Alberta Project APPLE Schools: A Health Promotion Program - Essay Sample

Introduction

Cancer is caused by genetic changes that cause cells to grow uncontrollably, leading to tumors. It is the second principal cause of death worldwide, an estimate of around 9.6 million people have died due to cancer in 2018 (Creswell, 2009). The objective of this is to discuss how to implement the health promotion program that is the Alberta project Active Living and Healthy Eating (APPLE Schools), community involvement and the resources needed to implement the health promotion program.

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Implementation of the Intervention Program

APPLE school's implementation helps in creating an environment in which healthy living is the easy choice and aims to improve students' health behavior, which may go a long way to prevent the occurrence of cancer (Creswell, 2009). The implementation of this program is run by building support through an explanation of the expectations of the project and making support available at many different levels to generate ownership; this includes the provision of organizational support inclusive of opportunities for professional development. The next plan will see the definition of roles and participation of the teachers as role models for students and disseminate information to parents and children (Creswell, 2009). Leadership plays a fundamental role in implementation. The administration and the principal should offer support towards the program which is essential for change to occur. The other step would be embedding social and personal responsibility as part of school culture both within and outside school. The last step would be to engage the stakeholders in ensuring extensive support and cohesion among all stakeholders that is parents, teachers, staff and administration.

Community Involvement

Community plays a role in creating awareness of behavioral factors that increase the chances of cancer. Community involvement motivates and engages many partners and allies at local and international levels, intending to create cancer awareness and demand for development through dialogue. It will be done by issuing messages, T-shirts, posters, television advertisements, radio spots, leaflets and town criers. Some of the activities that will be undertaken include informing the community on cancer, consulting to build understanding and awareness, community involvement to ensure concerns are considered and understood, cooperating with the community by coming up with partnerships to offer recommendations and create options for any cancer-related concern and finally empowering the community in matters of decision making to manage and implement change.

Resources Needed To Implement the Health Program

A process evaluation would be carried out by creating a list of indicators, and the results would be used to measure the weaknesses and strengths of the program. An impact assessment will also be carried out to determine changes brought about by the program. Lastly, an outcome evaluation to check if the program was successful (Tan-Torres, 2003). Some of the challenges that are likely to occur are access to transportation, safety especially in remote areas, cultural barriers that are having culturally appropriate materials, referring patients to medical providers and lastly getting partnerships would be a great challenge.

Conclusion

Following cancer being a leading cause of death worldwide, the Alberta project Active Living and Healthy Eating (APPLE Schools) is the recommended program to create cancer awareness within and outside schools. The implementation of this program occurs through building support, defining roles, embedding the program in the school culture, support from leadership and engaging the stakeholders. Community involvement is also key to creating awareness. This will be done through T-shirts, leaflets, tv adverts among others. Various activities will be undertaken in community involvement which includes informing, consulting, involving. Collaborating and empowering the community. The methods used to evaluate the program include impact assessment, outcome evaluation and process evaluation.

References

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (3rd Ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Tan-Torres et al. (2003). WHO guide to cost-effectiveness analysis. World Health Organization, Geneva.