Landing a JOB

1. Landing a JOB It’s more than good luck!

2. Introduction • Too much morbidity & premature mortality in the U.S. • In 2009 (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010) • 63,320 health educators in U.S. • Average salary $49,060; $23.59/hour • Health education is offered in a variety of settings • Skills needed to work in all settings are the same

3. Possible Employment Settings • Schools • Clinics or Hospitals • Community / Public Health Agencies • Business / Industry • Self-Employment

4. School Health Education/Promotion • School health” involves all the strategies, activities, and services offered by, in or in association with schools that are designed to promote students’ physical, emotional, and social development” (ASHA, 2010) • Primarily involves instructing school-age children about health & health-related behaviors • Potential to impact students is tremendous • 56 million students • 132,000 schools • Can be very effective, but programs often compromised • Coordinated School Health Program – 8 components (Pearson Ed, 2012)

5. Rules of Good Health* - 1922 • Take a full bath more than once a week • Brush teeth at least once a day • Sleep long hours with windows open • Drink as much milk as possible, but no coffee or tea • Eat some vegetables or fruit everyday • Drink at least four glasses of water a day • Play part of every day outdoors • Have a bowel movement every morning *Regney (1922) (Pearson Ed, 2012)

6. School Health Education/Promotion • Preparation • Teacher preparation curriculum in college • Licensed by the state • Responsibilities • Teach (typically 7-12, sometimes K-6) • Lesson planning; grading; keeping a Web page with announcements, assignments, & grades or progress reports; parent meetings; disciplining; coaching; & administrative duties • Also, developing curricula, after-school activities, & committee work (i.e., Drug Task Force) • Advocate for school health; policy development • Advantages / Disadvantages (Pearson Ed, 2012)

7. Public/Community Health Education/Promotion • Community health education & public health education – same or different? • “The work of public health educators (PHEs) is to change policies and environments as well as attitudes and behavior that affect health, and to operate in close association with community groups” (ASPH, 2010) • Healthy People 2010 - Healthy People in Healthy Communities (Pearson Ed, 2012)

8. Community/Public Health Education/Promotion • Types of agencies • Voluntary health agencies (e.g., ACS, AHA, ALA) • Public health agencies (or official governmental agencies) (e.g., LHDs, state health department, federal agencies) • Could include many different responsibilities • Planning, implementing & evaluating programs • Administrative functions– e.g., fund raising; budgeting, recruiting & coordinating volunteers, grant proposal writing • Coalition building • Committee work & public speaking • Media relations • Advocacy • Advantages / Disadvantages (Pearson Ed, 2012)

9. Worksite Health Education/Promotion • worksite health promotion - “a combination of educational, organizational and environmental activities designed to improve the health & safety of employees & their families” (Joint Commission, 2001, p. 103) • Can help with health care costs • Programs vary greatly from site to site; often include exercise • Programs at 80% of worksites (>50 employees); almost all large employers (>750 employees) (Pearson Ed, 2012)

10. Worksite Health Education/Promotion • May need two degrees; one a generalist like in health education/promotion & a second in specialty area like exercise physiology, nutrition, nursing or athletic training • May need certifications - e.g., CHES, MCHES, ACSM, CPR, smoking cessation • Responsibilities • Many & varied • Conducting classes - e.g., fitness, nutrition • Conducting screenings & personal training sessions • Administrative functions; maintaining records & equipment, writing newsletters, health fairs • Marketing the programs • Advantages / Disadvantages (Pearson Ed, 2012)

11. Health Education/Promotion in Health Care Settings • Variety of settings – e.g., hospitals, medical clinics, home health agencies, HMOs, PPOs • Types of jobs • Employee health & wellness • Patient education • HMOs have been most receptive to hiring • Third party reimbursement an issue • Optimistic about future employment opportunities (Pearson Ed, 2012)

12. Health Education/Promotion in Health Care Settings • Involved in numerous & varied activities • Activities differ from setting to setting • Responsibilities • Planning, implementing, & evaluating programs & activities • Education: 1-on-1 or group patient education services • Administration – e.g., grant proposal writing, public relations, employee wellness activities, marketing • Coordination & collaboration of/for activities • Advantages / Disadvantages (Pearson Ed, 2012)

13. Health Education/Promotion in Colleges/Universities • Academic, or faculty, position • Responsibilities: teaching, community & professional service, scholarly research; depends on the institution • Emphasis on the responsibilities vary based on the type of institution • Typically need a doctoral degree & experience; maybe CHES/MCHES or CHES/MCHES eligible • Health education specialist in university health service or wellness center • Plan, implement & evaluate programs for students • Resource library, peer education programs • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree; CHES/MCHES helpful (Pearson Ed, 2012)

14. International Opportunities • Much need, especially in developing countries • Special dedication; challenging; personal satisfaction • Cultural differences; may need a 2nd language; topics for programs may be very different than you have learned about in the United States • Peace Corps an excellent opportunity • CDC is expanding its work around the world (Pearson Ed, 2012)

15. Nontraditional Health Education/Promotion Positions • Sales related to health & fitness • Health insurance • Pharmaceutical • Fitness, health, & medical equipment • Health-related books & materials • Communication areas • Publishing • Media; TV, newspapers • Health-related Web sites • Unique opportunities (i.e., teaching in justice/mental health center) (Pearson Ed, 2012)

16. Landing that first JOB • Creating a resume that reflects professional competence • Type all application materials and proof read all materials multiple times

17. Landing that first JOB • Experience…experience…experience! • Previous employment • Internships/Practicums • Service Learning • Volunteering

18. Landing that first JOB • Review job openings on a regular basis • Network…network…network

19. Landing that first JOB • Develop a Portfolio! • Work samples (varied) • Certifications / Licensure • Professional Memberships

20. Landing that first JOB • Honest Assessment of Skills • Communication Skills • Written • Verbal • Second language • Collaboration • Technology Skills • Leadership Skills • Organization Skills • Assessment, Planning, Implementing, Evaluating

21. Landing that first JOB • Current and specific references • Developing relationships necessary for people to provide recommendations beyond the standard

22. Interviewing • Do your homework • Having a vision for your future • Being able to communicate your strengths and identify areas in which you will continue to grow • Demonstrating good listening skills • Providing answers to the questions asked

23. What you want to know about your employer • Support for continuing education or professional development • Benefits package • Work environment/climate • Strengths/future goals of the agency or organization… • Review process/advancement