|
Purpose
 Public
health programs will play an increasingly important role in
providing current and future public health researchers, leaders,
and professionals with academic and practical preparation as
well
as continuing education required for multicultural environments.
The purpose
of this module is to provide a rationale, frameworks, key content,
and strategies related to multicultural health that
can be incorporated into MCH training programs.
| The
module is designed to: |
- Assist
an array of interdisciplinary programs to prepare faculty,
students, and practitioners for researching and practicing
public health in multicultural environments
- Delineate
the essential role of cultural and linguistic competency
in meeting the needs and preferences of multicultural
populations and in reducing racial and ethnic health
disparities
|
Defining Public
Health
The mission
of public health is to "fulfill society's
interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy."1
Public health carries out its mission through organized, interdisciplinary
efforts that address the physical, mental, and environmental
health concerns of communities and populations at risk for
disease and
injury. Its mission is achieved through the application of
health promotion and disease prevention technologies and interventions
designed to improve and enhance the quality of life.
Health
promotion
and disease prevention technologies encompass a broad array
of functions and expertise, including the three core public
health
functions:
- Assessing
and monitoring the health of communities and populations
at risk to identify health problems and priorities;
- Ensuring
that all populations have access to appropriate and cost-effective
care, including health promotion and disease prevention
services, and evaluation of the effectiveness of that care; and
- Formulating
public policies, in collaboration with community and government
leaders, designed to solve identified local
and national health problems and priorities.
This definition
is particularly relevant for improving the
health of multicultural populations as it addresses the
key factors
that influence their health. In addition, for purposes
of this module,
public health is inclusive of health care financing and
delivery organizations, health coverage, and health and mental
health
care programs as they also contribute to the health and
well-being of
multicultural populations.
In many cases,
those organizations provide some public health functions. Public
health and
MCH professionals are leaders and work in these areas in the
public, private, and
faith-based sectors and in a variety of settings such
as governmental, community based, and university related.
References
The
Future of Public Health, Institute of Medicine (IOM), 1988
|
