HPEB

553 Community Health Problems

Fall 2021

University of South Carolina
Arnold School of Public Health
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior

 
Meetings: Asynchronous-online via Blackboard

Instructor: Katherine Leith, Ph.D. , LMSW

Office: Discovery I, Room 510; phone 777-6013
E‐mail: leith@sc.edu
Office Hours: By appointment

Teaching Assistant:
E‐mail:

Textbook: McKenzie, J.F., Pinger, R.R., & Seabert, D.M. (2021). An Introduction to
Community & Public Health (10th Edition). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett
Publishers.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Course Description: Identification and analysis of major community health problems, their causes, the roles
of individuals, community agencies, and government in affecting their solutions. Emphasis upon personal
involvement, and the responsibility for community health.

Course Objectives: By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Understand and describe the concepts of community health based on historical and current
perspectives
2. Explain the impact of health disparities on communities
3. Understand epidemiology of diseases as it relates to community health.
4. Describe the process of community organization and coalition development.
5. Identify theories and models utilized in the delivery of health services to individuals and
communities
6. Review environmental health strategies applied to the prevention of communicable disease
transmission.
7. Examine local, state and national health problems.
8. Describe current and future environmental health issues related to public health.
9. Review and apply community organization and prevention strategies to current and future
health problems.
10. Identify and access various community, state, and national resources/organizations.
11. Develop skills related to accessing and collecting health-related information.
12. Identify skills necessary for collaborating with government agencies and community
organizations in order to address health problems.

Instructional Procedures:
This course will be taught in an asynchronous format; that is, materials will be posted online through
Blackboard and accessible to students throughout the semester. Virtual office hours will be offered
through a Blackboard chat room so that students and the instructor can engage in direct discussion.

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Fall 2021 (August 2021 – December 2021) Last Edit: 07/24/2021 
 Generally, weeks begin on Monday and end on Sunday. Most written assignments are due on
Saturdays, while discussion forum initial posts are due on Fridays and responses to initial posts are
due on Sundays. You can expect any recordings specific to a week and added to the already posted
weekly content to be available to you by Tuesdays at 6pm.


Other Information:
 
• No late assignments will be accepted unless proof of your own incapacitating illness, official
representation of the University, death of an immediate relative, or other circumstances beyond your
control can be provided.
 
• All written assignments will be graded on both content and technical presentation (i.e.
grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.). All written assignments should be saved as Word
documents, and posted in the appropriate “Assignments” folder in Blackboard, using the specified
file‐naming format.
 
• Academic Integrity: You are expected to practice the standards of academic integrity required by the
University’s Honor Code. Violations of the University's Honor Code include, but are not limited to,
improper citation of sources, using another student’s work, and other forms of academic
misrepresentation. Failure to adhere to these standards will result in disciplinary measures, including
referring you to the Office of Academic Integrity. You should be familiar with USC’s policies on
Academic Integrity as well as HPEB’s course policies concerning issues related to academic dishonesty.
Any student caught violating any of these regulations will be subject to penalties associated with such
acts.
 
• Participation: If for some reason, you are unable to participate in the class for one or more of the weeks
in the semester, the instructor should be informed in advance. Missing two weeks or more of the course
will result in a letter grade reduction (per each week’s absence at two or beyond) from the student’s
final grade (e.g., a student with an “A” in the class based on all assignments who has missed two weeks
will receive a “B” in the class).
 
• Accommodating Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a
documented disability. If you have a disability and may need accommodations to fully participate in this
class, contact the Office of Student Disability Services: 777-6142, TDD 777-6744, email
sasds@mailbox.sc.edu, or stop by LeConte College Room 112A. All accommodations must be approved
through the Office of Student Disability Services.
 
• While the provisions of this syllabus are as accurate and complete as possible, the instructor reserves
the right to change any provision. Information about such changes will be communicated by the
instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to know what changes, if any, have been made to this
syllabus and to successful complete the requirements of this course.

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Course Requirements and Evaluation:
 
I. Community Health Analysis – Plan due NO LATER THAN 11:59pm on the date indicated in the
calendar below; Final report due NO LATER THAN on the date indicated in the calendar below
 
Students will work in groups (will be assigned by instructor) to complete an in-depth analysis of a current
community health problem, including an overview of different community-based organizations (CBOs) that
address the selected health problem.
 
• A one-page CHA planning document describing the group’s topic and individual group members’
responsibilities and contributions to the project is due by the due date indicated in the course
calendar.
• The final project analysis should be approximately 5-7 pages in length, typed, double-spaced (12-
point font), and using Microsoft Word document format. Please refer to course calendar for due
date of the CHA report.
• One designated group member should submit the CHA planning document and final report in the
Assignments section of Blackboard. File-naming should be in the format of “CHA Plan Group
Number” and “CHA Report_Group Number”.
 

