GSLL 1505 - Community-Based Health

Access to health care and other resources, such as nutritious foods, employment, clean water, safe housing, education, etc. are crucial to maintaining health and well-being. In an ideal world, everyone would have access to these essential means for survival; however, it is all too apparent that this is not the case for many communities and populations around the world. It is desirable, therefore, for those groups who are not supported by a formal health care system to seek alternative solutions for the resources they lack.

Using case studies and other readings, along with group discussion, this course will explore the global, social, political, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to poor health. It will also look at methods for empowering communities who lack access to health care to create practical solutions that are relevant to their unique situations. Participatory research will be one of the key strategies dealt with in this course due to its focus on promoting change at the grass roots level.

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

• Identify micro and macro level factors that affect health and well-being.
• Collaborate with communities to evaluate their needs in regard to health and cultivate ideas for appropriate actions to address those needs.
• Provide support for community-based solutions to health issues by establishing connections to information and resources.