Hunter College

School of Health Sciences

Program in Community Health Education

 

COMHE 737.01

Field Work I

 

Professor:                   Lynn Roberts, PhD

Class Time:                 N/A

Class Room:               N/A

Office:                         1015 West Building

Phone:                         481-5110 (faculty office)

481-5111 (COMHE office)

Office Hours:              Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:00 PM, 8:00 - 9:00 PM and by appointment

e-mail:                         lroberts@hunter.cuny.edu

 

The Internship Process

 

1.                  All matriculated COMHE students entering the Urban Public Health program as of September 1998 must complete 6 credit hours of supervised internship, consisting of 420 hours of field work.

 

2.                  Students may register for Field Work I (COMHE 737.01) during the fall, spring or summer semesters, however, the Capstone seminar (COMHE 737.01 or Field Work II) is only offered during the Spring or Fall semesters.

 

3.                  Students planning to register for the internship should schedule a meeting with the Internship Coordinator for their track at least one semester prior to beginning their internship.  Students should not register for the internship without prior approval of an internship by their Track Coordinator.

 

4.                  Upon meeting with the Internship Coordinator, students will be asked to submit the following:

a.       A current resume

b.      A completed Internship Assessment Form (attached) – designed to evaluate the student’s academic and professional skills and experiences; identify the general competency areas the student wishes to address through the Internship; and identify appropriate placement settings.

c.       A proposed timetable for completing the internship

 

5.                  The content and scope of an Internship should be similar to work performed by an entry level public health professional.

 

6.                  Typical Internship job duties may include (but are not limited to):

a.       COMHE

1.      Developing and implementing a community health education or nutrition curriculum for a specific population.

2.      Designing, implementing and evaluating a community health intervention or nutrition program in a health care or community-based setting.

3.      Conducting research (e.g. designing and implementing studies, gathering, analyzing and interpreting data) in COMHE.

4.      Conducting policy analysis or advocacy related to a public health issue.

5.      Contributing to the development of funding of a community health or nutrition agency or program.

 

7.                  The Internship Coordinator is responsible for assisting students in selecting and for approving field placements.  Approval of a proposed field placement will be based on students having successfully completed the following:

 

a.       Submission of a UPH Internship Field Work Data Form (attached) that includes contact information for the student and the preceptor.

 

b.      Submission of a mutually agreed upon Contract on the letterhead of the internship site, signed by the preceptor and which includes the following information:

1.      learning objectives the student seeks to accomplish.  Select at least 2-3 UPH competencies and 2-3 track-specific competencies (see list attached). 

2.      a brief description of work activities to be performed by the student

3.      a brief description of any special project to be completed

4.      the total number of hours the student will contribute

5.      the expected start and completion dates

c.       Meeting with an Internship Coordinator to review the proposed plan.

 

8.                  The student will prepare and submit a Professional Portfolio.  See guidelines for organizing the portfolio below.  The portfolio should be submitted at the end of the internship.

 

9.                  The preceptor will hold an evaluation meeting with student and submit the Field Placement Supervisor Evaluation Form to the Internship Coordinator no later than the end of the semester or whenever the student completes agreed upon hours of field work.

 

10.              Student must submit all of the documents listed above in order to receive a “P”, passing grade for Field Work I.

 


UPH Internship Assessment Form

 

1.                   Last Name:____________________   First Name:______________________________

 

2.                   SSN:__ __ __ - __ __ - __ __ __ __

 

3.                   Home Address:_________________________________       Apt. #:__________________

 

City:_____________________           State:_______________          Zip:______________

 

4.                   Employer: (Company name):________________________________________________

 

Work Address:________________________________          Floor/suite:______________

 

City:____________________ State:_______________          Zip:______________

 

Job title:__________________            How long at present position?___ months ___ years

 

How long with your present employer?___         months ___ years

 

5.                   Daytime telephone #:(__ __ __)- __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ Hours:_____________________

 

Evening telephone #:(__ __ __)- __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ Hours:_____________________

 

Mobile telephone #:(__ __ __)- __ __ __ - __ __ __ __

 

6.                   Most frequently checked e-mail address:______________________________________________

 

7.                   What program are you currently enrolled in? (circle one)

a.                   MPH

b.                   MS

c.                   Not sure

 

8.                   Which track are you enrolled in?

a.                   COMHE

b.                   EOHS

c.                   NUTR 

 

9.                   When are you planning to complete your graduate degree?__ __/__ __

 

10.              During which Academic Semester are you planning to start and complete your Internship?

(Indicate semester and year)

Start date:                                                         Anticipated date of completion:

Fall__ __ __ __                                                Fall__ __ __ __

Spring __ __ __ __                                          Spring __ __ __ __

Summer __ __ __ __                                        Summer __ __ __ __

Not sure                                                           Not sure

 

11.              Describe what steps, if any, have you taken toward setting up an Internship? (e.g., contacted someone within the organization where you’d like to work; haven’t contacted anyone yet but know whom to contact, not sure who to contact, etc.)

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

12.               Have you already selected a site for your internship?

a.                   Yes

b.                   No (Got to Question #14)

 

13.               Please complete the following information about your internship site and skip to Question #15

Name of organization:_____________________________________________________

Street address:___________________________________________________________

City:_____________________________       State:____ ____                       Zip:____ ____ ____ ____ ____

Name of preceptor: ________________________      Preceptor’s job title:________________________

Preceptors telephone:______________________ Preceptor’s e-mail address:_________________________

 

14.               What ideas do you have regarding the (type of) organization you’d like to be involved with for your internship?

