Internship Handbook free essay sample

Internships for MPH students fulfill a critical need for their public health experience and help build our community, state, and nation’s public health workforce. The following information is designed to guide and provide accountability for preceptors and interns in the University of Missouri Master of Public Health Internship program. Thank you for agreeing to work with the Master of Public Health Program to help provide experience for our graduate students. We appreciate your input into planning experiences and your feedback about students’ progress. Sincerely, Kristofer J. To harness the unique strengths of the University of Missouri in rural health, veterinary medicine, and policy analysis and development in addressing the needs of underserved populations and preparing public health leaders on the local, state, and national levels. Statement of Values The underlying values of the University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program include a strong commitment to creating a learning environment where evidence-based decision-making and bestpractices are focused on enhancing the common good. We will write a custom essay sample on Internship Handbook or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The core values of the University of Missouri (Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence) intersect with key public health values informing the program in several important ways: 1) Respect for the diversity of our students and for the communities they will serve, including an understanding of issues involving equity and the special needs of vulnerable populations, 2) The Responsibility of the academy to bring rigor and excellence to the training of both future and currently practicing public health professionals and to make research findings accessible for use in the development of public policy, 3) The value of promoting and supporting the innovative interdisciplinary Discovery that is a unique strength of the discipline of public health, and 4) The necessity of holding leaders of population-based efforts to improve health to the highest standards of Excellence, including professionalism, solid grounding in international and national codes of ethics, and respect for individual dignity, social justice, and fairness. -1- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures Policy for Pre-requisites for the MPH Internship Before the beginning of an internship, the MPH student must have completed 21 hours of coursework in the Master of Public Health Program, which should include following courses: P_HLTH 7150 Principles of Public Health P_HLTH 150 Human Health and the Environment P_HLTH 8920 Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health and either F_C_MD 8420 Principles of Epidemiology or NURSE 8100 Epidemiology for Public Health Practice and either STAT 7020 Statistical Methods in the Health Sciences or STAT 7410 Biostatistics Subtotal Credit Hours Other Elective Credit Hours TOTAL 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 15 6 21 Pre-requisite Waiver Policy: Waivers for students who would like to start their internships prior to completion of all pre-requisites will be considered on an individual basis by the student’s Faculty Advisor, F ield Placement Coordinator, and the MPH Program Director. -2- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures Student Checklist Preparing for internship: (3 months before internship) ? 1. Revise Resume: Include information on education, previous work experience, and career goals. Keep length to no more than two pages. Contact your Faculty Advisor or the Field Placement Coordinator for assistance, if needed. 2. Complete Self-Assessment Form: This will help you to identify competency areas you want to emphasize during your internship. Turn in the self-assessment to the Field Placement Coordinator. See Appendix 2. The Student Internship Interest form is also helpful and available in Appendix 3. 3. Consider Potential Internship Sites: With the assistance of your Faculty Advisor and/or the Field Placement Coordinator, develop a listing of potential internship sites. Considerations include: geographical location, interest areas, career goals, and learning objectives. Review the opportunities posted on the MPH Program website. http://publichealth. missouri. edu/students/Internship%20Opportunities. php 4. Meet with Your Faculty Advisor: Review potential internship opportunities, self-assessment, and interest areas with your Faculty Advisor and the Field Placement Coordinator as needed. (Special note: Your Faculty Advisor is identified in your https://myzou. missouri. edu account. ) 5. Contact Sites/Preceptors: Make contact with potential Preceptors to explore internship duties. Set up interviews (phone or in-person) and review information about the agency/organization. Treat contacts like job interviews; follow up with thank-you notes and inform the Preceptor promptly if you will be accepting the internship. 6. Finalize Internship Site and Preceptor: Contact your Faculty Advisor and the Field Placement Coordinator to finalize internship plans. ? ? ? ? ? Starting your internship: (within 2 weeks of starting internship) ? 7. Complete Statement of Purpose: Identify the MPH Program Competencies you plan to meet through your internship work, develop specific, time-sensitive, and measurable objectives, and estimate a timeline for completion. The Statement of Purpose must be signed by the intern, Preceptor, and Faculty Advisor and returned to the Field Placement Coordinator at the start of the internship. 8. Complete Internship Agreement: Ask your Faculty Advisor and Preceptor to review your internship goals and objectives and complete the Internship Agreement. This document must be signed by the intern, Preceptor, and Faculty Advisor and returned to the Field Placement Coordinator at the start of the internship. 