1. Health Education as a Profession

2. What is a profession?
What do you think of in a profession or a professional?
“a vocation or occupation requiring advanced education and training, and involving intellectual skills.”
(Agnes, 2001, p )

3. Characteristics of a Profession
Extensive training required
Accredited institutions
Work is based on specialized body of knowledge and expertise
Theoretical base
Standards of practices
Competencies
Commitment to serving a social value
Code of Ethics
Professional autonomy

4. What is Health Education?
What do you think of when you hear “Health Education”?
“Any combination of planned learning experiences based on sound theories that provide individuals, groups, and communities the opportunity to acquire information and skills needed to make quality health decisions.”
Report of the 2000 Joint Committee on Health Education and Promotion Terminology, March/April 2001, vol. 32, No. 2, American Journal of Health Education

5. What is a Health Educator?
“A professionally prepared individual that serves in a variety of roles and is specifically trained to use appropriate educational strategies and methods to facilitate the development of policies, procedures, interventions, and systems conducive to the health of individuals, groups, and communities.”
Report of the 2000 Joint Committee on Health Education and Promotion Terminology, March/April 2001, vol. 32, No. 2, American Journal of Health Education

6. In Other Words …
Health Educators … “work to encourage healthy lifestyles and wellness through educating individuals and communities about behaviors that can prevent diseases, injuries, and other health problems.”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010

7. The importance of Health Educators
“We would be terribly remiss if we did not seize the opportunity presented by health promotion and disease prevention to dramatically cut health-care costs, to prevent the premature onset of disease and disability, and to help all Americans achieve healthier, more productive lives.”
Louis Sullivan, former Secretary of U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services,

8. What does a Health Educator do?
Job Responsibilities
Seven core competencies
Work Settings
Medical care settings
Colleges and universities
Schools
Public health departments
Nonprofit organizations
Private businesses

9. How are Health Educators trained?
Baccalaureate programs:
Prepare graduates in all seven of the core competencies
Internships are required
Certification is available
Although still voluntary

10. What is the verdict? Is Health Education a profession? Until recently…
Too much diversity in preparatory programs
No single set of accreditation standards
Uncertainty about qualifications
No quality assurance for consumers
(Henderson, Wolfe, Cortese & McIntosh, 1981)

11. The Good News About 250 academic programs available
Profession-wide Code of Ethics has been endorsed
Continuing research continues to provide a strong theoretical base for interventions
Professional organizations are working together
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has recognized Health Educators as a profession!