Community Change in Public Health

About this course: In bringing about behavior change in public health, we often focus on the individual mother, student, or farmer. We should not forget the community structure and norms constrain for encouraging individual health behaviors. This course examines the community context of the changes needed to promote the public’s health. We begin by examining the various definitions of ‘community’ and the processes by which we ‘diagnose’ or seek to understand the structure and characteristics of different types of communities. An appreciation of community similarities and differences is necessary lest we fall into the trap of designing one-size-fits-all interventions. We need to recognize that no matter that outsiders may view a community as poor or neglected, we can find strengths and capacities for improvement in each community. Identifying community capacities and resources is the first step in facilitating community change. Different practical and philosophical approaches to change and therefore, examined. Specific to the change process is our recognition of the need for communities to participate in the design, implementation and evaluation of any intervention. We examine the concept of participation in an effort to see how different levels of involvement may affect sustainability of community change efforts. Finally a case study of a community participatory approach to onchocerciasis control in Africa is presented. Community Directed Intervention has subsequently been successfully applied to providing other essential primary health care services by and in the community, such as insecticide treated bednets, malaria treatment, vitamin A distribution, deworming medicines, and pneumonia and diarrhea case management.

Created by:  Johns Hopkins University

• Taught by:  William Brieger, DrPH, Professor, Health Systems Program of the Department of International Health

  Bloomberg School of Public Health

Commitment 5 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.4 stars Average User Rating 4.4See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Syllabus


WEEK 1


Module 1
This week, we'll get oriented to the course, learn about the ecological model, and learn how to classify communities on the basis of identity, linkages, group orientation, and integration.


3 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Reading: Welcome to Community Change in Public Health
2. Reading: Learning Objectives
3. Reading: Grading Policy
4. Reading: Pre-Course Survey
5. Reading: Community Change Facebook Page
6. Video: Lecture 1: Ecological Model
7. Video: Lecture 2A: Definitions of Community
8. Video: Lecture 2B: A Second Perspective and Framework: Offensive, Defensive, and Hidden Communities
9. Discussion Prompt: Describing & Analyzing Real Communities

Graded: Module 1 Quiz

WEEK 2


Module 2



Welcome to Week 2 of Community Change in Public Health. This week's lectures will focus on Community Efficacy and Community Change Models. Learning these concepts will help you gain a deeper understanding of the forces at work within communities and how they can be harnessed to affect positive change.


4 videos expand

1. Video: Lecture 3: Community Efficacy and Competence
2. Video: Lecture 4A: Community Change Models
3. Video: Lecture 4B: Approaches and Tools for Community Participation and Change
4. Video: Lecture 4C: Community Change Models: Conclusions, Lessons, and Thoughts
5. Discussion Prompt: Applying new concepts to community descriptions

Graded: Module 2 Quiz

WEEK 3


Module 3



Welcome to Module 3. This week, we'll take a look at the political economy framework as well as the concepts of community participation and involvement levels. You'll also complete your first peer review assignment this week by reading a case study and using what you've learned to describe community change.


3 videos expand

1. Video: Lecture 5: The Political Economy Framework
2. Video: Lecture 6A: What Is Participation?
3. Video: Lecture 6B: Levels of Involvement

Graded: Week 3 Quiz
Graded: Peer Review 1

WEEK 4


Module 4
This week, we'll look at community coalitions, contrasting community-based and community-directed programs, and the results of enhancing community-directed treatment.


3 videos expand

1. Video: Lecture 7: Community Coalitions
2. Video: Lecture 8A: Community Participation Onchocerciasis: A Case Study
3. Video: Lecture 8B: Results of Enhancing Community-Directed Treatment

Graded: Week 4 Quiz

WEEK 5


Module 5



In this final week, we'll learn about the Community-Directed Intervention (CDI) process, an expansion beyond the Community-Directed Treatment process used with Ivermectin. Finally, you will complete your second peer-review assignment in which you'll describe a community from a case study and also describe two possible interventions to sustain the change that is already underway.


1 video, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Lecture 9: CDI Process
2. Reading: Thank you for taking the course

Graded: Peer Review 2