9. Complete Internship Log: Begin documenting hours and maintaining a record of activities on the Internship Log in Appendix 6. 10. Complete Field Practicum Agreement: Complete a Field Practicum Agreement if requested by the Field Placement Coordinator. These are needed for new and off-campus internship sites. See Appendix 4. ? ? ? Midterm: 11. Complete Internship Progress Report: Meet with your Preceptor about halfway through the internship to discuss progress. The intern and Preceptor must complete the Internship Progress Report and return it to the Field Placement Coordinator. -3- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures ? 12. Update Statement of Purpose: Update progress towards meeting objectives and timeline on the Statement of Purpose and return to the Field Placement Coordinator. Final: ? 13. Finalize Statement of Purpose: Complete the final column of the Statement of Purpose and address objectives that were met (or not met). This document must be signed by your Faculty Advisor, Preceptor, and the Field Placement Coordinator and turned into the Field Placement Coordinator. Complete all assigned internship activities within the internship period unless previous arrangements have been made. If it is clear that an internship-related student activity cannot be completed during the internship, discuss this with the Faculty Advisor as soon as possible. 14. Complete Student Evaluation of Internship: You must complete your Student Final Internship Evaluation within one week of completing the internship. Return the evaluation to the Field Placement Coordinator. A final grade will not be issued until the evaluation is received. 15. Request Preceptor Evaluation of Internship: Provide your Preceptor with a copy of the Preceptor Final Internship Evaluation and requests that it be completed and returned no later than one week following completion of the internship and turned in to the Field Placement Coordinator. 16. Finalize Internship Log: Finalize your log and turn in to the Field Placement Coordinator. 17. Complete Summary Report/Project: Submit a brief paper or report that summarizes your internship activities and accomplishments to your Faculty Advisor. See Guidelines for Final Paper. ? ? ? ? -4- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures Sample Schedule All documentation should be turned in to the Field Placement Coordinator in her MPH Program office. I. Required documentation schedule for 360 hours of internship in one semester For this option, register for 6 credits in one semester for P_HLTH 8980 Public Health Internship. Previous Semester ? Self-assessment ? Internship interest form (optional) Start of Semester ? Internship Agreement ? Statement of Purpose ? Field Practicum Agreement Midterm ? Internship Progress Report ? Updated Statement of Purpose Final ? Finalized Statement of Purpose ? Student Evaluation ? Preceptor Evaluation ? Final Paper ? Internship Log (if needed) *II. Required documentation schedule for 360 hours of internship spanning 2 semesters For this option, enroll in P_HLTH 8980 Public Health Internship for two semesters and divide 6 credits between these two semesters (e. g. combination of 2-4, 3-3 or 1-5). Previous Semester ? Self-assessment ? Internship interest form (optional) Start of First Semester ? Internship Agreement ? Statement of Purpose ? Field Practicum Agreement End of First Semester ? Internship Progress Report, ? Updated Statement of Purpose End of Second Semester ? Finalized Statement of Purpose ? Student Evaluation ? Preceptor Evaluation ? Final Paper ? Internship Log (if needed) Work closely with/contact Academic Advisor *This option is particularly helpful for summer interns that will not complete their internships by the grading deadline in early August. This avoids having to enter an â€Å"incomplete† grade for the summer semester. Students completing their internships in the summer should register for 3 credits for the summer semester and 3 credits for the fall semester. -5- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures Preceptor Expectations As you work with your student, please consider the following guidelines for the student experience: †¢ †¢ Provide an internship description well in advance for internship position advertisement. You may use our format for the advertisement (See Appendix 4). At the beginning of the internship, complete agency-student contract with student and Faculty Advisor. Determine semester meeting dates and times for routine meetings with your student. (Other meetings can be scheduled as needed throughout the semester). Specify orientation activities you want your student to complete early in their experience. Clarify call-in procedure if student will miss or be late to the assigned daily experience. Provide a list of resources that you use (e. g. pamphlets/brochures), information from other agencies, other staff resources, etc. for students to use during the semester to help with project work and/or understanding the work of public health agencies. Review student’s progress on their project and notify Field Placement Coordinator if there are any concerns. Notify Field Placement Coordinator regarding any problems or concerns regarding student’s behavior. Discuss and plan with the student the type of final report you expect on the project(s). We expect that students will customize this report to the needs of your project. This report is flexible and may include written summaries, data disk, survey tool, teaching materials, etc. – whatever best serves your needs and the project(s) needs. Complete an evaluation of the student at the end of the internship experience and email Field Placement Coordinator. Share with student as you feel appropriate. Document your work and time as a Preceptor according to your agency’s evaluation protocol. