Nancy H. Wagner
Today’s Communities
◦ Individuals are more educated, mobile, and more independent ◦ But communities are more dependent on state and federal funding for support ◦ In need of better long-term planning and community organizing due to large size of today’s communities
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Today’s communities’ ability to respond to their own problems is hindered by:
◦ Resources developed at the national level ◦ Continued concentration of wealth and population in the largest metropolitan areas. Ex. NYC, Chicago, LA ◦ Rapid movement of information, resources, and people ◦ Globalization of health ◦ Limited horizontal relationships among organizations ◦ Top-down funding for many community programs
Funded primarily by tax dollars Managed by government officials Authority for some geographic area Found at several levels
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International, e.g., WHO National, e.g., DHHS State, e.g., Ohio Department of Health Local, e.g., Portage County Health Department
History
◦ United Nations charter in 1945 established need ◦ Began April 7, 1948—World Health Day
Organization
◦ Membership open to countries that ratify constitution ◦ Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has 6 regional offices ◦ World Health Assembly; comprised of 193 delegates ◦ Administered by director-general and 9 assistant directors-general
Purpose Work
◦ Attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health ◦ 22 core functions related to health promotion and disease prevention (maternal–child, elderly, mental health) ◦ Most work carried out in poor countries
gender inequality, lack of education, lack of access to clean water, and environmental degradation
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Target 2015 – reducing poverty and hunger, tackling ill health, Progress
All countries have a primary department or agency responsible for the health of the citizens Department of Health & Human Services
◦ Principal agency for protecting the health...