Wellness and Health Promotions

The American Medical Association also recognizes Wellness and Health Promoters as a part of the Allied Health Professions.  Their positions go by many titles, depending on where they work, who they work for and what they do.  Common employers include federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations involved with the health, education, and physical activity. Common titles include community health advisor, family advocate, health educator, liaison, promoter, outreach worker, peer counselor, health interpreter, and health promoters. These professionals engage in health education, advocacy, policy development, and community development.

Wellness and Health promoters’ responsibilities can include the following:

• Helping individuals, families, groups and communities develop their capacity and access to resources including health insurance, food, housing, quality care and health information
• Facilitating communication and client empowerment in interactions with health care/social service systems
• Helping health care and social service systems become culturally relevant and responsive to their service population
• Helping people understand their health condition(s) and develop strategies to improve their health and well being
• Helping build understanding and social capital to support healthier behaviors and lifestyle choices among people
• Delivering health information using culturally appropriate terms and concepts linking people to health care/social service resources

The number of wellness and health promoters in the US is set to grow by 18% up to 2018, which is higher than the national average for all jobs.  This growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is due to the rising cost of healthcare which will see more health promoters educating people on healthier lifestyles to keep them from becoming sick and reducing the need for medical treatment.

Wellness and Health Promotion Concentration:  EXAMPLE

 

 

 

Freshman – Fall                                                       Freshman – Spring

Careers In Health Professions (2)                                 Physiology w Lab   (5)

Human Anatomy w Lab (5)                                          Math (M133) and (M134) (4)

Medical Terminology (2)                                              Humanities GE course (3)

English W131   (3)                                                       General Psychology (3)

Speech S-121    (3)                                                        _____________________

Total Credits   (15)                                                    Total Credits (15)

 

Sophomore – Fall                                                     Sophomore – Spring

Critical Thinking GE (3-5)                                          Cultural Diversity (3)

 English W132   (3)                                                     Micro w lab (3)

Lifetime Wellness & Fitness (3) W 120                 Women’s Health (3)  (W 310)

First Aid and Emergencies (3) W 165                                 Integrated and Comp Health (3) W 301  

Introduction to Community Health  (3) H 327                 Principles of Nutrition( 3)  N – 220                   

Total Credits (15)                                                       Total Credits (16)     

 

Junior – Fall                                                                         Junior – Spring

Diseases and Diverse Populations (3) H 434         Ethics / Civics (3)

Child and Adolescent Health  (3)                           Health Communications (3)  H 411           

Current Issues in Health W 210                             Major Electives (3)

Social and Behavioral Science (3)                                 Humanities Arts Electives (3) 

Health Science Elective (3)                                                 Life Span Learning and Development (3)

Total Credits (15)                                                     Total Credits   (15)

Senior – Fall                                                            Senior – Spring

 Major Elective (3)                                                      Major Electives (3 – 6)

Global Child and Adolescent Health  (3) H 415   (Advocacy)- Henderson H -419

Nutrition and Exercise (3)                                         Capstone H 499 (3)

Human Resources and Management (3)                         Strategic Planning in Health Care (SPEA) (3)

Global Nutrition (3) N 415                                       Environmental Health (3)

Total Credits   (15)                                                   Total Credits (15) 

Total 120 credit hours