 

a.                   Consulting firm

b.                   Health care institution

c.                   Government agency

d.                   School

e.                   Private employer

f.                    Labor union

g.                   Community based organization

h.                   Other:_____________________

i.                     Not sure

 

15.              What ideas do you have regarding the specific organizations and types of project activities you would like to be involved in for your Internship?

Organization                              Activities/Project(s)

__________________________        ________________________________________________

 

__________________________        ________________________________________________

 

16.               Professional experience (paid and unpaid) in the field of public health: (Attach current resume)

 

Position Employer                      Job Duties                                                              Dates         

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

Attach current resume!


Assessment form (cont’d.)

 

Please indicate2-3 UPH competencies and 2-3 track specific competencies which you would like to enhance through the Internship.  If you do not see a particular competency on the list, feel free to add it

 

 

UPH Competencies

Enhance thru Internship

Describe various populations in terms of characteristics that deter or facilitate health improvement.

 

Describe the impact of religious belief, language and culture on health and disease.

 

Describe how health and health needs change through the life cycle.

 

Describe the health status and needs of specific urban populations, such as the homeless, recent immigrants and those living in extreme poverty.

 

Analyze the impact of class, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual preference on the health status and needs of urban populations.

 

Identify and analyze appropriate data sources for understanding the health of communities and populations.

 

Use vital statistics to describe population health.

 

Use epidemiologic methods to describe the occurrence of health problems in populations and identify determinants of specified health problems. 

 

Use basic computerized statistical software to undertake quantitative analyses that explains relationships among variables of interest.

 

Understand and critically analyze published reports on urban health issues.

 

Conduct literature reviews and Internet searches on selected health issues.

 

Use the Internet and other forms of electronic communication to gather information on urban public health issues.

 

Identify and evaluate hazards that endanger the health of populations, select priorities for action and choose appropriate control measures.

 

Evaluate the implementation and outcomes of public health interventions.

 

Identify organizations that play a role in health promotion and disease prevention.

 

Recognize factors that influence organizations' ability to support public health.

 

Recognize ways that public health programs are managed within multipurpose organizations.

 

Describe the roles of city, state, and federal government in promoting health and preventing disease.

 

Describe the roles of various systems in promoting health and preventing disease.

 

Describe the history of public health and urban development in the United States and explain their impact on the health of urban populations.

 

Identify roles for public health professions to influence institutional and public policies that affect the well-being of populations.

 

Advocate for policies and programs that will promote health and prevent disease within communities.

 

Assist community residents and organizations to try to change systems that impede health.

 

Present health information clearly and effectively in written and oral formats.

 

Lead groups effectively to achieve health goals.

 

Respond to clients’/publics’ concerns about public health issues and describe approaches to dealing with the issue

 

Develop, deliver and evaluate training on public health issues.

 

Interact productively with professional and lay personnel within an organization or community.

 

Understand the steps involved in planning, carrying out and evaluating public health projects, studies, assessments and programs.

 

Plan and oversee budgets and prepare grant for public health programs and organizations

 

Identify and access the relevant regulatory and other agencies that can play a role in public health risk assessment and control.

 

Critically evaluate public health programs.

 

Other:

 

 

Other:

 

 

 


 



Community Health Education Competencies

Enhance thru Internship

Identify theories from psychology, sociology and health education that apply to behavior change and maintenance.

 

Identify models for health program planning.

 

Develop theory driven health education programs.

 

Write goals and measurable objectives consistent with needs assessment outcomes. 

 

Plan and write proposals for program funding.

 

Select goals and objectives for public health programs.

 

Develop objectives consistent with available financial resources and personnel competency.

 

Develop objectives that focus on the cognitive, affective and skills learning domains.

 

Plan budgets for public health programs.

 

Plan and implement interventions to promote health and prevent disease within multiethnic populations.

 

Use group dynamic strategies for problem-solving.

 

Design interventions based on ethical principles. 

 

Design and manage the application of group processes for change.

 

Develop strategies to support organizations to play a stronger role in health promotion and disease prevention.

 

Involve communities in the design of appropriate intervention strategies.

 

Develop and train peer education and train-the-trainer strategies.

 

Develop and/ or incorporate culturally sensitive and age appropriate health education materials. 

 

Prepare written reports for individuals, community members and leaders, health care providers and the media.

 

Develop, produce and evaluate media campaigns to create health consciousness.

 

Incorporate process, impact and outcome evaluation into program development.

 

 


FIELD WORK DATA FORM

(Once site is approved, submit to Internship Coordinator w/ contract)

 

REGISTRATION DATA

                   check course # (√)          circle semester                enter year

EOHS         760    (    )  770.61 (   )   Fall/Spring/Summer         Year_____

COMHE      737.01 (   )   737.02 (   )   Fall/Spring/Summer         Year_____

NUTR         737.01 (   )   737.01 (   )   Fall/Spring/Summer         Year_____

 

PERSONAL DATA

 

Student Name: ____________________________        SS#: ____________________

 

Address: __________________________________________________________

               Street                                            City                                 Zip code

Phone (home): __________________________ e-mail: _____________________

 

Phone (work): __________________________

 

How many credits have you completed towards your degree? _________________

 

FIELD PLACEMENT DATA

 

Beginning date: ____/____/_____      Total hours to be completed: ____________

 

Expected completion date: _____/____/____ Expected weekly hours:___________

 

Site Supervisor Name: ________________________________________________