HLT 600 GC Week 8 Policy Brief Assignment

HLT 600 GC Week 8 Policy Brief Assignment

 

Policy Brief Assignment Latest

Details:

1) Generate a policy brief (750-1,000 words) which targets a contemporary issue in public health policy that has global implications (e.g., smoking, obesity, infant mortality, etc.).

2) Refer to the “HLT 600 Policy Brief Guide.”

3) While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

4) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Policy Brief Guide

Legislators seldom have the time to read through all the literature related to a specific health care policy question. To make well-informed decisions, they rely on short, tightly written briefs that quickly and cogently relay the important policy facts, questions, and arguments about an issue.

An effective policy brief will advance a persuasive argument in a concise, clearly organized fashion. A policy brief does not include a lengthy analysis or review of the literature.

Policy Brief Assignment Template

Introduction:

• Begin with a brief overview and state the health care problem.
• Include the history and social context of the public health condition.

Recommendations:

• Clearly state your recommendations for addressing the issue up front.

Background:

• Outline the history or background relevant to the global prevalence of the condition and health disparities related to the condition.
• Describe the population(s) most affected by the conditions.
• Describe the major agencies responsible for enforcement of public health related to this issue along with outlining their roles.

Analysis:

• Constructively criticize arguments, ideologies, and the quality of current actions being taken to address the condition.
• Use evidence from literature and other sources to support your perspectives and advance your recommendations.

Conclusion:

• Conclude with a persuasive argument and summary statement.
• Summarize the major points and provide recommendations for the implementation of specific policies to address the health care issue.

Adapted from the International Society for Technology in Education at

www.iste.org/Libraries/Templates_Starter…/Policy_Brief_Template.sflb.ashx

 

 

MORE INFO 

Contemporary issues in public health policy

Introduction

Public health is the science, practice and application of medicine in relation to the social, economic and environmental conditions of people. The World Health Organization defines public health as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organized efforts which are appropriate to the national needs and political problems of a country”. Public health has been defined as “the profession concerned with maintaining the health, well being and productive capacity in a community”. But that definition does not quite capture what public health means for many different people. For example, it can affect individuals in their day-to-day lives: for example when you have a cold or flu; or it can affect groups of people such as communities affected by poverty or social inequality; or even whole nations such as those affected by climate change or gun violence.

Gun violence is a public health issue

Gun violence is a public health issue. It’s an issue that affects people of all ages, races and backgrounds—and it’s a problem that we must address together as a nation.

Public health approaches can help us understand how to reduce the impact of gun violence in our society. The public health approach calls for an examination of factors that contribute to violence, such as access to guns or mental health issues (like depression), along with education and prevention strategies aimed at preventing future acts of violence or reducing their impact when they occur. This holistic approach allows you to see beyond just one cause or solution; instead you look at multiple aspects that influence your community’s overall well-being.*

In addition to funding research on gun control policies like background checks or firearm registration laws; investing resources into education campaigns aimed at reducing youth exposure through media advertisements; promoting gun safety training programs; implementing mentorship programs focused on improving communication between parents/guardians regarding unsafe behavior involving firearms within families’ homes–the CDC also recommends making sure there’s enough funding available for treatment options like medication management as well as mental health services when needed.*

Social and economic inequality is a public health issue

Social and economic inequality is a public health issue. Health outcomes are affected by the conditions in which people live, including poverty, housing quality and education. For example, income inequality can be linked to higher rates of obesity in lower-income neighborhoods compared to upper class areas with better access to healthy food options (1).

Social determinants of health include factors like education, employment status and income level that affect how well you’re able to take care of yourself or your family members (2). If you don’t have enough money for food or medicine then you may not be able to afford them when they’re needed most—which means that someone else might have their chance at life taken away from them due simply because their parents weren’t able pay for treatment early enough before things got worse than expected!

The good news? There’s plenty we can do about these issues today so everyone has access regardless of where they live.”

The opioid crisis is a public health issue

The opioid crisis is a public health issue. Prescription opioids are the gateway to heroin, and heroin is a leading cause of death in the United States. Opioids have negative effects on the brain that can lead to addiction, which makes it hard for someone who has been addicted for a long time to recover from their addiction.

How can you help someone who is addicted? There are many things you can do:

Climate change is a public health issue

Climate change is a public health issue. Climate change affects the health of humans, animals and plants. Climate change causes extreme weather events such as heat waves and storms that kill people or cause them to lose their homes or crops. Climate change also causes the spread of infectious diseases like malaria and dengue fever because they can spread more quickly in warmer temperatures than they do in cooler ones.

Contraception and sexual health are public health issues.

Contraception is a form of public health policy. It’s about preventing unintended pregnancies, reducing the number of abortions, and reducing STIs.

Contraception can be used for a variety of reasons: birth control pills, condoms or other forms of contraception (such as the IUD), emergency contraceptive pills (the morning-after pill) and sterilization are all examples.

Contraceptive options are available in many countries around the world—but they’re not always easy to access or affordable for everyone who needs them. For example, in America only 12% of women who want contraception do not have access to it due to cost concerns alone!

Pre-existing conditions for which there is no cure affect individuals with chronic illness

Pre-existing conditions for which there is no cure affect individuals with chronic illness. Some of these conditions can be invisible to the naked eye and may go unnoticed until they cause trouble, such as asthma or diabetes. In many cases, people who have a pre-existing condition have been denied health insurance coverage by their insurers because they were deemed “high risk” based on medical history alone; this means that even if you had perfect health before becoming sick, it would still be difficult to get coverage.

This situation becomes particularly problematic when an insured person develops a life-threatening illness or injury while covered under their policy due to preexisting conditions being taken into account during the application process (e.g., by excluding them from coverage). The Affordable Care Act has addressed this issue by requiring insurers offering individual plans through exchanges created under its provisions must provide“guaranteed issue” and “community rating” provisions covering all applicants regardless of age or gender identity

Public health policy affects the way we experience life in all its aspects.

Public health policy affects the way we experience life in all its aspects. The policies that govern our cities, states and nations can have a profound effect on how people live, work and play.

Public health policies affect our daily lives by improving public health or addressing disease epidemics like Ebola. For example:

• Tobacco control laws have reduced smoking rates by 50% since 1965; this has led to significant public health gains such as reduced heart disease risk factors (elevated blood pressure) and cancer incidence among smokers who quit smoking

Conclusion

As you can see, public health is a multi-faceted issue that affects us all. It has been proven time and again that the best way to prevent disease and improve health care outcomes for every individual is by addressing social inequities and inequitable access to healthcare resources. In order to do so, we need effective public policy that takes into account people’s needs and concerns while providing them with equal opportunities. We look forward to seeing how these issues play out in future research!