UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE HEALTH OF THE PUPILS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. By Prof. Elkenah Ndie

Introduction In every society there are things that help the community to cope with their health problems. These may come naturally from the environment while some are adapted from other communities and cultures. These things may determine the health seeking behavior of the community. The public health nurse in her/his practice help the community to use what they have to improve the health of their members. In understanding the role of community resources in the care of different ages and vulnerable groups in the families and communities, it is important to recognize the complex interplay of a wide variety of individuals’ relationships, social, cultural and environmental factors on the health care.

There is a strong consensus that multi-agency approaches are necessary for responding to the public health intervention (Itzin et al 2010). No one organization has the time, energy and resources to make a very good impact on community project. Working with partners is an essential aspect of public health care. The term coalition is often used to refer to a group of different organizations working together for a common campaign. Before the public health nurse approaches an identified resource he/she must decide the role of the resource. Understanding the community resources provides opportunities to identify routes through which less visible members of the communities could be engaged.

Public Health Nursing is closely related to the activities of several other professions and many communities organization and as such cannot be carried out successfully and productively as on isolated services. Public health nurse possess an abundance of knowledge about the health and social needs of their communities and about how these needs can be met. Their everyday experiences of home visiting and their long-term knowledge of individuals, families and networks build up over time are valuable resource. As a result, they are well placed to identify community leaders and build alliances with local groups.

BIOECOLOGICAL SYSTEM THEORY AND COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS It is important to examine theory that helps to explain the human interaction with the environment that shape human development and behavior. The theory public health professionals have used to explain this interaction is Bioecological theory. The Bioecological system theory states that a combination of children’s biological disposition and environmental forces come together to shape the development of human character. This theory emphasizes the interaction of both the biological (genetics) and social context that characterized the development of a child. The primary feature is the premise that individual and family development is contextual over time.

According to Bronfenbrenner, individual development is affected by five levels or systems. The five levels are: Microsystems:- These are the setting in which individuals /families experience and create day-to-day reality. They include genetic make-up of the people and what they do together. Meso-system: These are the relationships among major Microsystems in which persons of families actively participate, such as family school, family religion and family peers.

3. Exo-system: These are external environments that influence individuals and families indirectly. The person may not be an active participant within the system but the system has an effect on the person – parent job, school, libraries, parks, health care system, day care centres, security system, etc. 4. Macro-systems: They are the broad cultural attitude, ideologies or belief system that influence institutional environments within a particular culture/subculture in which the child lives e.g. Judea Christian ethics, democracy, ethnicity and social values. 5. Chromo-systems; which refers to time related contexts where changes occur over time and have effect on the other four systems. These are created by time or critical period in development. E.g. parental divorce, unexpected death of parent or war.

The strength of the theory is that it represents a comprehensive and holistic view of human development. It includes both the nature (biological) and nurture (environment) context aspect of growth and development for both individuals and the families. The weakness is that bio/psycho/socio/cultural/religious aspect of individual’s growth and development are not detailed enough to explain how the individual can accomplish or adapt to these continual changes over time, given their biological imperatives (Kaakinen et.al, 2010).

Another model that is similar to bioecelogical system theory is ecological model. The ecological model assumes that health and well-being are affected by interaction among multiple determinant including biology, behavior and the environment. Interaction unfolds over the life course of individuals, families and communities. According to Institute of medicine, committee charged with developing recommendation for public health education (Parvanta et.al, 2011), understanding the ecological model and its uses is necessary for all public health practitioners. An ecological approach to health is one in which multiple strategies are developed to impact determinants of health relevant to the desired health outcome.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES IDENTIFIED Public health nurses provide orientation guides that identify a number of subject areas that are critical for the health of the community. This is because the public health nurse has the expertise to identify resources at the communities, state and national level. Community resources are array of opportunities available in the community that can be utilized to solve individuals, families and vulnerable group problems by the Public Health Nurse. Community resources can be seen as organizations or individuals that can serve a group of people in a geographical area that help them to grow in a positive way and improve their quality of life.

The public health nurse through community assessment identifies the needs and strength of the community. These assets and strengths are used as community resources to meet the needs of the community or even friends of the community. The resources may be physical structures or institutions like schools, hospitals, churches or other religious institutions, libraries, recreation centres, social clubs. It could be community services that make life better like water supply, early childhood education centres, cultural organizations and old peoples’ home.

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES Community resources are used to improve the welfare of the community. There may not be external help from the Government or donor agencies. These resources may be the only way to bring positive changes within the community. It helps the community to gain control over their lives It last longer and have chance of continuity as the community may in future see it as a way of life.

UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES Partnership in resource sharing differ with respect to: membership, type of partners involved, the centrality of the common goals to member organizations, the formality of the structures, the governing rules, scope and quantity of resource mobilized, the degree of information shared and need for reforming of problems under scrutiny

Community environment Membership Structural process Communication SIX FACTORS THAT HELP PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES TO EFFECTIVELY COLLABORATE AND UTILIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES Community environment Membership Structural process Communication Purpose Funding

SUMMARY Community resources can be applied in various sections of public health because our work is complex and need to be done with other people in the community.