For this week’s discussion, you will take a closer look at findings from your population health assessment & prevention project.
- Identify the role of your collaborating healthcare professional and share a needed change the two of you identified in your assessment.
- Identify a community stakeholder or policy maker that could support the recommended change. What resources might be needed?
- Provide a paragraph that discusses your advocacy for this change process and how your identified stakeholder or policymaker could help you achieve the recommended change.
Discussion: Advocacy and Collaboration in Population Health Assessment & Prevention
In my population health assessment and prevention project, I collaborated with a public health nurse who plays a pivotal role in community outreach, health education, and preventive care. This professional provided insight into the social determinants of health affecting underserved populations in our local area. Through our assessment, we identified a critical need for improved access to preventative mental health services for adolescents, particularly in low-income neighborhoods where stigma, lack of transportation, and limited provider availability are major barriers to care.
To support this needed change, we identified a key community stakeholder—our local school board superintendent—who could be instrumental in facilitating school-based mental health programs. Schools are central to the daily lives of children and adolescents and offer a strategic setting for early intervention. The school board can authorize policy changes to integrate licensed mental health professionals within the school system, promote staff training for early identification of mental health issues, and help secure funding through grants or partnerships with local behavioral health agencies.
As an advocate for this change, I aim to promote mental health equity by presenting data from our health assessment to the school board and engaging parents, teachers, and student organizations to support the initiative. Advocacy efforts will include hosting informational sessions, providing evidence-based research on the benefits of school-based mental health services, and collaborating with local nonprofits. The superintendent’s support is crucial in navigating administrative policies, allocating resources, and ensuring sustainable implementation of the program. Their influence and access to decision-making forums position them to champion this cause and mobilize community and political support, thereby driving the change from assessment to actionable improvement in adolescent mental health care access.