Biomaterial Database

Health promotion: a community-based perspective. 1994

J Reed

Westside Health Authority, Chicago, IL 60651.

This article outlines the model for health promotional activities developed by the Westside Health Authority (WHA). WHA has extensive experience in health promotions through community clinics and organizations. It addresses several reasons why traditional health promotion programs implemented by universities and health institutions often fail to curb the escalation of preventable health problems. Universities seek community involvement usually only at the implementation stages of such programs, and even when leaders are invited to participate in earlier need assessments, significant community investment is not achieved. True respect and trust for the community's ability to solve problems are often missing in health promotional attempts. WHA has learned three lessons in implementing programs: (1) people's lives cannot be disintegrated into a set of problems defined and "fixed" by "experts"; (2) health promotion programs must be designed in cooperation with the community; and (3) health promotion should encompass a means by which "affirming relationships" can be developed. WHA attempts to provide opportunities for residents to use what they already know to accomplish health promotion by connecting individuals within the community, affirming each other's ideas, and developing strategies from the ground up.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010353	Patient Education as Topic	The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs.	Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
D002641	Chicago	A city in Illinois.
D003151	Community Health Centers	Facilities which administer the delivery of health care services to people living in a community or neighborhood.	Neighborhood Health Centers,Satellite Centers,Center, Community Health,Center, Neighborhood Health,Center, Satellite,Centers, Community Health,Centers, Neighborhood Health,Centers, Satellite,Community Health Center,Health Center, Community,Health Center, Neighborhood,Health Centers, Community,Health Centers, Neighborhood,Neighborhood Health Center,Satellite Center
D003153	Community Health Services	Diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health services provided for individuals in the community.	Community Health Care,Community Healthcare,Health Services, Community,Services, Community Health,Community Health Service,Health Care, Community,Health Service, Community,Healthcare, Community,Service, Community Health
D003256	Community Participation	Involvement of members of the community in the affairs of that community.	Community Action,Consumer Involvement,Consumer Participation,Community Involvement,Public Participation,Action, Community,Actions, Community,Community Actions,Community Involvements,Consumer Involvements,Involvement, Community,Involvement, Consumer,Involvements, Community,Participation, Community,Participation, Consumer,Participation, Public
D006293	Health Promotion	Encouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care.	Health Campaigns,Promotion of Health,Wellness Programs,Promotional Items,Campaign, Health,Campaigns, Health,Health Campaign,Health Promotions,Item, Promotional,Items, Promotional,Program, Wellness,Programs, Wellness,Promotion, Health,Promotional Item,Promotions, Health,Wellness Program
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017146	Models, Organizational	Theoretical representations and constructs that describe or explain the structure and hierarchy of relationships and interactions within or between formal organizational entities or informal social groups.	Organizational Models,Model, Organizational,Organizational Model