National Health Education Week – October 21-25, 2024
Since 1995, SOPHE has led the National Health Education Week* (NHEW) celebration during the third week of October.
NHEW activities increase awareness of major public health issues and promote a better understanding of the role of health education and health promotion.
Join SOPHE, its chapters, members, and partners every October for events, webinars, and activities across the country.
*Initially in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services
Purpose
To increase national awareness on major public health issues and promote a better understanding of the role of health education.
NHEW Mission
To increase the awareness of health education specialists’ capacity in the community and schools and to promote the health of society.
NHEW Goals
- To provide support and resources for health education specialists and other health education professionals
- To train and educate the next generation of health education specialists
- To increase awareness of employers and other professionals of the valuable roles health education specialists play across sectors
Health Education Specialists – vital to the nation
Health education specialists offer knowledge, skills, and training that complement health providers, policymakers, educational experts, human resource personnel, and other professionals whose work impacts human health.
Health education:
- Improves the health status of individuals, communities, states, and the nation
- Enhances the quality of life for all people
- Reduces costly premature deaths and disability.
Health education focused on prevention reduces the financial and human costs spent on medical treatment.
- Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, consume more than 75 percent of the $2.2 trillion spent on health care in the United States each year – the equivalent of about 2.5 economic “bailout” packages (CDC, 2013).
- Spending as little as $10 per person on proven preventive interventions could save the country over $16 billion in just five years (RWJF, 2008).
Health literacy is a large determinant of health status and without these components offered by health education specialists, members in each community can be greatly affected.
The following 2024 daily webinars now available on-demand:
Artificial Intelligence and Health Education: Understanding Future Implications for the Profession
Nurturing Mental Wellness for a Healthier Tomorrow
Training Promotoras as Environmental Justice and Women’s Health Advocates
Health Literacy Game-Changers for Health Equity Champions
Workforce Development: Growing the Pipeline and Exploring Career Options