Assignment:

From the Responsibilities and Competencies for a Health Education Specialist, Responsibility VII states: Communicate, Promote, and Advocate for Health, Health Education/Promotion, and the Profession.

Competency 7.2 states: Engage in advocacy for health and health education/promotion.
Sub-Competency 7.2.1- Identify current and emerging issues requiring advocacy (NCHEC, 2017).

Discuss why Sub-Competency 7.2.1 is important in communicating and advocating for health and health education. If needed provide examples to clarify your viewpoints Expectations:

Recap: Your assignment should consist of: A one-page letter to the editor and one page on tips/advantages for writing a letter to the editor.

Length: 2 pages, 3 cited sources from required reading. Required Reading:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2011). Gateway to health communication & social marketing. Risk communication. Retrieved on August 1, 2016 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/risks/index.html

Melanson, M. A., Geckle, L. S., & Davidson, B. A. (2012). Risky business: Challenges and successes in military radiation risk communication. U. S. Army Medical Department Journal, July-September, 82-87. (Use “Academic Search Complete” search engine in the Library Portal)

National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). (2017). Areas of responsibility for health education specialist 2015. Retrieved from https://www.nchec.org/assets/2251/hespa_competencies.pdf

Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council. (2016). Advocacy toolbox. Retrieved from https://orc.okstate.edu/content/advocacy-toolbox

Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council. (2016). Writing Op-Eds and letters to the editor. Retrieved from https://orc.okstate.edu/content/writing-op-eds-and-letters-editor

Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). (2017). Health education specialist. Retrieved from http://www.sophe.org/careers/health-education-profession