Guidelines – use the following headings in your final project paper:

 
1. Introduction
Begin with a concise description of the specific issue you are addressing in this paper. Describe how
you conducted your literature review, as Gallant did on page 173 (“Method”) of her article.
 
2. Overview of the Health Problem/Issue
a. Epidemiological Diagnosis - Provide a complete overview of morbidity, mortality, fertility,
and/or other data relevant to your specific health problem. Identify and describe
population(s) most affected, based on sex, age, race/ethnicity, geographic region, SES, and
other relevant demographic variables. Which population(s) would you target in a
community-based health promotion/education program? Why?
b. Behavioral & Environmental Diagnosis – Identify all of the behavioral, non-behavioral, and
environmental factors that contribute to the health problem and explain how each factor
contributes to the health problem. Select two or three factors, considered to be the most
important in contributing to the health problem and the most amenable to voluntary
change, that you would target in a community-based health promotion/education program.
 
  3. Community Based Organizations
Identify one national and one state or local community-based organization that address the health
problem selected. Provide a brief overview of the mission, type of organization, contact
information, and programs and services provided by each of these organizations. Attach the home
page or other relevant information about each of these organizations in your appendices.
   

4. References
Include a reference list using standard APA format (minimum 5 references).
You should rely primarily on articles from peer-reviewed journals. (You may not cite the textbook
or notes.) You will need to use the USC Libguide web resources. See:
http://guides.library.sc.edu/content.php?pid=7162

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  5. Appendices
  Links to home pages, fact sheets, etc. of community-based organizations.

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  Course Requirements and Evaluation (continued):


II. Reaction papers – Due No LATER THAN 11:59pm on the dates indicated in the calendar below

Three short (1-2 pages, single-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins) reaction papers are required.
Reaction papers will provide you with an opportunity to express personal opinions and perspectives about
current health-related issues as reported from three different sources. Reaction papers will not be shared
with other students; so, honesty and clarity of thought are expected. Reaction papers should be written in
the first person and informally. Below are the criteria for each reaction paper:
 
A. SOURCE: Select a recent (within the last month) health-related article from a newspaper, magazine,
web source. Cite the reference appropriately, using APA-style formatting. Use a reliable (i.e., not
sensational) source – if you’re unsure about a source’s reliability, you may want to refer to the
“evaluating resources” information available at USC’s Thomas Cooper Library:
Evaluating Web Resources
Library Resources for HPEB Students
 
B. SUMMARY: In a few sentences, briefly summarize the main points, ideas, events, etc.
reported/presented in the source as it pertains to community health.
 
C. PERSONAL REACTION: Discuss your personal reaction to the newspaper article/news
report/presentation. Give your ideas on the topic. Why did you select this
article/report/presentation? What is its personal relevance for you? Is it newsworthy? Should the
public be informed? Is this an important community health issue? Why or why not?
 
D. COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: State the community health implications of the issue. What
will happen if this issue or problem is not addressed? Is it currently being addressed? What, if any,
future course of action was suggested? What can/should be done to improve the condition?
 
III. Participation and Discussion
 
You are expected to participate in class discussions, as this enhances not only your learning experience but
others’ experiences as well. Your grade is derived from the quality, as well as the consistency, of your
participation and discussion. (Neither lengthy tomes nor curt affirmations/negations will suffice.)
 
You are expected to use proper behavior in communicating online:
• Treat others with respect. Do not personally attack others for holding different opinions. No belittling
comments or profanity allowed.
• Do not use all CAPITAL LETTERS or red font in emails or discussion board postings. This is interpreted as
“shouting”, impolite behavior.
• Begin emails with the proper salutation (e.g., Hi, Dr. Leith…). Starting an email with no salutation, or “Hey” is
not appropriate.
• When sending an email, use a detailed subject line. Reference the course: HPEB J553. And, sign the email with
your name.
• In postings, use proper grammar, spelling, and capitalization. Text messaging language is not acceptable
(LOL).
• Think, review, and edit messages and posts before you click “Send” or “Submit”. Electronic messages live
forever.
 
It is expected that you will review class materials and postings each week. You should post your answers to
discussion questions early enough (i.e., prior to midnight on Fridays) so that you can then respond to the
postings of other members prior to midnight Sunday of that week.

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  Course Requirements and Evaluation (continued):


IV. Quizzes – Weeks 5, 9, and 14
There will be three quizzes covering material from assigned readings and materials. Quizzes may include
multiple choice, fill-in, matching, and short answer questions. Quizzes will be posted on Blackboard in the
appropriate Module’s Weekly section and will be made available for a three-day period. Quizzes are open-
book, open-notes, and can be completed in more than one sitting. They are always due on the Saturday of
the week in which they are assigned, at 11:59pm in Bb.
 
 
 
VII. Bibliographic Review (Graduate Credit Only)
This assignment is only for students taking the course for graduate credit (Section J50), and requires that you
develop a detailed spreadsheet/s bibliographic review of 10‐20 articles concerning a community health topic
that may be the same or different from the Community Health Analysis (CHA) assignment. If you use the same
health topic, this review should have a different conceptual or content focus. (For example, if the CHA topic
was assisted living for older adults, the Bibliographic Review could focus on interventions to promote living in
place.)
 
