Week of 2/19-2/23

Daily Descriptions 

• Monday 2/19

• Today, I continued to schedule people for the hearing screening and followed up with individuals who have not confirmed. I also finalized the April health education resource handout and quiz and sent it to Kendra for feedback. 

• Tuesday 2/20 

• Today, I worked on gathering information for a health education video on the benefits of spices as well as easy and tasty ways to incorporate them into one’s diet. I made a corresponding powerpoint lecture in case we need to use that as a background. We are going to record the video tomorrow to be shown at the Solid Waste safety meeting next week. I also made edits to the April education handout based on Kendra’s feedback, which took me around an hour. Then, I spent time researching information for May’s health education handout on the development of antibiotics and the impacts of antibiotic resistance. I gathered and compiled the information into understandable sections and will later develop a Canva handout to go along with it. 

• Wednesday 2/21

• Today, I attended a healthy hour session that was presented by Atlas Athens, which is an apartment complex in Athens that provides more affordable housing for students as well as individuals who may be overqualified for government assistance but are unable to afford properties in Athens. The concept is new to Athens, but is very much needed. Over the past couple years home prices and rent have skyrocketed in Athens, leaving many students and residents with nowhere to turn. I found it interesting that many of the employees who came were gathering information for other employees, which I found touching. Kendra and I stayed after the meeting, where I received feedback on the spices presentation and other assignments. From there, I made the corresponding updates to the presentation and other projects, which took over two hours. I also completed April’s health education quiz, which took roughly less than an hour. I also continued to register and schedule employees for the hearing screening Friday. 

• Thursday 2/22

• Today, I helped facilitate our bi-annual dental screening for ACCGov employees and retirees. Cigna Dental, ACCGov’s dental provider, contracts with Jet Dental. Jet Dental is an organization that provides “pop-up” dental services, including cleanings, whitenings, and fittings for retainers. I engaged with the dental hygienists and Cigna representative and helped check in and greet participants. I also began to work on creating the Canva for May’s health education resource on the development of antibiotics and ways to protect oneself against antibiotic resistance. 

• Friday 2/23 

• Today, I helped facilitate the Hearing Screening for ACCGov employees and retirees. We had a professor come from UGA to conduct the hearings and each participant indicated how valuable this hearing screening was for them. I was only there for a couple hours, but in light of recent events it was beneficial to hear how the county was responding throughout the day. 

Weekly Summary 

Overall, the week involved work on health education materials, facilitating screenings, and attending sessions relevant to community health and wellness. I continued scheduling individuals for the hearing screening, and was able to participate in the facilitation of the screening. I finalized April’s health education resource handout and quiz, and began working on May’s documents as well. I edited these documents based on feedback and updated them correspondingly. I prepared for a health education video on the benefits of spices and ways to incorporate them into diets. I attended a health hour session presented by Atlas Athens, which focused on affordable housing. At the dental screening, I engaged with dental hygienists and a Cigna representative, thus fostering collaborative relationships. Lastly, I helped facilitate the hearing screening hosted by a UGA professor, which received positive feedback from participants. 

Responsibilities and Competencies 

• 6.5.5- Deliver oral and written communication that aligns with professional standards of grammar, punctuation, and style.

• I met this competency by finalizing the information on the importance of proper sanitation on health for April’s health education handout and quiz. 

• 6.3.4- Employ media literacy skills (e.g., identifying credible sources and balancing multiple viewpoints).

• I met this competency by identifying credible sources to include in the health education handout. 

• 6.1.2- Identify the assets, needs, and characteristics of the audience(s) that affect communication and message design (e.g., literacy levels, language, culture, and cognitive and perceptual abilities).

• I met this competency by working on a spices presentation, which is intended for the Solid Waste Department, so I made sure to disseminate the information in a way that corresponds to their health literacy levels. 

• 6.2.1- Describe the intended outcome of the communication (e.g., raise awareness, advocacy, behavioral change, and risk communication).

• I met this competency by explaining the overall purpose of the spices presentation, to raise awareness of the benefits of spice and ways to incorporate them into one's diet. 

• 6.3.3- Tailor message(s) for the audience(s).

• I met this competency by creating a presentation that matches the needs of the population it is intended for. 

• 7.1.3- Involve partners and stakeholders throughout the health education and promotion process in meaningful and sustainable ways.

• I met this competency by engaging with dental hygienists, a Cigna representative, and other employees for Jet Dental to establish collaborative relationships with our partners. 

• 7.4.9- Manage current and future facilities and resources (e.g., space and equipment).

• I met this competency by ensuring that the Water Resources Facility, where the hearing screening was held, was intact and that resources were replenished. 

• 8.3.4- Build relationships with other professionals within and outside the profession.

• I met this competency by engaging with professionals at both the hearing and dental screenings.

• 6.5.3- Use facilitation skills with large and/or small groups. 

• I met this competency by helping ensure that the hearing screening runs smoothly. 

Reflection 

Reflecting on this past week, I have noticed (and hope) that my efforts have been impactful in the area of community health and wellness. I continued to prioritize the scheduling of individuals for important screenings, ensuring that vital health services were accessible to those in need. Direct involvement in the hearing screening demonstrated the importance of such initiatives for promoting well-being. Working on the health education handouts involved in depth editing and refinement based on valuable feedback, which ensured the effectiveness and relevance of the materials. A highlight of the week was the preparation for a health education video focusing on the benefits of spices and practical ways to incorporate them into daily diets. This initiative aimed to empower individuals with knowledge and strategies for enhancing their nutritional habits, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes within the community. Overall, the week was characterized by efforts to advance health education initiatives, facilitate screenings, and engage with key stakeholders in the pursuit of better health outcomes for ACCGov employees and retirees.