Health educators: Helping youth lead 'happy, safe, productive lives'

As director of education at the Robert Crown Centers for Health Education, Kris Adzia is responsible for programs for children and youth ranging from sex education to drug prevention, general health and nutrition, all aimed at helping young people “lead healthy, happy and safe lives.”

It’s an exciting task.

There’s seldom a dull moment when teaching young people about health, as trends are constantly changing, and kids always ask interesting questions that keep educators on their toes, Adzia said.

“Overall, the work health educators do is to make a difference in each and every student we see, parents we talk with, or teachers we may train in a given health-related topic,” she said. “We do what we do because we want all of our young people to grow up to lead productive lives.”

The job of a health educator can vary, depending on where they work. The 10 RCC health educators provide scientifically and medically accurate information at the appropriate age level to students in grades K-12 in eight counties, as well as the city of Chicago.

The staff works with individual schools, school districts, county health departments, medical groups, parents and other community partners and coalitions.

Students are invited to attend classes at the Robert Crown facilities in west suburban Hinsdale or the North Lawndale community on Chicago’s West Side. Outreach programs can also be held in schools or other classroom settings, said Robert Crown educator Jackie Gill. RCC also sponsors summer camp and sports programs.

RCC general health programs range from oral hygiene (Chatter, Chew and Chomp) to obesity prevention (F.I.T. Campaign) and body anatomy (Incredible Machine). Family Life classes focus on such topics as puberty, AIDS: Alleviating Fears, and teen sexual health. Substance abuse programs include “3-Point Advantage” (for student athletes) and Heroin Prevention Education.

Other health educators work in places as varied as county or other public health departments, family planning service agencies, drug prevention agencies, wellness clinics/departments, hospitals, public and private schools.

To become a health educator, most candidates earn a bachelor’s degree in community health education, health promotion or public health, Gill said. Some go on to obtain a master’s degree in public health.

Before being hired, it’s common for health educators to complete an internship, which can be completed at a variety of locations, Gill said. The Robert Crown Center accepts two to three interns at least twice a year, or once per semester.

As the nation’s first health education center (founded in 1958), RCC “has been a leader and innovator in the field for half a century. More than 5 million students have learned from our science-based programs about healthy eating, puberty, human reproduction, tobacco, and alcohol and drug abuse prevention,” according to the agency’s website. “We reach more than 80,000 young people annually. Our vast experience and knowledge makes us the premier health education resource center in the nation.”

RCC employs health educators who are doctors, nurses, elementary, high school and middle school teachers, health instructors, community health educators and public health experts, Adzia said.

In addition to teaching, health educators also spend time researching health trends, developing curriculum and assisting with events such as school health fairs and community outreach programs.

All health educators must develop strong communication skills so they can lead and deliver programs, Adzia said. They must also be able to work well with others because there’s lots of collaboration between health educators and those at health departments and schools. Being able to think and act quickly and adapt to changing classroom situations and challenging questions is also a must.

Such jobs are not for the squeamish, Adzia said. The topics health educators cover tend to be sensitive and are often uncomfortable for many people to discuss.

“There are also a lot of misconceptions about many of the topic areas, so addressing those gaps in knowledge is both challenging and rewarding,” she said. “Health education is not always seen as a priority in schools … so health education concepts are many times being pushed into smaller segments of time or pushed out of the curriculum all together.”

Since health education is often a small unit in a student’s education, health educators must have strong personalities so they can make a difference in a short time period, Gill said. The job is vitally important. Because the Chicago area has several food deserts, problems with drugs, crime and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as high rates of unplanned pregnancy, health education is vital to teach successful life skills, she noted.

“I believe teaching children … a new and interesting concept is always rewarding,” she said. “But teaching them a life skill and seeing them actually comprehend and relate to it is even more rewarding.”

SIDEBAR: Wellness programs help reduce health care costs

Health educators teach people behaviors that promote wellness. In general, they work to assess the needs of individuals and communities and create programs or events covering many different health topics.

They also teach people how to manage health issues, measure the effectiveness of programs and classes, do research, and offer training programs for fellow health professionals or community health workers. Part of their work is advocating for better health resources and policies.

Health educators work in many settings, including hospitals, nonprofits, government or physician’s offices, businesses and schools.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in health education or health promotion, offered at most colleges and universities. Such programs focus on teaching theories and methods of health education and help instill skills students need to develop health education materials and programs.

Local colleges with health education programs include the masters program at the University of Illinois-Chicago. while The Graham School at the University of Chicago offers a Certificate in Community Health Advocacy.

Some jobs in the field, such as positions with the federal government or in state public health agencies, require employees to have a master’s degree or a Ph.D., often in community health education, school health education, public health education or health promotion.

Some employers require Certified Health Education Specialist certification, offered from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. Candidates for certification must pass an exam aimed at entry-level health educators who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree or are within three months of receiving their degree. There’s also a Master Certified Health Education Specialist credential for health educators with advanced education and experience.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for health educators in May 2012 was $48,790. The lowest 10 percent made less than $27,730, while the top 10 percent earned more than $86,810.

By the year 2022, employment of health educators is expected to grow 21 percent. Efforts are expected to intensify to improve health and reduce health care costs by teaching people about healthy habits and behaviors and using health care services.

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Health educators: Helping youth lead "happy, safe, productive lives"