Overall reflection of area 2:
Program planning is an area of responsibility I am excited about as an Health Educator. I care about understanding the vision, mission, goals and objectives of a program and take great consideration to execute the plan effectively for the priority population. I enjoy innovative pedagogical methods and believe the coursework throughout my MPH program, including my capstone project as well as the project I reflect on below, helped fine tune my skill set for planning comprehensive health education programs.
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Artifact: Escaping the Cycle Workshop
Artifact Description
This reflection is for a workshop that I both created and implemented as a part of my graduate studies in the MPH program at Eastern Michigan University. The assignment was designed to gain experience in developing a repeatable program, along with supporting resources, that can be implemented by any qualified professional to the target audience. The artifact attached is the program document. The program was developed for people in addiction recovery of any kind, any age, any race or ethnicity, and any background, that has at least high school level education. The “Escaping the Cycle'' program can be implemented at community centers, dedicated group recovery spaces, or yoga studios, and was designed to take 60 minuets to complete. The participants of the program receive a packet containing information and activities to be reviewed and completed within the hour long workshop. The activity topics include: Belief systems, Rationalizations, Personal Addiction Cycles, Triggers, Sensory Check Tools, Personal Addiction Cycle Review, Decision making, and Positive Decision Table. Each of these topics include an introduction to the topic, an activity on the topic, as well as a movement break to facilitate moving emotions through the physical body. The participants are provided a survey upon completion to evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop.
Health Education Competencies
In developing this program, I was responsible for defining desirable program outcomes based on both primary and tertiary prevention (2.2.1), goals: “skills to interrupt the addiction cycle,”(2.2.4) and objectives: “to understand thought patterns, recognize addiction cycles, identify triggers and learn tools to manage them, acknowledge successes, and learn how to make healthier decisions in the future” (2.2.5), which were measured via a 6 question (5 point Likert scale) survey at the end of the workshop. I developed this program using Educational and Health communication strategies (2.3.3) including printed material and self help material that impact knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and beliefs.
After establishing program goals and objectives, I decided on the most appropriate methods and environment to deliver the program (2.3.6). Delivery methods include activities related to behavior modification, education, and communication. The most appropriate setting for this program was identified as individual and small groups (2-10) and facilitated in a private space with enough room for individuals to move, like a community center or yoga studio.
I have also demonstrated strength in 2.4 (Develop a Plan for the Delivery of Health Education/Promotion). Specifically, sub competency 2.4.3 (Organizes health education/promotion in a logical sequence) which required thoughtful planning of the sequence of events, being aware of the progression of skill sets and building self-efficacy for participants. This required organizing information in a logical sequence and understanding learning principles such as using all senses, actively involving the participants in discussion and movement, providing an appropriate learning environment, using repetition, starting with something familiar before introducing new information, and conducting the program at an appropriate pace (2.4.3). I developed a timeline for delivery by considering the length of time I had to conduct the workshop and resources that were necessary for success (2.4.4), and selected the best method for reaching the participants through group and community channels (2.4.6).
Summary
Understanding the nature of addiction and the harsh cycle that people go through on the road of recovery makes this workshop relevant and necessary. I have learned that there is not just one thing that makes people quit their addiction, but a mélange of multiple tools at their disposal that can help them recover. In this workshop I utilized many different tools to educate and promote self awareness, and healthy decision making. As a yoga instructor I was also able to use teaching skills and techniques to facilitate participants to physically move, which was a different and welcome approach.