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Project Selection We ask that preceptors and their agencies choose projects that they would like students to work on. When making choices for students, please consider the complexity of the project, time demands for the Preceptor and the student, timeliness of project deliverables, and feasibility for student the student to complete the work, e. g. working with outside collaborators, having adequate resources, and similar constraints. After selecting a project, list in detail the steps involved in project. The student is responsible for coordinating with the MPH Program Faculty Advisors about the project selection. -6- University of Missouri-Columbia Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures Student Expectations During this course, you will be gaining experience in a public health agency and working with a Preceptor on a specific project. The agency and the Preceptor are volunteering to assist you in meeting your educational goals. General student expectations for this experience are listed below: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Contact the Preceptor/agency regularly to discuss progress on your project. Accomplish activities as stated in the Internship Statement of Purpose contract. Participate in activities offered by the Preceptor in addition to the work on your project. Inform the Preceptor/agency and clinical instructor about problems/issues related to population and/or project work. Any unresolved issues may be brought to your Faculty Advisor and the MPH Program Administrative Staff. Be responsive to Preceptor/agency requests. Demonstrate professional behaviors, including appropriate dress, language, punctuality, call-in procedure, and discussion with clients and health professionals. †¢ †¢ Preceptors will evaluate your performance based on these expectations. The internship is a pass/fail program. The work on your project must meet the needs of the agency/Preceptor for you to pass the internship. Faculty Advisor Expectations The Faculty Advisor is a very important academic figure during the internship process. He/she serves along with the Field Placement Coordinator as a bridge between the student and the Preceptor as needed. The role of the Faculty Advisor becomes more important when the student faces problems during the internship. He/she must work in conjunction with the Field Placement Coordinator to sort out any problematic issues. Further, considering development of the student and current competitive environment, the Faculty Advisor should be prepared to discuss the following with prospective interns: 1. Will this project be at graduate student level? 2. Is this project going to meet MPH Program Competencies (see Appendix 1)? 3. Will it lend itself to a capstone project? (This is not required but desirable for students who are seeking publications or PhD. ) -7- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures INTERNSHIP AGREEMENT UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM STUDENT STATEMENT: I, ________________________________________ agree to perform my internship at the agency and with the Preceptor named below. I understand that in order to satisfy the internship requirement, my proposed project(s) must have the approval of the Preceptor and the Faculty Advisor. I have attached learning objectives and activities with this contract. I agree to complete all pre-internship requirements (readings, physical exams, background checks, etc. ) as requested by the sponsoring agency. I understand that I must complete approximately 360 clock hours to satisfy program requirements. This might be completed as a single full-time block (about 9 weeks at 40 hours per week) or part-time during the course of several months and up to one year. The current internship will be approximately _______ hours/week for _______ weeks. Compensation for this internship period will be $_________ per _________. I understand I may or may not receive compensation. I understand that if I do receive compensation, it will be from the agency and not from the University of Missouri. I understand that I may or may not be covered by the agency’s worker compensation benefit, and I agree to obtain health insurance in the event I will not be covered by the agency for worker’s compensation. I understand that the Preceptor and Faculty Advisor will evaluate my progress jointly. I will present all report materials in the format requested by the Preceptor and/or the Faculty Advisor. I understand that if my performance is not satisfactory, I may be re-assigned by the Faculty Advisor. I will complete all required evaluations and documentation as specified in the MPH Internship Procedures and submit them to the MPH Program Associate Director. I understand that a final grade will not be issued until the Faculty Advisor receives all paperwork. With respect to the agency, I agree to maintain privacy regarding any information with special confidentiality requirements (patient information, financial information, etc. ). Student Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Preceptor Signature: ____________________________________________________________________ (Title) Agency/Organization:________________________________________________Date:______________ Major Program Advisor Signature: _____________________________________Date:_______________ (If Needed) Dual Degree Advisor Signature: __________________________________________ Date: ___________ -8- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures INTERNSHIP STATEMENT OF PURPOSE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM (Attach more information if needed) Instructions: 1. Complete the first three columns of the table at the start of the internship. Competencies may be selected with the help of the Faculty Advisor and Field Placement Coordinator and can be found in Appendix 1. 2. Objectives should be measurable and specific to the internship project (e. g. develop a survey for assessing barriers to breast-feeding in low-income women). 