of these steps and initiatives are faced with
barriers such as insubordination and lack of compliance among the community members by
providing inaccurate information or failure to disclose the public health problems affecting them.
In some cases, the community members are unwilling to adopt and implement the interventions
or strategies proposed by the organization alongside the community leaders, which hinders the
attainment of the desired goals. Nonetheless, to circumvent these challenges, I would suggest
that the organization incorporate community members in the board or panel to make the relevant
decisions on the various ways to promote the health and welfare of the people (Brooks et al.
2018). This way, the individuals or organizations incorporated would provide fundamental
insight into which interventions are necessary and the community’s parts.
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References
Brooks, B. A., Davis, S., Frank-Lightfoot, L., Kulbok, P. A., Poree, S., & Sgarlata, L. (2018).
Building a Community Health Worker Program: The Key to Better Care, Better
Outcomes, & Lower Costs. Community Health Works, 1-57.