User:Annatardecilla/Health education

(McKenzie) I am thinking the edit I typed below could be added into the first paragraph in the "Role of the Health Education Specialist" section.

Health education aims to immediately impact an individual's knowledge, behavior, or attitude about a health-related topic with the ultimate aim of improving quality of life or health status for an individual. Health education utilizes several different intervention strategies in its practices to improve quality of life and health status. Health education intervention strategies involve a planned combination of elements that work together to produce change in an individual's skills, behavior, knowledge, or status related to health.

''(McKenzie) The paragraphs I typed below focus on health education credentials. I think they would best fit under the "Role of the Health Education Specialist" section but they probably need to be added as entirely new paragraphs in that section (not added into a paragraph that already exists).''

Health educators may gain professional certification in teaching health education in the United States by passing the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. The CHES credential was created in 1989 and was later accredited in 2008 by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies. The National Commission for Health Education offers this exam in April and October each year to individuals that qualify. The CHES exam consists of 150 multiple choice competency-based questions that test individuals in the Eight Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists. These eight areas include assessing individual and community needs, planning health education programs and interventions, implementing health education programs and interventions, evaluating and researching health outcomes, programs, and interventions, advocating for health education, leadership and management in health education, communicating health education, and ethics and professionalism for health educators. Individuals are eligible to take the exam if they meet certain academic and educational requirements. Individuals must hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree that was obtained from an accredited institution. The transcript of this degree must show that an individual completed a major related to health education or completed a minimum of 25 semester hours in qualifying health education related courses. Individuals that have not yet obtained their bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree but otherwise qualify for the CHES exam may sit for the exam with the condition that they will graduate within ninety days of their CHES examination date.

The National Commission for Health Education later created the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exam in order to certify advanced competencies in health education specialists. The MCHES first began being administered in 2011 and it gained accreditation from the National Commission of Certifying Agencies in 2013. Individuals that have actively held the CHES certification for five years are eligible to take the MCHES exam. Individuals that are not CHES certified or have been actively CHES certified for less than five years, have five years of work experience as a health education specialist, and have a Master's degree in a field related to health education or a minimum of 25 semester hours completed in qualifying health education courses at the master or doctoral level are also eligible for the MCHES exam.

It is not required for individuals to obtain CHES or MCHES certification in order to work as a health education specialist in the United States. However, many employers give preference to applicants that are Certified Health Education Specialists and both credentials allow individuals to increase their employment opportunities and competitiveness.

''(Anna) The text I typed below will be focused on the different societies that Public Health Educators are able to join in the United States. I think this subject can be made into its own section to include multiple different societies available.''

The Society for Public Health Educators (SOPHE) is an independent professional society of health educators, academics, and education researchers that was founded in 1950. Their mission is to "Promote the health of all people through education". SOPHE works with different health educators to promote healthy behaviors, healthy communities, and healthy environments. SOPHE helps fund and drive research on health education theory and practice.

(Lauren B) ''The text below focuses on another association that Public Health Educators can join. I think this could be a continuation of the new section about different societies/organizations that are available to join.''

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is a professional association that promotes good health and strengthens the public health profession by covering general information, issues, policies, news, and much more regarding the topic of health. The mission of this association is to “improve the health of the public and achieve equity in health status.”

Members of this association include those that work in the public health field, healthcare professionals, or anyone with an interest in public health. Membership requires a fee based on employment status and offers many benefits such as networking opportunities, webinars, access to the American Journal of Public Health, etc.

''(Lauren A) The text below focuses on an international association that Public Health Educators can join. It would fit right under the American associations and above the worldwide education.''

International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE)

Originally called Interim Commission, the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) was created in 1951 by Lucien Viborel, a then consultant to the WHO and United Nations, to focus a division for health education. Their mission is to promote global health and create health equity. Every three years they hold a World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education. The Executive Board is made up of the President, the past-President, a maximum of 15 global members, and the regional Vice-Presidents. The organization is also made of memberships that are individual or institutional subscriptions that Health Educators can join.

''(McKenzie) The text below is for the American Association of Health Education. It is another organization that health education specialists/professionals may join. This information will best fit under the section "Health Education Societies in the United States" (where the information on SOPHE and APHA was previously added).''

The American Association of Health Education (AAHE) is the oldest health education membership organization in the United States. It was established in 1937 to serve and assist health education professionals and it is one of six organizations that comprise the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Currently, the organization has a membership of over 5,500 health education professionals. The organization works to provide its members strategies, tools, and approaches related to health education and health promotion that can be used for a variety of public health settings.

(Anna) ''The text below is for the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). This information can be added to the "Role of Health Education Specialist" and the previous edit for that section to elaborate more on the certification process.''

The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) is a non-profit organization that provides certification and professional development opportunities for health education specialists in the United States. NCHEC was established in 1988 to improve the quality and consistency of health education in the United States. NCHEC offers several credentialing programs, including the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) designations. These certifications are based on a set of competency-based standards and require ongoing professional development to maintain.

NCHEC also provides continuing education opportunities for health education specialists, hosts an annual conference, and advocates for the profession of health education. The organization is governed by a Board of Commissioners and is supported by a network of volunteers, partners, and stakeholders in the health education field.

(Kelsey) ''The text below contains information on Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO). I think this information could be added into the section of different societies that health educators are able to join in the United States.''

The Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) is an organization that was established in 1972 to serve at the national level by facilitating communication as well as collaborating and coordinating with individuals in other health organizations across the United States. The Coalition holds monthly meetings that are similar to those of public health departments where discussions are held to address any previous updates, finances and other current events that are appropriate for the many organizations CHNEO is in contact and collaboration with.