Family and Community Health -- HPM 521

Spring 2008

Mary Applegate, MD MPH
(518)402-0283

Barry Sherman, PhD
(518)402-0333

Room C1, School of Public Health
Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 6:50 PM

This course provides students with an overview of key issues and contributing factors related to the health of families and communities. It focuses on current and emerging public health concerns at each stage in the life-cycle, the needs of special populations, and the range of policy and programmatic responses. The course provides a framework for assessing the health of families and communities and for developing strategies for intervention and promotion of health and wellness.

By the end of this course, students will:

• understand methods and techniques for assessing the health of families and communities,
• be knowledgeable about the major public health concerns at each stage of the life-cycle and among special populations,
• understand the complexities and controversies surrounding these major public health issues,
• gain knowledge and skills needed to critically analyze community and family health issues for underlying contributing (risk and protective) factors,
• be able to present information about important family and community health issues -- orally and in writing
• be able to assess interventions in family and community health for appropriateness and effectiveness and make intervention recommendations, and,
• be aware of emerging issues in family and community health and strategies for responding to them.