3. Once completed, the Statement of Purpose must be signed by the Faculty Advisor, Preceptor, and intern and a copy turned in to the Field Placement Coordinator. 4. At Midterm and Final, the objectives should be re-evaluated and addressed in the appropriate column. The overall purpose of my internship is: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ COMPETENCIES OBJECTIVES ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE MIDTERM PROGRESS FINAL EVALUATION -9- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures Page 2 MPH PROGRAM INTERNSHIP STATEMENT OF PURPOSE COMPETENCIES OBJECTIVES ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE MIDTERM PROGRESS FINAL EVALUATION Preceptor: _________________ Date: _______ Midterm: _________________ Date: _______ Final: ____________________ Date: _______ Advisor: _______________ Date: __________ (At the start of internship) Student: _______________Date: ______ Field Placement Coordinator________ ____ Date:_______ Midterm: ______________ Date: _______ Final: _________________ Date: _______ Midterm: _____________________________Date:_________ Final: _________________________________Date:________ -10- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures INTERNSHIP PROGRESS REPORT Preceptor and Intern: Complete this form about halfway through the internship. Return this form to the MPH Program Administrative Associate, University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program, 802 Lewis Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. Student Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Internship Site: _______________________________________________________________________ Preceptor: ___________________________________________________________________________ (Title) Period Covered by Progress Report: _____________________________through ___________________ Total Hours Worked to Date: ____________________________________________________________ Activities observed and/or participated in during this period: ___________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ ________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ A. Student Intern Comments: 1. Brief description of Internship to date: 2. Self-assessment of progress/accomplishments: -11- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures PRECEPTOR FINAL INTERNSHIP EVALUATION Preceptor: Complete this evaluation within one week following the completion of the internship. Please return the evaluation to the MPH Program Administrative Associate, University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program, 802 Lewis Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. Student Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Internship Site: _______________________________________________________________________ Preceptor: ___________________________________________________________________________ Internship Dates: from _______________________________ through ___________________________ Please evaluate the intern’s performance and University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program faculty and staff participation during the internship period (please feel free to submit any additional attachments): 5 – Excellent 4 – Above Average 3 – Average 2 – Below Average 1- Needs Improvement NA – Not Applicable A. Internship Performance: Reliability (attendance, punctuality, etc. ) Initiative Organizational Skills Enthusiasm for Project(s) Time Management (completing projects, etc. ) Independence in Project(s) Team Skills Exercised Appropriate Judgment 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Student competency goals (from Statement of Purpose) achieved 1_______________________________ 2_______________________________ 3_______________________________ 4_______________________________ 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 NA NA NA NA Additional comments: __________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ (Signature of Preceptor) (Date) -12- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures STUDENT FINAL INTERNSHIP EVALUATION Return this form to the MPH Program Administrative Associate, University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program, 802 Lewis Hall, Columbia, MO 65211 within one week of completing the internship. Student Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Internship Site: _______________________________________________________________________ Preceptor: ___________________________________________________________________________ Internship Dates: from ________________________ through _____________________________ Please answer the following questions including the comments section. SA: Strongly Agree SD: Strongly Disagree A: Agree D: Disagree NA: Not Applicable 1. My internship contributed to the development of my career interests. 2. My internship provided me with new information and skills. 3. My internship provided an opportunity to use theory and/or information obtained in the classroom. 4. My internship activities were relevant to my learning objectives. 5. My preceptor was accessible to me and provided adequate supervision. . My preceptor provided information regarding agency policies and standards of practice. 