Overview of the need
Poor health brought about by the lack of public health services is a major problem affecting many communities in the United States. Erie County in Buffalo, New York needs adequate, safe, and quality public health services to improve the status of health of the residents. Erie County is the largest in New York with a population of approximately 900,000 people. The availability of health care services to serve the entire population becomes a challenge because of limited resources, poor community awareness, health care disparities, and poor access to health care (Burstein, 2014). The high prevalence of measles and related illnesses cured through vaccines calls for the need to improve the quality of health and make public health available to everyone in the community.
Relevant theory/model for the program development
Models and theories play a significant role in influencing the outcome of a community-health development program. The most relevant model for guiding the program development is the Community Health Improvement Process (CHIP) model. The model takes the perspective of the whole community, views its health care needs in a broad view, establishes a community assessment tool capable of evaluating the program, and develop effective interventions. CHIP framework plays a critical role in building a health promotion program to meet various needs of the community. Figure 1 demonstrates the model and its elements. The CHIP model was selected on its ability to address the improvement of individuals and the community. As shown in figure 1, the model has two cycles, the problem identification cycle, and the analysis and implementation cycle (Kar, 1998).
Figure 1: The CHIP model for guiding the program development in addressing the need
Program goal and objectives
Goal
Objectives
Program participants
Primary and secondary stakeholders will participate in the implementation of the program.
Service providers: These include health care professionals and human service agency workers responsible for carrying out the immunization process. All service providers will undergo a one-month compulsory training on how to carry out immunization and create community awareness.
Service receivers: They include the population in the community receiving the vaccine. The program implementation team will create awareness to all community members through advertising on the media, social media, posters, and rallies to make the community aware of the program. The advertisement will give receivers guidelines on how to receive the vaccine.
Policymakers: These are government representatives and legislative responsible for developing policies and rules for the program. The program development team will brief policy makers on the program goals, objectives, timeline, and budget to help them develop appropriate policies to support the program.
Agency representatives: These comprise of the health care management responsible for overseeing the program runs appropriately and creates no risks to the community. Agency representatives will be advised on how to evaluate the program by relating expected outcomes with results on the ground. In the case of any problem, the agency representatives can intervene.
Needs regarding location and space
The program’s location is Erie County in Buffalo, New York State in U.S. A thorough survey of the location will be done to determine sections most prone to the health care need. The program will take place in the identified areas, especially areas experiencing high levels of health disparities. Erie County occupies a big space; hence, the program will take place in phases because of the limited resources.
Supplies and equipment
The program involves giving out vaccines for measles and other preventable diseases that promote poor health in Erie County. The Immunization Action Coalition (2015) proposes the list below for supplies and equipment needed in an immunization program.
Vaccines
Vaccine information statement
Emergency supplies (Emergency toolkits)
Storage equipment (refrigerators and handling instruments)
Disposal Equipment
Cleaning equipment (cotton wool, alcohol wipes, paper towels, and bleach solutions)
Immunization clinic documentation
Staff needed to run the program
Registered nurses from different health care organizations in the County will take part in the immunization program with the help of staff from human service agencies. The program will be on a voluntary basis, but all participants will be given daily allowances to cater for transport, Lunch, and phone airtime. Moreover, security officers (the police) will be needed to escort immunization officers. Officers will receive daily allowances on top of their monthly salaries as agreed upon by their respective officers. On the other hand, physicians will also take place in the program to supervise the overall process and give recommendations about areas that the program should be repeated based on reports from nurses and human service workers.
Legislation’s influence on the community program
United States legislators recommend programs aimed at improving the health of the community through various legislations. One of the policies with a lot of significance to the program is the State’s decision to increase complex vaccine schedules and recommendations. The policy demands a balance between protecting the public against challenges of health care through funding recommended vaccines and addressing the concerns of people objecting the vaccine because of cultural or other beliefs (National Congress of State Legislatures, 2015). The policy creates an impact on the success of the program because most communities in Erie County value traditional medicine more than the Western cures. Hence, the policy will guide program implementers into offering necessary care to the whole community irrespective of people’s beliefs.
Possible funding source
Most of the funding will come from the New York's Healthcare department with the help of County funds meant for health improvement.
Potential community partner
Human Services Agencies are the potential community partners to help support the program. Human Services Agencies play the role of helping people in the community in various ways especially in the sector of health. The help of these services includes providing staff to help nurses with the immunization program and helping create community awareness because they are more attached to communities that health care facilities.
References
Burstein, G. R. (2014). 2014-2017 Community health Assessment. Erie County, New York.
Retrieved March 18, 2016, from http://www2.erie.gov/health/sites/www2.erie.gov.health/files/uploads/pdfs/CHA.pdf
Kar, S. B. (1998). Substance abuse prevention: A multicultural perspective. Amityville, N.Y:
Baywood Publishing.
Immunization Action Coalition. (2015, September). Supplies You May Need at an Immunization
Clinic. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3046.pdf
National Congress of State Legislatures. (2015, December 01). Immunization policy issues
overview. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/immunizations-policy-issues-overview.aspx
