Table of Contents
The main purpose of this paper is to create a model for healthcare. The Filipino American community will be the center of attention for this particular health care model. Rew (2005) is of the view that health care programs are usually created to focus on the needs of a target population. It is in line with this that this model will be created. It will take into consideration factors such as Language, age, population growth, spiritual, physical, psychological as well as disease patterns that have affected the community over the years. The primary social institution, the family will be the center of focus in creation of this model. This is because the family reflects the larger society. However, those involved in the medical profession will also be included. This will be in reference to adolescent health. The paper will also look into the resources required to establish and maintain the health of the population. Awareness and access by the Filipino Americans to healthcare systems will also be discussed in reference to the youth (Adolescent.)
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Strategic Planning and Resource Allocation for Health Promotion
The Filipinos had a population growth of 68 percent between the year 1990 to the year 2000 based on the Census taken in the latter year, Catsouphes, Kossek, and Sweet (2006). The population was at 94 million in the 2010 census. This should be a major consideration in planning for resource allocation in Health programs. It is important, however, that we limit the scope of the said program insofar as what group to focus the program on. For the purposes of this model, we will look into Adolescent health and how this various programs have been formulated in the past. The issue of language, religion, influence of family, health awareness as well as health access. Rew (2005) postulates that the Participatory Action Research (PAR) process is the best in formulation of a health program. It consist of five steps, which include; problem identification, an action plan including alternative action plans, selection of one of the alternatives in order to come up with the appropriate action plan, consideration of any consequences that may arise out of the action selected and finally, analysis of the finding in order to seek further action. A qualitative approach is the best method in creation of a health program for adolescent health Rew (2005). With this in mind, it is imperative that we consider those closest to the Adolescent youth. This would be the adults that would assist in implementation of the health plan. Considering that adolescence is an age in which youth are still in school, the adults closest to them would be their teachers and their parents as well as those in the community who are closest to them. Using a “Transactional Partnering Process between Adults and Youth” Rew came up with a model in which relationship between the two; teenagers and adults would cooperate in making the model a success. This was adapted from a British Columbia source. The first part of the model is in creation of an environment in which the adult is empowered. This would be done by providing a social climate in which the adults would be believed, respected encouraged and in the process be caring for the teenagers, in return the teenagers would be facilitated, taught, mentored and in the process provide feedback for the process to the adult. It is from this feedback that the adults formulate a health plan for the adolescents. It is a model that involves all and has a two-way approach for results to be given. The second process involves engaging the youth, actualizing youth potential, and controlling the process on the part of the adults. In so doing constructive change is cultivated Rew (2005). When it comes to health risks amongst the adolescents in the Filipino American community, the greatest risks in health and healthcare would be Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Drug Abuse and diseases that may be caused due to this habit. Early pregnancy is also a risk teenagers need to avoid. The issue of access and awareness to health care systems is limited to this community due to the language barrier. There are other issues to that deal with the Filipinos individual culture and thereby affecting access to healthcare. It is from this premise and the model on Transactional Partnering Process (TPP), Rew (2005) that we will create a health plan for the adolescent youths that would tackle the above problems.
Adolescent Health plan for Filipino Americans
In considering an action plan for the Filipino American, youth it is imperative to consider who they are closest with in order these persons to help actualize the program. Previous programs have been formulated in the past. An example is one given by Monsen et al (1996) in which adolescence were asked to “see sex as dangerous, involving the risks of STDs, especially AIDS as well as early pregnancy”. Such views would not be of much help as they serve the purpose of hoodwinking the youth, rather than educating them. Instead, one should find a way to create programs that would help the youth express their thinking. In so doing the adults will come up with an action plan to protect their well-being Rew, (2005). In the action plan, the adult will refer to anyone be it a healthcare provider, a teacher, parent or a role model in the community. Initially, the prerequisite to success of the adults in the action plan requires that they provide a welcoming social climate. This is by “Believing, Respecting, Encouraging and caring for the youth”. By so doing they ensure that, the youth believe in themselves. Once the youths believe in themselves, then they do not require getting into social ills such as drug abuse and immoral behavior. This is the initial stage of creating a rapport. In this model, the youth is enabled through “Facilitating, Teaching, Mentoring, and Providing Feedback. This second part includes facilitation of positive teenage activities, teaching the teenage on what is proper behavior in society as well as mentoring them through the adults own positive lifestyle. When the adult helps the adolescents in this way, they provide feedback to the adults through the expressions and results, which emanate from the exercise. Practically we will look at this process with reference to the adolescents in general and the adults. In the case of a health care givers, community based initiatives may be formed, whereby, the adolescents participate in community work in their spare time and Community based seminars in which the healthcare givers give reading material on issues such as underage sex and drug abuse. They may use these seminars to bring to light any issue that the teenagers do not understand. The parents’ and teachers’ may play the role of mentoring, giving positive image, and educating the teenagers on time management; this means using all their free time positively in order that they may avert time for social ills. The next level of the (TPP) involves enhancing self-image of the adolescent in society and illuminating to the teenagers their importance to society. When addressing teenage health and behaviors that may cause risk to health, it is imperative to note that this stage of development leads to confusion as well as the risk of feeling unwanted in society. This is especially the case in Filipino American communities who are a minority. There have been cases of discrimination over the years, not just in the workplace but also in other spheres of societal concern. Therefore, it is important that the Filipino American adolescents have a positive image of themselves before going out into the world. They need to know that they can contribute to society. In engaging, the youth to actualize their potential, the adult should consider factors such as developing the teenagers esteem, ensuring that they are confident in themselves; make sure that they work hard to learn what their competencies. Finally, it is important to raise awareness to the teenagers on matters that may affect their lives at this age and how they can counter these problems. Based on the (TPP) model, the youth can control the process of improving their way of life in seven major ways. Rew (2005) outlines them as follows; Confronting challenges, improving quality of life, learning, taking responsibility, voicing, decision making and taking action. The model portrays all seven to be interlinked in aiding the process of the adolescent taking control of their life. This process reduces the load on the healthcare giver the parent or the teacher on the amount of work required in formulation and implementation of an adolescent health program. Upon getting information from the adult, the teenager is able to handle. Health care givers give out material for reading on say, drug abuse and its effects, under age sex and the repercussions being STDs and underage pregnancy. The parents and teachers ensure that the adolescents live up to what they have been taught through providing them with a schedule on how to handle their time. We note that the final part of the (TPP) model on confronting challenges and taking responsibility. Therefore, in the adolescent health plan, healthcare givers should give teenagers access to protective drugs for sexual health. This means that should one get an STD infection through sexual intercourse or sharing syringes while taking drugs, one should take responsibility for their action. This is through receiving treatment and voicing to others the results of their actions. The Filipino teenagers should also voice factors that affect availability of health care plans to them. In so doing, the stakeholders pass on the information to the relevant authorities and ensure that health care is distributed equitably to the whole population.
Conclusion
We therefore find that the (TPP) model has a holistic approach in creation of an adolescent health plan for the Filipino Americans. All stakeholders in society should come together for the success of any type of health plan. The leading stakeholders in such a health plan would be the government. It should ensure all adolescents receive free basic education. This will bridge the language barrier that most of the time limits Filipino Americans’ access to healthcare. The government should eliminate discrimination on minorities and ensure awareness and access to healthcare. The health plan created here is specific to a certain age group; however, the government should ensure the same is the case for all age groups across the divide. It is the government that can spearhead initiative such as research population growth and ensure that resources much the population. It is still an open argument though how these initiatives work and cross the cultural boundary that dictates acceptance of the health plans by different cultures. This is yet to be looked into.