 
 
Grading Scale:
 
90-100 = A; 86-89 = B+; 80-85 = B; 76-79 = C+; 70-75 = C; 66-69 = D+; 60-65 = D; Below 60 = F
 
Undergraduate students
Assignment (all assignments graded on a 0‐100 scale) Percentage of Total Grade
Community Health Analysis (CHA) 30%
 Planning Document  5%
 Peer evaluation  5%
 Final paper  20%
Reaction Papers (3) 20%
Participation and Discussions/other assignments as listed 20%
Quizzes (3) 30%
  Total: 100%
 
Graduate students
Assignment (all assignments graded on a 0‐100 scale) Percentage of Total Grade
Community Health Analysis (CHA) 25%
Bibliographic Review – Graduate credit only 5%
Reaction Papers (3) 20%
Participation and Discussion 20%
Quizzes (3) 30%
  Total: 100%

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Course Calendar

   

Week Assignment/Activities
     

Module Dates
Topic Textbook and materials
 

Pre
8/19-22 

  Introductions Syllabus Ch. 1 Initial Discussion Board – postings due

1 History and Foundations by midnight Friday, 8/27; responses to
8/23-29 other members’ postings by midnight
Sunday, 8/29, in Bb.
 

Organizations Shaping Community Health Ch. 2 Discussion Board – postings due by

 

2 midnight Friday, 9/3; responses to other

members’ postings by midnight Sunday,
8/30-9/5
9/5, in Bb.
 

  Epidemiology – Concepts and Prevention Disease Ch. 3 - 4 Discussion Board – postings due by
3 Prevention and Control midnight Friday, 9/10; responses to
 
 

9/6-12 other members’ postings by midnight

Sunday, 9/12, in Bb.
 

Community Organizing Ch. 5 Discussion Board – postings due by

One

midnight Friday, 9/17; responses to

 
other members’ postings by midnight
4 Sunday, 9/19, in Bb.
9/13-19
Reaction Paper 1 due NO LATER
THAN Saturday Sep. 18, 11:59pm in
Bb

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School Health Programs Ch. 6 Discussion Board – postings due by

midnight Friday, 9/24; responses to
 
other members’ postings by midnight
5 Sunday, 9/26, in Bb.
9/20-26
Quiz 1 due NO LATER THAN
Saturday, Sep. 25, 11:59pm in Bb
 

  Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Ch. 7 Discussion Board – postings due by
6 midnight Friday, 10/1; responses to
9/27-10/3 other members’ postings by midnight
Sunday, 10/3, in Bb.
Two

Adolescence Through Early Adulthood Ch. 8 Discussion Board – no discussion

 

7 forum post due; Reaction Paper 2 No

10/4-10 LATER THAN Saturday, Oct. 9 at
11:59pm in Bb
 

Aging Ch. 9 Discussion Board – postings due by

midnight Friday,10/15; responses to
 
other members’ postings by midnight
8 Sunday, 10/17, in Bb.
10/11-17  
CHA Plan NO LATER THAN
Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11:59pm in
Bb.
 

Racial and Ethnic Aspects of Community Ch. 10 Discussion Board – postings due by
Health midnight Friday, 10/22; responses to
  other members’ postings by midnight
9 Sunday, 10/24, in Bb.
10/18-24
Quiz 2 due NO LATER THAN
Three

Saturday, Oct. 23, 11:59pm in Bb

 

   

10 Community Mental Health Ch. 11 Assignment – posting due by

10/25-31 midnight Friday, 10/29 in Bb.

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Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Ch. 12 Discussion Board – postings due by
midnight Friday, 11/6; responses to
 
other members’ postings by midnight
11 Sunday, 11/8, in Bb.
11/1-7  
  Reaction Paper 3 due NO LATER
Three 

THAN Saturday, Nov. 6, 11:59pm in

Bb

Health Care Delivery Ch. 13 Assignment – posting due by

12 midnight Friday, 11/12
11/8-14

Environmental Aspects of Community Ch. 14 CHA Final Report due prior to

Health 11:59pm Saturday, Nov. 20, in Bb
 
Graduate Students assignment due
13 prior to 11:59pm on Nov. 20, in Bb 
11/14-21  
Discussion Board – postings due by
midnight Friday, 11/19; responses to
other members’ postings by midnight
Sunday, 11/21, in Bb.
Four

Thanksgiving Break 
 
 

 
 
Injuries and Workplace Safety Ch. 15 - 16 
Quiz 3 due NO LATER THAN
Conclusions 
Saturday, Dec. 4, 11:59pm in Bb
 

14
11/29-12/3 
 

   
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HPEB 553: Community Health Problems
Fall 2021 (Last Edit: 07/26/2021)