Health Education's Place at the Table in Health Reform: The Role of Professional Organizations

Despite years of evidence documenting the contributions of health education in primary, secondary and tertiary care, health educators have had an uphill battle in terms of competing for employment opportunities in many healthcare and public health settings. Establishing credentialing systems, including accreditation of professional preparation programs in health education and certification of health education specialists, have been primary quality assurance approaches for helping to distinguish health educators from other occupations. Yet employer surveys continue to show little awareness of the valuable knowledge, skills, and training that health educators can contribute to improving the public's health. Given the changing landscape of financing and delivery of primary care in the U.S., what role should health education professional organizations now play in these discussions to ensure that health education perspectives are at the table? This presentation will consider the role of APHA's Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section, the Society for Public Health Education, the Coalition of National Health Education Organizations, and other groups in establishing short- and long-term strategic directions for this movement and in the following areas: strengthening professional preparation and workforce development; developing professional standards; setting research agendas; advocating for related policies and resolutions; forging new partnerships; and educating employers, other professionals and the public.