Leader: Professor Helen Keleher

Offered

Peninsula First semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit provides participants with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in program planning for health promotion. Participants will develop skills in needs assessment, priority setting, designating targets for change, using evidence and theory to make intervention choices and establishing systems for program management. The strengths and weaknesses of alternative models that can guide health promotion planning will be explored, and the links between systematic planning and thorough evaluation will be highlighted.

Objectives

1. Describe the steps in comprehensive program planning as a basis for action to address health determinants;
2. Critically examine planning models for their capacity to incorporate concepts related to the social determinants of health and health inequalities;
3. Identify the information sources that can be used to identify health needs, assess determinants and select targets for change;
4. Demonstrate an understanding of priority setting and specification of goals, objectives and strategies based on a logic model;
5. Demonstrate the use of evidence and theory in all stages of planning, including evaluation;
6. Discuss the processes entailed in program management and the challenges associated with negotiation and development of cross-sectoral action;
7. Critically reflect on the scope for community participation and capacity building in planning.

Assessment

Comparative analysis of needs assessment strategies (40%)
Evidence review (20%)
Development of program plan (20%)

Prerequisites

HSC5002 Health promotion: A determinants approach

Co-requisites

HSC5002 Health promotion: A determinants approach