Philosophies of Health Education
suggest an alternative philosophy of health education and promotion that might help your colleagues in defining their philosophy statement and explain why. Then, suggest one additional idea, concept, or perspective related to health education that your colleagues should consider in revising their philosophy statement. Please reflect to this colleaque: As a health educator, I will communicate with individuals of the community on how to make healthy decisions by helping them focus on themselves and their health routines. I will not force or persuade an individual to change their views or beliefs, but provide them with documents and evidence- based data that will help them make decisions based on their needs and their way of life to create a plan to live and function as a healthier individual. The freeing or functioning philosophy is the philosophy that best fits my health education and promotion statement. This statement focuses on helping to free people to make the best health decision possible based on their needs and interest- not necessarily the interest of society. (Cottrell et al., 2018). The goal of my philosophy statement is to address individual values, attitudes, and beliefs, and to address individual and group norms that support health-enhanced behaviors. (CDC, 2019). The best way to deliver and to inform individuals is to provide instructional strategies and learning experiences that motivate individuals to critically examine personal perspectives and to thoughtfully consider new arguments that support health-promoting attitudes and values, and generate positive perceptions about protective behaviors and negative perceptions about risk behaviors. (CDC, 2019). I would also provide instructional strategies and learning experiences to help individuals accurately assess the level of risk-taking behaviors among their peers, correct misperceptions of peer and social norms, emphasize the value of good health, and reinforce health-enhancing attitudes and beliefs. (CDC, 2019). As a health educator, continued education with updated information on health issues, will benefit the way I would teach families in the community. Due to so many aspects of health changing, constant health education will be the key in preparing individuals to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.