Preparing Learners for Community-Engaged Public Health Practice

Authors

  • Elaine Archie-Booker
  • Olivia Osaji
  • Sterline Caldwell
  • Pamela Cooper
  • Valerie Newsome Garcia
  • Reinetta Waldrop
  • Brenton Powers
  • LeKeisha Jackson
  • Stephanie Miles-Richardson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2020.201

Keywords:

Community, curriculum, public health

Abstract

Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities in which they live. As such, community health assessment and engagement are critical elements that Master of Public Health (MPH) students must learn. Even so, those with graduate public health degrees often lack the ability to engage in this foundational aspect of public health practice. The purpose of this paper is to describe a curricular model that utilizes didactic preparation along with the collaboration of community-academic partners (CAPs) in a service-learning format to prepare MPH students for successful community assessment and engagement. In addition to enhancing the learning experience for students, this curricular approach assures meaningful engagement which benefits communities, especially those which are underserved. The relationships established through the implementation of this model were critical in the COVID-19 community response.

Author Biographies

Elaine Archie-Booker

Elaine Archie-Booker, EdD, RN, ICPS

Olivia Osaji

Olivia Osaji, DrPH, MPH, CHES;

Sterline Caldwell

Sterline Caldwell, MSIT

Valerie Newsome Garcia

Valerie Newsome Garcia, PhD

Reinetta Waldrop

Reinetta Waldrop, DrPH, MSHS, FACHE

Brenton Powers

Brenton Powers, MPH

LeKeisha Jackson

LeKeisha Jackson, PhD, Morehouse School of Medicine.

Stephanie Miles-Richardson

Stephanie Miles-Richardson, Morehouse School of Medicine,720 Westview Dr. SW, NCPC Suite 346, Atlanta, GA 30310-1495 USA. 

Published

2020-10-21

How to Cite

Archie-Booker, E., Osaji, O., Caldwell, S., Cooper, P., Garcia, V. N., Waldrop, R., Powers, B., Jackson, L., & Miles-Richardson, S. (2020). Preparing Learners for Community-Engaged Public Health Practice. American Journal of Health Studies, 35(2). https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2020.201