Health relates to the general condition of the body or mind in terms of vitality and function. Health directly impacts on an individual’s quality of life. The choices each of us make every day have a direct and significant impact on health. The current leading causes of death in the United States and throughout the world reflect these choices. Behavioral factors such as diet and exercise, for example, can contribute to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney failure - four of the top ten killers.

Health education aims to promote healthy behaviors and to facilitate behavioral changes that will improve overall quality of life for individuals, communities, and the larger society. Changing behaviors is extremely hard work and can require multiple interventions.

Public health focuses on the health of the population as a whole. It expands the scope of change from the level of the individual to look at the broader picture. It seeks to effect change on the level of the community and of society as a whole. Systemic changes are an accumulation of the efforts made by individuals to change personal behavior.

Public health education uses evidence-based educational strategies to helps address the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors among members of communities. The issues addressed by public health education arediverse and include topics such as fall prevention among the elderly, lead poisoning prevention among children, cancer screening, stress reduction, appropriate use and disposal of prescription drugs, and personal health information management.

The strategies used to encourage behavioral change are also varied. They include informational meetings; support groups; social marketing campaigns; other media campaigns, advocacy for the adoption of legislation or policies that promote health and well-being, and collaboration with key stake-holders.

The Ontario County Public Health Department has a full time health educator whose primary role is collaborating with community partners on health-related issues. If you live in Ontario County and would like to request information and / or education on health related issues or if you need help in designing a program, please contact Alice Robeson, MPH at (585) 396-4343 or (800) 299-2995.