Office of Public Health Practice and Outreach
Practice-based Research
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Practice-based Teaching
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Practice-based Service |
Public health practice activities are associated with the production and application of new knowledge and skills to further the capacity of communities for health promotion as well as the prevention and management of health conditions. The School of Public Health and Health Sciences believes that outreach activities enhance teaching and learning, and are a vital part of the educational process. Practice-based teaching includes practicum/internship, service learning, community service, volunteerism, and other opportunities for students to put knowledge into practice. OPHPO provides the necessary coordination to ensure that the school develops and supports effective linkages both within and beyond the university. Public health practice research involves members of the cooperating communities in the production of new knowledge and makes these findings accessible to all stakeholders who seek solutions to current community health problems. A conceptual framework for practice-based pedagogical applications and guiding principles for demonstrating excellence in public health practice research can be found at http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=853.
Community outreach is the key method to accomplish the objectives of public health practice-based scholarship. OPHPO matches needs and opportunities in the community with student, staff and faculty interests, expertise and resources. OPHPO's outreach work strives to address current public health and health practice issues by working with public health professionals to eliminate health disparities and apply participatory action research principles. The disciplines of public health and the health sciences are in the midst of rapid change, and active linkages with the larger community are crucial for the preparation of public health and health care professionals qualified to work in this new environment.
Through OPHPO resources and support:
- Community members - access faculty and student resources and expertise in public health and health sciences;
- Public Health and Health Care Practitioners- find collaborators for projects and technical advice among faculty, staff and students;
- Students - learn about opportunities for working in the community both to gain skills and share their expertise;
- Faculty and staff - learn about current community needs, identify potential community partners for new projects, and discover resource people who can participate in courses offered to students.
The following examples show the many different ways the school's departments incorporate community engagement into their work:
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology faculty are partnering with a variety of community agencies to provide the evaluation component to pressing, local public health issues;
- Communication Disorders faculty and students provides hearing screenings to students at area schools;
- Community Health Studies brings student coursework in planning and evaluation to area agencies in need of these skills for their programs;
- Environmental Health Sciences has developed a guidebook and training program for boards of health across Massachusetts;
- Kinesiology students and faculty held "Translating Research in Exercise Science" (TREx), a day inviting the community onto campus to learn about the latest in fitness and health;
- Nutrition faculty and staff published “Buy Fresh! Enjoy Fruits and Vegetables from Massachusetts Farmer’s Markets”.
There are many other projects underway which link the School of Public Health and Health Sciences to communities in addressing critical issues and needs. OPHPO welcomes suggestions from you about new ways students, faculty, practitioners and others in the community can work together for mutual benefit.
In the coming years, the Office will:
- Establish an Advisory Committee comprised of faculty, students, and community partners.
- Strengthen relationships with local and statewide stakeholders working on the elimination of health disparities.
- Strengthen practice-based teaching activities including field practicum, service learning and other activities with seminars and workshops for students, faculty, public health practitioners and health care professionals.
- Establish and maintain a new alumni network to support current students in their community work;
- Expand the School’s support for community participatory action research with institutional agreements for partnerships.
Important links:
Practice Research and Teaching
CDC Office of Public Health Practice
CDC Public Health Practice Council
Springfield Partners for a Healthier Community
Caring Health Center, Inc
Contact information:
Office of Public Health Practice and Outreach
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
127 Arnold House
University of Massachusetts
715 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
phone: (413) 545-2529
fax: (413) 545-0501
email:
ophpo@schoolph.umass.edu
