Education & Community

Community Outreach Background & Planning

Community health focuses on the maintenance, protection, and improvement of the health status of population groups and communities. Community health tends to focus on a defined geographical community. In the U.S., community health is rooted within primary healthcare that aims to reduce risk factors and increase health promotion and prevention.*

The WHO defines community health as: Environmental, social, and economic resources to sustain emotional and physical well being among people in ways that advance their aspirations and satisfy their needs in their unique environment.**

Community outreach programs are an attempt by the organizing body to generate awareness and improve oral health. Community outreach allows the ability to track disease outbreaks and prevent progression. It helps to identify why some communities are more likely to suffer from poor health than others and aims to improve and protect the overall health of the community.

Community based research (CBR) takes place in community settings and involves community members in the design and implementation of research projects and demonstrates respect for the contributions of success that are made by community partners. CBR can lead to evidenced based solutions to problems and ideally translates evidence into programs and policies that benefit the community.

Community-based Prevention & Health Promotion Interventions. Research to develop and evaluate interventions delivered in community settings to improve the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations. Topics of interest can include access to care, tobacco cessation, e-cigarettes/ vaping, health literacy, obesity, closing disparity gaps, school sealant programs, water fluoridation, school-based health centers, silver diamine fluoride, reducing untreated decay.

Program Planning Process