HEALTH PROMOTION – RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND CERTIFICATIONS
Anastasia Snelling and Michelle Kalicki
This chapter introduces a number of different associations and organizations that broadly support health promotion.
Most commonly, nonprofit health-related associations or organizations target the general public or a subset of the general public to advocate for a specific health condition or topic through fund-raising, sponsoring research, lob- bying to advance legislation, and raising awareness about a health condition. Professional health associations spe- cifically target professionals who work directly in thefield of health promotion, public health, and health education.
Professionals in the field may become members of these associations, which offer continuing education through local, regional, and national conferences, newsletters, journals, and e-mail lists. Some associations or organiza- tions focus exclusively on the publication of scholarly journals, providing critical information and research to health promotion practitioners and policy makers in the field. In addition, other organizations offer health-related certifications in the areas of exercise science, health coaching, nutrition education, or to become wellness specialists. These organizations may be national or inter- national in scope. This chapter explores how these orga- nizations and associations contribute to thefield of health promotion.
One of the most frequently asked questions by any prospective health promotion student is,“Where do health
promotion professionals work?” The truth is, health promotion is more visible than most people think. As described in chapter 10, health promotion activities are taking place in many different settings. Health promotion is an immensely prevalent field, focusing on many different behaviors and occurring in almost all communities across the country. Promoting healthy lifestyles is afield that has a long, interesting, and encouraging history. Many active organizations and associations have been contributing in different ways to the health of our nation for many decades. These entities respond to our ever-changing health culture and play a critical role in moving our nation toward a healthier society.
Nonprofit Health Associations
There are hundreds of nonprofit health organizations and associations aimed at promoting different aspects of health. Many are well known because of the popular events they regularly hold or the marketing they do to promote a specific health concern. Organizations such as the Ameri- can Heart Association and the American Cancer Society are good examples of organizations that receive significant public attention because of their important role of raising money through various charitable events and funding critical medical research. As of this writing, heart disease and cancer are the top two leading causes of death in the United States, respectively.
Fortunately, many, though not all, of the risk factors associated with the development of these diseases are preventable or their prevalence can be reduced through living healthy lifestyles. The American Heart Association and American Cancer Society address these issues in terms that are more readily understood by the majority of Americans. These associations oper- ate local chapters that serve communities around the nation. They are active, well-managed organizations that operate and support numerous programs and efforts to achieve their missions.
American Heart Association (AHA)
The mission of the American Heart Association (AHA) is to“build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.”Recognizing the need for a national organization to share researchfindings and promote further study, six cardiologists representing several smaller groups founded the American Heart Association in 1924. To broaden its scope, the AHA reorganized in 1948 and brought in nonmedical volunteers with skills in business man- agement, communication, public education, community organization, and fund-raising.
nonprofit health organizations associations that target the general public or a subset of the general public to advocate for a specific health condition or topic through fund- raising, sponsoring research, lobbying to advance legislation, and raising awareness about a health condition
The AHA focuses on addressing the many conditions that fall under the
“heart disease” umbrella through numerous campaigns and continuous education. One AHA goal is to provide credible heart disease and stroke information for effective prevention and treatment. The National Wear Red Day initiative, started in 2002, is an official campaign to raise awareness and inform women about the risk factors of heart disease. The Start! campaign promotes walking and being active to support heart health. Life’s Simple 7 Check—a program designed to help Americans get and stay healthy—
promotes the use of a simple tool that quickly assesses a person’s current health status and provides suggestions as to how to improve his or her score.
The Simple 7 behaviors comprise getting active, controlling cholesterol, managing blood pressure, eating better, losing weight, reducing blood sugar, and quitting smoking. All of these behaviors are described in this textbook and are related not only to heart disease but also to other chronic diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
These are just a few examples of American Heart Association activi- ties. Volunteers are paramount to the AHA’s success, but there are also a variety of career positions available, from fund-raising to health services to marketing.
Other Nonpro fi t Health Organizations
There are many other nonprofit organizations that address a variety of chronic diseases at the national, state, and local levels. Organizations such as the AHA and the others listed in table 11.1 are valuable institu- tions in the realm of health promotion; they act as advocates for the public at large. These organizations strive to bridge that critical knowledge gap between the professional health community and the general public.
Professional Health Associations
Although the specific mission of each professional health association varies, they all share the common goal of advocating and educating professionals by holding national conferences, regional and local meet- ings, and educational summits; publishing journals or periodicals; hosting webinars and facilitating discussions; and taking positions on public policy to promote health. For an extensive list of professional associations, see table 11.2.
This section identifies important professional health associations by aspects of health behaviors associated with chronic disease, such as nutri- tion, physical activity, and health education. At this time, thefield of health
professional health association an association that specifically targets and represents professionals who work directly in the field of health promotion, public health, and health education
PROFESSIONALHEALTHASSOCIATIONS 301
promotion does not have an association specific for thefield; however, many organizations integrate the field of health promotion into their specific content area.
