Sally Guttmacher

Community-Based Health Interventions covers the skills necessary to change health in a community setting through the reduction of disease, disease conditions, and risks to health, as well as create a supportive environment for the maintenance of the behavior changes. The first section provides background information about why interventions in communities are important, the history of several major community interventions, ethical issues in the design and implementation of interventions and the different types of interventions. The second section covers planning and activities needed to complete an intervention, along with the theoretical basis of interventions. The third section shows how to assess the needs and strengths of a particular community, gain community support, define the goals of an intervention and get started. This section also contains information on obtaining material and financial support and on strategies for continuing the intervention beyond its initial phase. The final section examines current work and problems encountered as well as projecting future trends. Each chapter includes practice exercises or activities useful to students learning to develop interventions at the population or community level, such as public health, social work and nursing.

Community-Based Health Organizations presents the basic principles and practical design and management elements that are needed to create an effective community-based health organization. Once in place, these institutions provide a viable health delivery alternative to traditional, mainstream health care organizations. This important resource includes a historical and theoretical overview of the development of community-based health care organizations and offers guidance for developing the structure and capacity of CBHOs to effectively meet the health needs within their communities. Filled with illustrative examples and case studies, Community-Based Health Organizations is designed to be a practical resource. The authors show how to develop leadership and strategic plans, strengthen management, leverage and maximize resources, evaluate programs, and position a CBHO in a changing and competitive health care environment.