2.9. Accessing public health resources and services (Civics)
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Identify and locate key public health resources and services in their community.
- Understand the purpose and scope of services provided by public health agencies.
- Apply knowledge of public health resources to guide patients in accessing appropriate services.
- Reflect on the importance of public health resources in their future role as a CMA.
Part 1: Warm-Up
Answer the following questions and share your thoughts during the class discussion:
- What public health resources or services are you aware of in your community?
- How do you think these resources could be helpful for your future patients?
- Write down one or two resources mentioned by your classmates that you didn’t know about:
Resource 1:
Resource 2:
Part 2: Public Health Resource
Scavenger Hunt
Work in small groups. Use your smartphone, computer, or provided materials to find the following public health resources:
- Local health department website
- Community health organization
- Online database for public health information
- Hotlines or helplines for health-related inquiries
For each resource, write down the following information:
Name of the resource, Contact information (phone number, website, address, etc.), and Brief description of the services provided
Example:
Name of Resource: [Local Health Department]
Contact Information: [Phone: (555) 123-4567, Website: www.localhealth.gov]
Description: Provides immunizations, health screenings, and educational workshops for the community.
Your Group’s Findings:
| Name of Resource | Contact Information | Description of Services |
|---|---|---|
Be prepared to present your findings to the class.
Part 3: Public Health Services Research
Work with a partner and research one of the following public health services (your instructor will assign you a topic):
- Immunization programs
- Health screenings (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer)
- Educational resources (e.g., nutrition, disease prevention)
- Community outreach and support programs
Answer the following questions during your research:
- What is the purpose of this service?
- Who is the target population?
- How can patients access this service?
Create a visual representation (e.g., a poster, infographic, or chart) that includes:
- The name and purpose of the service.
- A brief explanation of how it benefits patients.
- Steps patients can take to access the service.
- Present your visual representation to the class.
Drag-and-Drop: Match Public Health Services to Their Descriptions
Part 4: Role-Play: Guiding a Patient
Scenario: A patient comes to you, the CMA, and says:
“I need to get a flu shot, but I don’t have health insurance and don’t know where to go.”
Work in pairs. One student will act as the CMA, and the other will act as the patient.
The CMA should:
- Ask questions to understand the patient’s needs.
- Use the knowledge from the scavenger hunt and research to guide the patient to the appropriate public health resource (e.g., local health department).
- Explain how the patient can access the service.
Switch roles so that each student gets a chance to be the CMA and the patient.
After role-playing, answer the reflection questions below:
- How did it feel to guide the patient?
- What challenges did you face during the role-play?
Part 5: Wrap-Up and Reflection
Class Discussion Questions:
- What public health resources or services did you find most useful or interesting?
- How can accessing these resources and services benefit your future patients?
- What steps will you take to continue exploring and utilizing public health resources in your CMA practice?
Key takeaways: Public health resources.
Use the following words to complete the exercise below:
internet health preventive family
disease quality mental health immunization
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