Nutrition
The overall imbalance of nutrition in the country correlates with our nation’s rising chronic health problems. Food desert issues, the rise in type 2 diabetes, and the obesity epidemic are all aspects that can, at least in part, be attributed to nutrition. As discussed in chapter 5, trends in our nation’s diet have changed dramatically since the 1950s. The role of nutrition-related associations is to organize and clearly disseminate timely information that is constantly being discovered and published regarding the role of nutrition in health.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Table 11.1 Nonprofit Health Associations
Association Website
American Heart Association www.heart.org
...
American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org
...
American Lung Association www.lung.org
...
National Osteoporosis Foundation www.nof.org
...
Susan G. Komen Foundation www.komen.org
...
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
...
Mental Health America www.nmha.org
...
American Health Care Association www.ahcancal.org
...
American Association of Retired Persons www.aarp.org
...
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.lls.org
...
The American Institute of Stress www.stress.org
...
American Institute for Cancer Research www.aicr.org
...
Stroke Foundation www.stroke.org
Table 11.2 Select Health Professional Associations
Agency Website
Nutrition
...
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics www.eatright.org
...
American College of Nutrition www.americancollegeofnutrition.org
...
Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior www.sneb.org
...
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition www.gainhealth.org
...
National Association of Nutrition Professionals www.nanp.org
...
School Nutrition Association www.schoolnutrition.org
...
American Society for Nutrition www.americannutritionassociation.org
...
Physical Activity
...
SHAPE America www.shapeamerica.org
...
American College of Sports Medicine www.acsm.org
...
National Association for Health and Fitness www.physicalfitness.org
...
National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity www.ncppa.orge-newsletters
...
National Health and Exercise Science Association www.nhesa.org
...
Health, Education, and Wellness
...
Wellness Council of America www.welcoa.org
...
International Association for Worksite Health Promotion www.iawhp.org
...
American Public Health Association www.apha.org
...
Institute of Health and Productivity Management www.ihpm.org
...
American College Health Association www.acha.org
...
American School Health Association www.ashaweb.org
...
National Wellness Institute www.nationalwellness.org
...
Society for Public Health Education www.sophe.org
...
International Union for Health Promotion and Education www.iuhpe.org
...
Partnership for Prevention www.prevent.org
...
American Health Care Association www.ahcancal.org
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2014). was founded in 1917 with a goal to improve the nation’s health by empowering its members to become the leading figures in thefield. The academy’s primary activities in support of their mission are as follows:
• Providing reliable and evidence-based nutrition information for the public
• Accrediting undergraduate and graduate programs
• Credentialing dietetic professionals
• Advocating for public policy
• Publishing a peer-reviewed periodical
In order to become a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, individuals must comply with very specific guidelines. This strict process ensures that only the most qualified individuals are awarded membership and become actively contributing members. The academy and its members work to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information about food and nutrition, disease management and prevention, food safety, and related topics to the general public.
American College of Nutrition (ACN)
Another prominent association in the world of nutrition education is the American College of Nutrition (ACN). The ACN works to“stimulate nutri- tion research and publication, elevate nutrition knowledge among research- ers and clinicians, and provide practical guidance on clinical nutrition” (American College of Nutrition, 2014). The ACN provides a platform for professionals to come together and exchange knowledge, views, experiences in thefield, and researchfindings to broaden their scope of understanding.
A unique feature of the ACN is that they recognize the importance of nutrition education and research to the medical community. The ACN accepts no funding from for-profit corporations in an effort to provide the most accurate information without compromise.
Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB)
The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) is an interna- tional organization of nutrition professionals who work in a variety of different settings, including schools, government agencies, volunteer orga- nizations, and the food industry. Founded in 1968, SNEB works toward bridging research findings and practitioner work in the field to promote nutrition behavior change. This is significant because changing behavior is also part of the underlying principle of health promotion. SNEB publishes
theJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior as a way to disseminate scientific researchfindings to interested parties worldwide.
Physical Activity
Nearly two-thirds of people in the United States are either overweight or obese due to poor nutrition and a lack of exercise. As technology and innovation have expanded, lives have become increasingly sedentary as discussed in chapter 6. Organizations focused on promoting physical activity and encouraging active lifestyles among adults and children have become more prevalent. The role of these organizations is to educate people on the importance of regular physical activity and to encourage everyone to lead active lifestyles. By offering continuing professional development and fostering the work of health promoters in the field, these associations are playing a huge role in the ongoing efforts to reverse the current health trends in the country.
SHAPE America
One of the most recognized and far-reaching associations in this area is the Society of Health and Physical Educators or SHAPE America, formerly known as the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD). SHAPE America understands the importance of addressing health and physical activity from many different points, working
“to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance, and sport”(SHAPE Amer- ica, 2014). The association hosts annual conventions, publishes a number of different journals, tenders accreditations, and offers a variety of educational opportunities.
SHAPE America was founded in 1885 as the Association for the Advancement of Physical Education (AAPE). At the time of its inception, AAPE consisted of forty-nine members, all physical educators. After going through multiple restructurings and name changes, SHAPE America is now twenty thousand members strong of professionals involved in a multitude of areas related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle including physical education, physical activity, dance, sport, and more.