7. My preceptor was knowledgeable in his/her area of responsibility. SA SA SA A A A D D D SD SD SD NA NA NA SA SA SA SA A A A A D D D D SD SD SD SD NA NA NA NA Comment: _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ (Signature of Student) (Date) -13- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures Guidelines for Final Paper The student must submit to the Field Placement Coordinator a brief paper or report that summarizes internship activities and accomplishments. The format of the summary may vary, but it should sufficiently describe the scope of the intern’s activities and any special projects undertaken. Include views on the experience, achievement of learning objectives, strengths, and weaknesses. * †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ 2-3 pages, not more than 1000 words. Use font of Times New Roman with size of 12. Double-spaced lines. Due one week after completion of internship. *In particular, please elaborate on one of the following cross-cutting competencies, stating how your internship experience has helped in achieving it. Use the basic concepts and skills involved in culturally appropriate community engagement and empowerment with diverse communities. Cite examples of situations where consideration of culture-specific needs resulted in a more effective modification or adaptation of a health intervention. Describe the attributes of leadership in public health. Apply social justice and human rights principles when addressing community needs. Embrace a definition of public health that captures the unique characteristics of the field (e. g. , population-focused, community-oriented, prevention-motivated and rooted in social justice) and how these contribute to professional practice. Distinguish between population and individual ethical considerations in relation to the benefits, costs, and burdens of public health programs. In collaboration with others, prioritize individual, organizational, and community concerns and resources for public health programs. Explain how the contexts of gender, race, poverty, history, migration, and culture are important in the design of interventions within public health systems. Analyze the effects of political, social and economic policies on public health systems at the local, state, national and international levels. -14- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures APPENDIX 1 Competencies to Be Used for Internship Learning Objectives Biostatistics 1. Propose preferred methodological alternatives to commonly used statistical methods when assumptions are not met. 2. Develop written and oral presentations based on statistical analyses for both public health professionals and educated lay audiences. 3. Partner with communities to attach meaning to collected data. Epidemiology 1. Evaluate the integrity and comparability of data and identify gaps in data sources. 2. Select and define variables relevant to defined public health problems. 3. Obtain and interpret information regarding risks and benefits to the community. 4. Design and evaluate surveillance systems for microbiological hazards to human health of animal origin including new, emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, foodborne diseases, and those due to antimicrobial resistant bacteria. 5. Communicate epidemiologic information to lay and professional audiences. Health Policy and Management 1. Differentiate and analyze the social determinants of health status. 2. Evaluate the effects of political, social, and economic policies on public health systems at the local, state, national, and international levels. 3. Use information technology to access, evaluate, and interpret data and influence public health policy. 4. Solicit and interpret input from individuals and organizations about public health issues and/or programs. 5. Design and adapt approaches to problems that take into account cultural differences. 6. Build and manage partnerships and work as an effective member of a diverse and/or interdisciplinary team. Social and Behavioral Science in Public Health 1. Analyze the causes of social and behavioral factors that affect health of individuals and populations. 2. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of social and behavioral models in addressing public health problems. 3. Evaluate the impact of social and behavioral science interventions and policies on public health programs and outcomes. 4. Establish targets and formulate interventions for social and behavioral science programs and/or policies. 5. Design public health programs and strategies responsive to the diverse cultural values and traditions of the communities being served. Environmental Health 1. Develop a testable model of environmental insult. 2. Outline a health impact assessment of a public policy proposal or infrastructure development proposal. 3. Effectively communicate about and manage environmental risks. 4. Interpret and construct logical arguments concerning the balance of individual and community risks, rights, and benefits. -15- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures 5. Identify, evaluate, and devise intervention strategies for the prevention and control of foodborne disease threats. 6. Provide health education and/or extension education services to a wide array of stakeholders including farmers, food processors, and the general public. 7. Conduct biomedical research and engage in production and control of biological products and medical devices. Communication 1. Collaborate with communication and informatics specialists in the process of design, implementation, and evaluation of public health information programs. 2. Use the media, advanced technologies, and community networks to communicate information. 3. Use informatics and communication methods to advocate clearly and effectively for community public health programs and policies. -16- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures APPENDIX 2 SELF-ASSESSMENT OF EXPERIENCE/COMPETENCY Below you will find summarized versions of the competencies with which each MPH student, regardless of Emphasis Area, will be expected to graduate. The full, detailed list of competencies is available on the MPH Program website. The completion of this self-assessment will serve both as a guide for individuals in shaping their internship and capstone experiences and for the program as a whole, in evaluating and revising our curriculum. For each question, please record your answer on the attached answer sheet according to the following scale: 1. NO EXPERIENCE 2. AWARE 3. KNOWLEDGEABLE 4. PROFICIENT 5. N/A BIOSTATISTICS 1. Be able to identify data sources and apply descriptive and inferential methodologies for answering research questions, as well as describe preferred methodological alternatives to commonly used statistical methods when assumptions are not met. 2. Develop written and oral presentations based on statistical analyses for both public health professional and educated lay audiences while applying ethical principles to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of data and information. