NEW! Communities of Practice

SOPHE’s Communities of Practice (CoP) promote continuing education, networking, information exchange and advocacy among SOPHE members interested in specific topics and/or work settings.  Members share a similar role or a passion about a health topic or area of practice and a desire to exchange ideas, resources, research, or solutions to common problems.  

In addition to networking roundtables at SOPHE Midyear and Annual Meetings, all CoPs maintain listservs throughout the year to encourage dialogue and exchange.

Affiliation with a CoP is a premier SOPHE member benefit.  SOPHE members are invited to select one primary CoP when they enroll or renew their memberships.  However, a member can identify as many secondary CoPs as they wish at no additional charge.  Members can update their profiles online at any time to be added or removed from a CoP.

Following are the CoPs available for enrollment:


Anthropology and Public Health
The Anthropology and Public Health CoP was formed as a way to expand the dialogue about anthropological or qualitative methods in solving public health problems.  These methods offer the context-specific approach, providing a voice to participants and highlighting the similarities/differences of situations and problems that are important in decision making. Anthropological or qualitative methods and their accompanying paradigm of thought, illuminate ways of solving problems that provide trustworthy ways of knowing. A goal of these methods is collaborative empowerment-based research, which emphasizes the culture and expertise of the community or individuals involved.   

Children, Adolescents and School Health Education
The purpose of the Children, Adolescents and School Health CoP is to improve collaboration, communication, and camaraderie among members who are involved in school health education administration, programming, services, and research.  Comprehensive school health programs include every aspect of school health from classroom education to environment to nutrition to teacher wellness.  By enhancing communications and knowledge concerning school health, this SOPHE CoP will build a foundation of support for comprehensive school health programs, which can assist children in developing a lifetime of health-promoting habits and skills.   

Emergency Preparedness
The purpose of the Emergency Preparedness CoP is to promote information exchange and networking among SOPHE members involved or specifically interested in public health emergency preparedness, risk communication, and response from the perspective of health education or the behavioral sciences. Members of the Emergency Preparedness CoP receive SOPHE’s periodic Emergency Preparedness News U Can Use e-newsletter, as well as periodic public health emergency alerts.

Environmental Health Promotion
The Environmental Health Promotion CoP was formed in 2007 to improve communication and collaboration among SOPHE members who are involved in environmental health education, programming, services, and research. Members of the EHP Community of Practice receive SOPHE’s periodic Environmental Health Promotion News U Can Use e-newsletter, as well as other updates and information regarding environmental health related alerts, news, events, and opportunities.

Healthy Aging
The Healthy Aging CoP was formed to encourage networking and exchange of information among health educators working in programs, services, and all practice settings who are responsible for the health promotion/health education of older Americans or aging populations This CoP is interested in issues related to promoting healthy aging throughout the lifespan, legislation, and other areas.

Health Communications/Social Marketing
Health communications and health literacy have become increasingly important to successful health promotion efforts. Social Marketing and its applications to informing, influencing, and motivating audiences has become increasingly important to successful health promotion. Members of the Health Communications/Social Marketing CoP include practitioners and researchers whose primary function is health communications and social marketing as well as those who are interested in learning more about this area of practice by understanding and applying the latest research and practice in communications.  

Health Disparities/Health Equities
The Health Disparities/Health Equities CoP was established to encourage networking and exchange of information among health educators working in programs, services, and all practice settings with a particular interest in health equity and the elimination of health disparities. This CoP is exploring ways to increase cultural competency of public health education and health care professionals, new resources and issues surrounding minority health, and eliminating barriers to health education and health care in underserved populations.

International and Cross-Cultural Health  
The purpose of the International and Cross-Cultural Health CoP is to foster the exchange of information and resources related to international health education and to improving understanding of various peoples and their cultures for effective health education.  The CoP has a link to international organizations as the International Union for Health Promotion and Education, World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, United Nations, as well as domestic agencies such as the DHHS Office of Minority Health.  In addition to discussions and sessions at the Midyear and Annual Meetings, the CoP encourages exchange and updates via e-mail and electronic communications.
 
Medical Care/Patient Education
The purpose of the Medical Care Health Education/Patient Education CoP is to promote information exchange and networking among SOPHE members involved in health education of patients and providers in medical care settings.  Among topics of interest include health literacy, managed care, behavioral management theories and strategies, patient empowerment, patient education administration, and many other areas.
 
Students/New Professionals  
The Student and New Professional CoP provides health education students and recent graduates the opportunity to network with each other, exchange ideas, provide support in job and continuing education searches, and facilitate involvement with SOPHE leadership and program planning.   

Tobacco Control and Prevention 
The Tobacco Control and Prevention COP has been established for SOPHE members to dialogue and share about effective methods, policies, and programs for preventing and controlling tobacco use.  Members are encouraged to share their expertise and resources for addressing areas such as tobacco use among youth, racial and ethnic disparities related to tobacco, successful methods for smoking cessation, and policy changes that impact access to tobacco products and exposure to second hand smoke.
 
University Faculty  
The purpose of the University Faculty CoP is to provide an opportunity for college and university faculty members to network and exchange ideas.  Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, professional preparation, career development, technology, program approval and accreditation, administration, technology, issues in higher education, and overall concerns of the profession.

Worksite Health Education
The Worksite Health Education CoP was formed to encourage networking and exchange of information among health educators working in business, industry and other settings who are responsible for the health promotion/health education of employees.  This CoP is interested in issues related to cost-effectiveness, managed care, corporate communications, and other areas.