Health Official

The career field is mainly responsible for the overall health and well-being of the general society, performing research and analysis on policies, programs, and regulations. They identify social problems and suggest legislative and alternative solutions. They may help raise funds or write grants to support these programs. Public Health Officials plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate, through middle managers, membership and other organizations or institutions that deliver health, education, social or community services. They also plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the development and administration of health care policies, social policies and related programs designed to protect and promote the health and social welfare of individuals and communities.

These managers are employed by government departments and agencies. They formulate policies, which establish the direction to be taken by these organizations. Working with the public the focus falls on overall services and care for the population. While a bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement, a master's degree in social work or a related field has become the standard for many positions. Employment is projected to grow faster than average. Competition for jobs is expected in cities, but opportunities should be good in rural areas.

Public Health official (See also social worker) is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people's lives. Officials help people function the best way they can in their environment, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. They often see clients who face a life-threatening disease or a social problem, inadequate housing, unemployment, serious illness, disability, or substance abuse, serious domestic conflicts, including those involving child or spousal abuse. They work in health-related settings that are now governed by managed care organizations. To contain costs, these organizations are emphasizing short-term intervention, ambulatory and community-based care, and greater decentralization of services. Medical and public health social workers provide persons, families, or vulnerable populations with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, or AIDS. They also advise family caregivers, counsel patients, and help plan for patients' needs after discharge by arranging for at-home services-from meals-on-wheels to oxygen equipment. Some work on interdisciplinary teams that evaluate certain kinds of patients-geriatric or organ transplant patients, for example. Medical and public health social workers may work for hospitals, nursing and personal care facilities, individual and family services agencies, or local governments.

Government managers in health and social policy development and program administration perform some or all of the following duties:

• Participate in the development of health or social policies by providing advice to senior government managers
• Organize departmental unit and establish procedures to meet departmental objectives set by senior management
• Direct and advise health or social policy researchers, consultants or program officers who conduct research, prepare documents or administer programs for individuals and communities in areas such as health and social services, employment and immigration, labor or housing
• Plan, administer and control budgets for research and administration, support services and equipment and supplies
• Organize and direct committees and working groups to plan, manage or evaluate health and social services projects and programs
• Interview, hire and provide training for staff.

Government managers in health policy development and program administration typically have

a bachelor's degree or college diploma in health science, hospital administration or public administration or a bachelor's degree in social science is required. A graduate degree in a health, social science or administrative discipline may be required. Several years of experience as a health or social policy researcher, consultant or program officer are usually required.

Government, state, municipal, provincial, federal government offices and websites are good sources of information, with published (newspaper and own internal/government publications available upon request, for public circulation) Normally an equal opportunities employer, with a preference for visible minorities and women.

http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/Education_ Training.shtml

For some government managers in health policy development and program administration, certification in the relevant health profession is required. For example, city medical officers of health must be physicians. A bachelor's degree or a college diploma in a social science discipline, such as sociology or economics, or an administrative discipline, such as public administration, is required. A graduate degree in a social science or an administrative discipline may be required.

Several years of experience as a social policy researcher, consultant or program officer is usually required. Progression to senior management positions in the health and social policy fields is possible with experience.

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