Historically, the organization’s main roles have been to provide numer- ous professional development opportunities, maintain a strong advocacy presence, disseminate research in physical activity and health through its research council, and work to advance national standards and guidelines in the areas of health and physical education. However, as the landscape of health and physical activity continues to change so does SHAPE America.
professional development the combination of experiences, memberships, and connections one makes to advance his or her career
advocacy a technique used by many health
organizations to influence policy making decisions PROFESSIONALHEALTHASSOCIATIONS 305
On reorganizing in 2014, SHAPE America has added early childhood education to its repertoire. SHAPE America strives to maintain its leader- ship position in the area of physical activity and will continue to provide the latest tools for its members and their beneficiaries.
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Another prominent physical activity organization is the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). According to their mission, ACSM“advances and integrates scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine”(American College of Sports Medicine, 2014). ACSM members are professionals and students working and studying in scientific and clinical settings, academia, and the health andfitness industry. ACSM is considered the gold standard by many in the industry because their guidelines and positions on relevant policy issues are widely used and cited by professionals around the world, in addition to the quality of their certifications. ACSM initiatives focus on a range of issues, from antidoping in sports to childhood obesity. Although ACSM primarily focuses on sports medicine and exercise science, improv- ing quality of life for all is a goal ACSM shares with all of the associations discussed in this chapter. ACSM holds conferences and summits, supports regional chapters, and has created interest groups to initiate discussion forums on topics such as aging, minority health research, and work site health promotion, among many others. These interest groups are essen- tially subcommittees of ACSM that have a particular focus area and meet annually at the ACSM conference. ACSM is also widely recognized for its professional certifications, discussed later in this chapter.
SHAPE AMERICA’S AREAS OF FOCUS
• Physical education
• Physical activity
• Health education
• Research
• Early childhood education
• Sport coaching
• Dance
Health, Wellness, and Education
The large number of professional health associations underscores the dynamic and all-encompassingfield of health promotion. The organizations described in this section address broader health, wellness, and education efforts in a variety of settings.
American Public Health Association (APHA)
An emerging aspect of health promotion is its relationship with public health. Although thefields have distinct characteristics and goals, they do intersect and it is important to recognize this fact. Historically, public health officials’emphasis was on the prevention of infectious disease and for access to health care, as discussed in chapter 1. However, since the 1990s, this focus has expanded to include chronic conditions; currently, there is more overlap between health promotion and public health. With the growing obesity epidemic and its associated health complications, it is essential for all health professionals to collaborate to formulate solutions. The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest public health association in the United States; APHA members have a rich history of striving to achieve the vision of“a healthy global society”(http://apha.org). Founded in 1872 with a goal to advance science to reveal the causes of communicable diseases, the APHA laid the foundation for the public health profession and for the infrastructure to support its work. From its inception, the APHA has been dedicated to improving the health of all US residents.
The APHA is composed of a diverse group of health professionals that includes educators, environmentalists, and policy makers whose aims are not only to prevent serious health threats but also to advocate for families and communities to receive proper health care, find adequate funding for health services, and eliminate health disparities. The association holds an annual meeting and exposition to provide its members the opportunity to connect face-to-face and enhance their knowledge of all aspects of public health. APHA achieves its goals with the help of stateaffiliates.
As discussed in chapter 10 two major settings for health promotion are education settings and work sites. Programs in these settings focus on all aspects of health and wellness to encourage and facilitate lifestyle and behavior changes in students and staff and work site employees. Work in these settings is often associated with public health activities.
Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)
For more than sixty years, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has served a diverse membership of health education professionals and
affiliates state- or local-level subgroups of a national organization PROFESSIONALHEALTHASSOCIATIONS 307
students in the United States and other countries. The organization pro- motes healthy behaviors, healthy communities, and healthy environments through its membership, its network of local chapters, and its numerous partnerships with other organizations. Members work in a number of settings such as elementary and secondary schools, universities, voluntary organizations, health care settings, work sites, and local, state, and federal government agencies.
Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA)
The Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) is a leading association for work site health promotion in the United States. In the 1980s, WELCOA’s founders were among thefirst to make the connection between health and well-being and its impact within the workplace. WELCOA bases its mission on the belief that a healthy workforce is essential to America’s growth and that by investing in employee health and well-being our nation will be more productive and health care costs will be better controlled. Healthy employ- ees benefit a company or organization; WELCOA’s 3,200 members work to promote healthy work sites and work site health promotion programs.
WELCOA is a dominant source of information for work site wellness programs in the United States.
American College Health Association (ACHA)
The American College Health Association (ACHA) may be of particular importance to health promotion students enrolled in this course. The mission of the ACHA is to provide advocacy, education, communications, products, and services, as well as promote research and culturally competent practices to enhance its members’ ability to advance the health of all students and the campus community (American College Health Associa- tion, 2014). Members include two- and four-year institutions, individual health professionals and students, and corporations and nonprofits dedi- cated to college health.
American School Health Association (ASHA)
The American School Health Association (ASHA) and its members have never been more vital. ASHA’s goals are to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between health and academic professionals, advocate for coordinated school health programs, offer professional development oppor- tunities for its more than two thousand members around the world, support and disseminate research initiatives, and provide crucial resources to