This week, you learned about the “public” in public health, citizen participation in the practice of public health, the three core functions of public health, and the organization of public health and its essential services. For this project, create a 6-page paper that addresses the following: What would it mean if public health practitioners thought of the public in a democratic sense rather than just a demographic one? Some have started by working with citizens to name issues in public terms; others have begun by encouraging deliberative decision-making in forums. In this approach, consider how you would establish a democratic opportunity for the community. Where would you hold the discussions? Who should be “at the table?” What method might you use to facilitate the discussions so that all voices are heard? Select a community health issue and describe how you would go about this civic discourse to examine the issue and bring to the community possible solutions to address that issue.
