Looking Back and Moving Forward: SOPHE’s 70 Years of Contributions to Health Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 793-801
Author(s):  
Julia M. Alber ◽  
John P. Allegrante ◽  
M. Elaine Auld ◽  
Jean Breny
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
School Health ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Professional Preparation ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
The Past ◽  
Education Profession ◽  
Looking Back

Founded in 1950, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) provides leadership to the health education profession and promotes the health of all people through six strategic commitments: developing and promoting standards for professional preparation and credentialing of community and school health educators; stimulating research on the theory, practice, and teaching of health education; supporting elimination of health disparities and the achievement of health equity; providing continuing education of the health education workforce; advocating for policy and legislation affecting public health and health promotion; and supporting a network of local chapters. This article describes how SOPHE has pursued these strategic commitments during the past 70 years and discusses challenges that will influence the future of SOPHE and the contours of the research and practice agendas of the field going forward.

scholarly journals Objectives and the Past—Community Health Education

1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
William Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Community Health ◽  
School Health ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Community Health Education ◽  
The Past ◽  
School Health Education ◽  
Education Today ◽  
In The Beginning

If we view health education historically, one finds that in the beginning, there were two components: school health education and community health education, the latter often referred to as public health education. Today our panel has identified three additional specialty health education areas but many more exist.

Quality Assurance in Professional Preparation of Community/Public Health Education Specialists: Contributions of SABPAC

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Ellen M. Capwell ◽  
Carol Cox ◽  
Alyson Taub ◽  
M. Elaine Auld ◽  
Elias Berhanu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Professional Preparation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Education Profession

The Society for Public Health Education and American Association for Health Education Baccalaureate Program Approval Committee (SABPAC) provided a valuable service to the health education profession in the United States for 27 years. From 1987 to its sunset in 2014, SABPAC offered a voluntary process whereby undergraduate community/public health education professional preparation programs could seek review and evaluation of their programs against published national health education criteria. Those programs meeting SABPAC criteria were granted “Approval.” SABPAC approval was instituted as one way by which the health education profession could strive to promote consistent professional preparation in the field and ensure that health education graduates were prepared for contemporary workforce demands. Over the years, SABPAC chairs, committee members, and volunteers devoted countless hours reviewing self-studies and conducting on-site visits of professional preparation programs and documenting how they met SABPAC criteria and/or could enhance compliance with guidelines. Seeking SABPAC approval provided many program benefits. Recognizing that accreditation is the “gold standard” in education, the health education profession applied a thoughtful and researched process beginning in 2001 to transition from SABPAC approval to undergraduate accreditation through the Council on Education for Public Health. Three national task forces developed recommendations, conducted events to foster communication about the change, and assisted professional preparation programs to prepare for and seek the Council on Education for Public Health accreditation. This brief article documents the genesis, organization, and processes of SABPAC in the United States, until its sunset as a major contributor to quality assurance in health education for more than a quarter of a century.

scholarly journals Quality Assurance in Teaching K–12 Health Education: Paving a New Path Forward

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Birch ◽  
Susan Goekler ◽  
M. Elaine Auld ◽  
David K. Lohrmann ◽  
Adrian Lyde
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Health Education ◽  
School Health ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Professional Preparation ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Education Teacher ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Health Teachers

To be effective, school health instruction should be taught by health educators who have graduated from accredited health education teacher education programs and are certified in health education. Unfortunately, the nation has failed to ensure that all those who teach health in schools are well prepared. States vary in the required coursework for health teachers in terms of initial licensure and continuing education for licensure renewal; most elementary teachers are not required to receive preparation in health education; health education and physical education are often viewed as synonymous disciplines; support for in-service education of health teachers is often lacking; and more research is needed in professional preparation and development of school health educators. This article provides a call to action in five areas to strengthen both the professional preparation and professional development of school health educators. Given that education is a social determinant of health, public health educators must become stronger allies in supporting school health to promote health equity. Public health practitioners can advocate to state and community school decision makers for comprehensive school health education taught by teachers with appropriate professional preparation and certification in health education. Public health faculty can educate their students about the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child framework and effective strategies for its implementation, and seek rigorous professional preparation and certification and accreditation standards for their school teacher preparation programs. National health and education organizations can call for new leadership and investments in health education teacher preparation and development for a brighter future.

Public Health Education: Sources, Growth and Operational Philosophy

1980 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy B. Nyswander
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
The Past ◽  
Past Half Century ◽  
Past Half

An historical overview of public health education: its sources, development and operational philosophy. The contributions of many disciplines, particularly social science, and key individuals such as Lewin are traced through the past half century. The emergence of health education as a “helping profession” and the expansion of its focus to broader “marketplaces” of change are highlighted. The state of the art today is reviewed and the functions of health educators described with emphasis on “obtaining people's participation” in programs to bring about change. Problems still existing, particularly professional training, are addressed.

Public Health Education: Sources, Growth and Operational Philosophy

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-18
Author(s):  
Dorothy B. Nyswander
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
The Past ◽  
Past Half Century ◽  
Past Half

An historical overview of public health education: its sources, development and operational philosophy. The contributions of many disciplines, particularly social science, and key individuals such as Lewin are traced through the past half century. The emergence of health education as a “helping profession” and the expansion of its focus to broader “marketplaces” of change are highlighted. The state of the art today is reviewed and the functions of health educators described with emphasis on “obtaining people's participation” in programs to bring about change. Problems still existing, particularly professional training, are addressed.

scholarly journals Continuing the Journey Toward Health Equity: Becoming Antiracist in Health Promotion Research and Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 665-670
Author(s):  
Jean M. Breny
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Cultural Humility ◽  
Annual Conference ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Health Education And Promotion

Health education and promotion researchers and practitioners are committed to eliminating health disparities, and the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has continuously supported this effort through its journals, professional development, annual conferences, and advocacy. The COVID-19 pandemic elucidated inequities directly caused by racism and other social determinants of health. In order to achieve health equity, we need to become antiracist in our research, practice, and advocacy work by standing united against racist policies and practices. I invite us all to heed the call to action on these five points: place racism on the agenda, practice cultural humility, claim your privilege and eliminate microaggressions, utilize strategies that promote inclusion and equity, and embrace your inner leader and activist. Just as SOPHE as an organization pivoted its annual conference from on ground to virtual in March 2020, so can we be innovative and brave as professionals to face the hard work and dedication needed to become antiracist.

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