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES 3. Analyze the impact of environmental and occupational hazards on population health. 4. Describe prevention, control, risk management, and communication strategies in relation to the issues of environmental justice and equity at local, national, and global levels. 5. Explain the physiological, psychosocial, biological, molecular, and toxicological effects of environmental and occupational insults on population health. EPIDEMIOLOGY 6. Describe and quantify health problems in terms of magnitude, person, time, and place in the community and understand the application of community-based participatory research. 7. Calculate basic epidemiology measures and evaluate the integrity and comparability of data. 8. Understand basic survey design, its ethical and legal principles, and analysis with appropriate epidemiological and inferential methods. (Continued†¦. ) -17- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT 9. Describe the history, structure, and emerging advances in health care systems. Identify, differentiate, and describe the elements of the organization, financing, functioning, regulation, and delivery of health services and understand the consequences of changes to those systems, including unintended ones. 10. Understand the social determinants of health status and analyze the impact of political, social, legal, ethical, technological, cultural, and economic factors on public health policy and delivery systems at local, state, national, and international levels. 11. Articulate and analyze the principles of strategic planning, program development, budgeting, marketing, and evaluation through the use of quality and performance improvement tools and community and stakeholder participation. 12. Partner with communities to identify risks, enefits, and limitations of public health programs and recognize ethical, political, scientific, and economic issues arising from them. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 13. Understand the theories, concepts, and models of social and b ehavioral change and apply evidence-based quantitative and qualitative approaches for program planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health interventions at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. 14. Differentiate between linguistic competence, cultural competency, and health literacy and understand the importance of cultural diversity in the development and implementation of community-based public health interventions. COMMUNICATION 15. Understand the role of public health communications in the dissemination of health information to diverse communities and demonstrate written, oral, and informatics skills that advocate clearly and effectively for public health programs and policies to both professional and lay audiences. 16. Collaborate with communication and informatics specialists in the process of design, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs. 17. Use the media, advanced technologies, and community networks to communicate information. Comments: _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ -18- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures APPENDIX 3 Student Internship Interest Form Consider the following areas as a guide while preparing to select an internship. Write responses in the space provided if you wish to review this form with your Faculty Advisor or the Associate Director. SETTING/TYPE OF AGENCY: Types of agencies/organizations (e. g. hospital, health department, industry governmental agency, etc. ) that you believe would provide the kind of educational and professional experience you need: SKILLS: Any special skills you wish to use or develop during the internship: SUBJECT/CONTENT AREAS: Content areas (e. g. ealth promotion, infectious diseases, social issues, etc. ) in which you might like to work: LOCATION: List in order of preference the geographic location(s) you would prefer: SPECIAL POPULATIONS: Any special populations you would like to work with (e. g. , children, women, persons with disabilities, etc. ) PERSONA L NEEDS: Consider all personal needs that could constrain your placement at a particular site (e. g. accommodations needed as per ADA, religious considerations, etc. ) TIMING: Any preferences regarding timing, including work schedule requirements, time of year requirements, etc. FINANCIAL: Not all public health internships are paid. Do you need a paid internship? Yes/No OUT-OF-TOWN: Have you considered out-of-town internship (e. g. CDC)? If you are interested in an out-of-town internship, are you able to take care of transportation and housing during that time: Yes/No OTHER COMMENTS: Please provide any other information that would assist the MPH faculty in finding an appropriate internship for you. -19- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures APPENDIX 4 INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION FORM Agency: ______________________________________________________ Department name: _______________________________________________ Overview of the program: ________________________________________ Overview of the internship: _______________________________________ †¢ When are these positions offered? o Time frame: Open fromo Hours required: Location: On-site Vs Off-site Pay/ Stipend: Accommodation: Yes/No to- †¢ †¢ †¢ Qualifications: ___________________________________________________ Application deadlines: ___________________________________________ Travel: __________________________________________________________ Contact information: _____________________________________________ -20- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures APPENDIX 5 Field Practicum Placement Agreement Between The Curators of the University of Missouri And This agreement is made on the day of , , between the Curators of the University of Missouri, for the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program, University of Missouri, hereinafter referred to as â€Å"the University† and hereinafter referred to as â€Å"the Agency†. It is mutually agreed by the University and the Agency that the practicum experience for students, in the field of Public Health, will be provided at the agency. The number of students assigned at a given time shall be determined by the Agency. Representatives of the Agency and the University shall cooperate in developing methods of instruction, objectives and other details of the field experience. The faculty of the University will assume responsibility for the selection and assignment of students to the learning experience. The students shall follow the Agency’s rules, regulations and procedures. If problems arise, the Field Placement Coordinator for the University shall be notified and representatives from the University and Agency will mutually handle such problems. Students will receive a thorough orientation to the Agency setting. University faculty members and Agency staff supervisors will evaluate the students’ performances by mutual consultation. The Agency will retain full responsibility for the clients of the Agency and will maintain administrative and professional supervision of students insofar as their presence affects the operation of the Agency and/or the direct or indirect provision of services for clients of the agency. The Agency shall be responsible for arranging immediate care in case of accident or illness of students but is not responsible for the costs involved, follow-up care or hospitalization. It is understood that assigned students are not University employees and therefore are not covered by Social Security, Unemployment compensation or Worker’s Compensation through the University. The University and the Agency do not and will not discriminate against any applicant for the field experience because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, national origin, age, or status as a Vietnam era veteran. -21- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures This agreement shall begin on the date set forth above in the initial paragraph of the Agreement and shall terminate on the 31st day of August, , provided, however, that the Agreement shall continue thereafter automatically for successive one-year terms running from September 1 to August 31, subjec t, however, to the right of either party to terminate the agreement, without liability or cause, at the end of the initial term or at the end of any subsequent annual term by giving the other party prior written notice no later than August 1st immediately preceding the beginning of the next successive annual term on September 1st. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed by their properly authorized representatives. THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Agency Name Signature Title Date Agency’s Mailing Address Phone Number _________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ ( ) __________________________ -22- University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program 2010-2011 MPH Internship Procedures APPENDIX 6 LOG OF HOURS (for University of Missouri Master of Public Health Program Internship) Intern: ________________________ Duration: ______________________ Preceptor:

Why a Multi-Party System in Pakistan Essays

Why a Multi-Party System in Pakistan Essays Why a Multi-Party System in Pakistan Paper Why a Multi-Party System in Pakistan Paper Political parties are the flesh and blood of political system. The strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, pros and cons of a political structure are highly associated with the Political Party System. Giovanni Sartori suggested a method to classify the political party systems on the basis of number of effective political parties. In this way three main political party systems are defined; Uni-party system, Bi-party system and Multi-party system. Each system has its own distinct characteristics and advantages along with disadvantages. In Uni-party system a single dominating party is protected by the constitution to govern. In Bi-party system two major parties contest elections and make governments alternately and freely without the help of other. Multi-party system as Sartori defines is one where no party can guarantee an absolute majority. Governments are coalition based. Around 7 to 10 parties compete with each other and represent different interest groups. But in some countries the number may vary from tens to hundreds. In Pakistan 250 political parties are registered with Election Commission of Pakistan. Why such a big number of Political parties in a country of just 20 crore people? Why this extent of Multipartism in Pakistan? Is this the sign of healthy democracy? Why do we not have Uni-party or Bi-party system? Why Multi-party system in Pakistan? The answer to all these questions is same and its roots lie in the history of our social, political and cultural transformation. Social and Political systems are highly correlated to each other. Around the globe, diversity in social systems accounts for diverse political systems. Party system being primary ingredient of political system is deeply rooted in the cultural and social fabric of nations. People having unified cultural identity tend to possess similar ideas. Take the case of China, people have unified