Each week of this course, you will be reviewing and reflecting upon the national competencies for health education specialists. There are seven areas of responsibility that you will review in depth each week through your reflective journal entry.

Visit the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) website and download a copy of the Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists.

This document is considered "The Bible" for health educators as it shows the competencies that are firmly established as the national standards for the field. All total, there are 258 sub-competencies organized into 36 competencies within seven major areas of responsibility.

For Week Four, you will focus on Area 7: Communicate, Promote, and Advocate for Health, Health Education/Promotion, and the Profession.

Area 7 contains four competencies and many sub-competencies, which are listed in the PDF document (from 7.1 to 7.4.11). In your journal this week, review this area in its entirety, and address the following:

Imagine that you are the Senior Health Education Specialist for your community. Describe a pressing health issue in your community (e.g., high smoking rates, high substance abuse, low compliance with the seatbelt laws, significant adult onset diabetes, etc.).

Using your skills (as listed in this competency area), how would you tackle this health issue?

In your response, you must apply at least three of the competencies/sub-competencies noted in Area 7 and be specific in how you plan to apply those competencies. Please note that simply stating you would "use No. 7.2.9" is not enough.

Explain how and why you would use that sub-competency.

HPR232: Community Health Promotion Methods Ashford University Bensley, R. J., & Brookins-Fisher, J. (2009). Community health education methods: A practical guide (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.