PUBH 2104: Health Policy, Planning and Management Assignment

Context:

Many health programs are funded for temporary periods of time by grants, which are awarded competitively, based on applications. Grants can be awarded in diverse areas of health, healthcare and health promotion, and can be given by the Commonwealth, State/Territory or Local Governments, as well as Private industry (such as health insurance companies, philanthropic organizations). Preparing grant applications and applying for grants is a common task that professionals in a range of health organizations need to undertake. Writing a grant application is a useful real-world skill which requires you to plan and describe clearly all aspects of an intended health program. This includes justifying the need for such a program, and explaining clearly how it would run: the plan and program logic, timetable and budget.

Instructions:

Your task is to prepare a grant application to submit to a State Government for a 2 year health promotion program. Your proposed health promotion program focuses on preventing obesity and chronic disease among young people by either promoting physical activity or healthy eating. Within these broad guidelines, you have scope to tailor the specific focus of your proposed program.

Aims and Significance (200-300 words)

Provide a short introduction to the aims of the program you are applying for funding. A simple description is enough, eg. This program aims to increase physical activity in children aged 5-10.

Provide a brief overview of the significance / importance of your program. Include a small number of references (2-4) here to highlight the evidence which suggests this issue is important.

In this section, you also briefly link your program to the broader policy environment in your State. This involves, for South Australia: matching your program to one or more of State Public Health plan priorities (to link it to a broader policy context).
This should only involve a sentence or two.

Background (800-900 words)

In this section, provide a literature review which establishes the evidence for why this program is important. This should include: Background to the health problem (obesity, chronic disease among young people and the causes of this). It should also include a review of similar programs to get one you are proposing and evidence for their effectiveness. Provide at least 7-10 references in this section. Conclude with a statement that reinforces why your program is necessary and important.

Program plan and Program logic (800-900 words)

In this section, you should provide details about program implementation and evaluation. Provide a program logic diagram which clearly identifies the sequence of actions of your program. This diagram should identify the program assumptions, inputs, outputs, and expected outcomes. You will be provided with example program logic diagrams in the subject which you can use as a guide.

Accompanying this diagram should be a brief written description of the plan for the program stages and activities. So both your program logic diagram and your written description should describe how the program will be conducted, who will run the program, who is the target population, how will the program be governed/managed and how will it be evaluated.

Timetable (100-200 words)

In this section, provide a chronogram or gantt chart to detail thetimetable of activities in the program over the 2 year period. See McDowell (2006) for more information on constructing this

Assessment criteria

1. Prepare a grant application for a public health program which provides evidence based justification and a clear program plan. (40%)

2. Construct a program logic model for a public health program (20%)

3. Demonstrate understanding of implementation and evaluation as they apply to public health programs (20%)

Addresses General assessment criteria: (20%)

1. Provides a lucid introduction

2. Shows a sophisticated understanding of the key issues

3. Demonstrates a capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts

4. Shows evidence of reading beyond the key reading

5. Justifies any conclusions reached with well-formed arguments not merely assertion

6. Use of academic writing and presentation and grammar:

7. Complies with normal academic standards of legibility, referencing and bibliographical details (including reference list).

8. Is written clearly with accurate spelling, grammar and sentence and paragraph construction

9. Appropriate citation and referencing used (using APA style)