Confucius belief and their culture sprouts from his teachings. Social system of Chinese people revolves around Confucius principles. They do not possess diverse social systems internally. This unification of social code has helped them to adopt a single political view represented by the Communist party. Countries like Cuba and North Korea have similar political system. These countries are known to be under Totalitarian rule. People are not enthusiastic for democracy. Class difference has been eliminated to some extent under communism and hence people are not driven by class interests. As Marx was of the view that political struggle is mainly driven by economic motives. Uni-party system discourages free economic activities to minimize the class struggle and thus political interests are held to a certain extent that do not come eye to eye with the interests of single dominating party. If we compare the social and political evolution of Pakistan to the above stated characteristics of a society with unified political structure under the umbrella of a Single party, we find many dissimilarities leading to a difference in political thoughts between the two societies. Pakistan is a society with diverse cultures. Here diversity of cultures has given birth to variety of political interests. Each interest group has adopted a distinguished identity in the form of a political party. Here people vote for the interests of baradris, tribes, clans, sects, businesses and personalities. Pakistani society is still in evolutionary process, nascent as its age is just 66 years. People are yet to clothe themselves into a nation. The colliding interests of different ethnic groups do not let them trust each other. They find it suitable to safeguard their interests on their own. Each province has a different composition of political set up. MQM and PPP in Sindh, ANP in Khyber Pakhtunkha, PML-N in Punjab, Nationalists and few affluent people in Baluchistan are prominent on political scene. Whilst in centre PPP and PML-N are two political power hubs. Coalition governments in centre as well as provinces are fundamental feature of political system of country. On the other hand if we compare our socio-political set up with those countries having Bi-party system, we find some similarities along with dissimilarities. Similarities include 1) both are pro democracy 2) both guarantee practice of freedom of speech 3) both are flexible and allow adjustments according to needs of time. Bi-party system is present in its obvious form in United States. In US politically oriented people consider their only realistic way to capture political power is to be either a Republican or Democrat. Historians are of the view that Bi-party system evolved in US due to the tug of power between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. In other words it evolved out of two different opinion holder groups. Number of different opinion groups is in reality the number of political parties in the country. US has two large opinion groups other being very small are insignificant. In Pakistan the number of influential opinion groups is very large and so is the number of political parties. Another dominant factor in determining the type of party system is the Electoral procedure. Political experts say that in an Electoral process where Winner-Takes-All principle is in action, only Bi-party system would develop. Winner-Takes-All means only the majority vote-taker will be given all power as practiced in US. Whereas Party-Proportional-Representation gives all the parties an opportunity to get seats in legislature in accordance with the proportion of votes obtained. In Pakistan even smaller political parties are able to secure at least one seat in legislature to ensure their existence. Another difference lies in the economic condition of people in both the countries. People with prosper economies are less hostile and divided. People in Pakistan are divided in elite, upper, middle, low and lower classes. People in villages and urban areas are distant from each other not only physically but ideologically as well. Unification of thought and idea in Pakistan is not as strong as in US. Gary Cox described the reasons for Bi-party system in US beautifully in these words: The bounty of the American economy, the fluidity of American society, the remarkable unity of the American people, and, most important, the success of American experiment have all mitigated against the emergence of large dissenting groups that would seek satisfaction of their special needs through the formation of political parties. As Cox described the presence of certain qualities prevented the Multi-party system to evolve in US, the absence of same has resulted in the development of Multi-party system in Pakistan. If we sum up the whole discussion following factors are found responsible for the development of Multi-party system in Pakistan: 1) Pakistani society is not unified in cultural and organizational aspects. 2) People are divided into distant groups and classes on the basis of economic disparities. 3) People are driven by class interests based on Bradris, clans, tribes, ethnicity, sects and favorite personalities. 4) Pakistani society is still nascent and is striving to achieve stability by establishing balance between opposing interests of different groups. 5) Parliamentary form of government that works on principle of Party-Proportional-representation, allows each party to survive. Some political scientists are of the view that Multi-party system is a result of chaos and conflicting ideas and hence it results in further chaos. On the other hand some regard it as More Democratic practice as it ensures the participation and representation of more interest groups and provides more choice. Whatever be the goods and bads of Multi-Party system, it is the only viable and pragmatic approach to the political needs of the people of Pakistan.