Introduction
The targeted public health problem is smoking. Statistics show clearly that smoking is one of the leading causes of death in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills over 6 million people annually (CEASE: Mission & Goals, 2015). Many passive smokers are also affected by cigarette-related complications. Majority of the affected individuals live in underprivileged environments or countries. The targeted study focuses on smoking cessation. Statistics show clearly that smoking is a major challenge in different parts of the world. The study will therefore examine the efforts undertaken by CEASE to deal with smoking in South West Baltimore.
Background
Baltimore has many smokers compared to different regions in the United States. Statistics indicate that around “69 percent of males and 50 percent of women engage in smoking” (CEASE: Mission & Goals, 2015, para. 3). As well, the number of passive smokers has been increasing steadily in the region (Rigotti, 2012). Different government agencies and organizations are currently embracing the best measures in order to deal with this problem.
One of these organizations is the Communities Engaged in Advocating for a Smoke-free Environment (CEASE). The agency uses powerful programs in order to address this problem. The agency uses strategic plans in order to achieve the best goals (Kumar & Vijayan, 2012). Training programs are used to educate more people about the dangers of smoking. The organization also uses powerful initiatives in order to empower more youths in the region (Rigotti, 2012). The agency has implemented a powerful study approach known as Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This program is used to define, evaluate, design and implement the best practices.
Proposed Internship Activity
The potential organization for my internship is the Communities Engaged in Advocating for a Smoke-Free Environment (CEASE) in Baltimore City. I will also complete a wide range of activities in an attempt to support the agency’s goals. The first activity will be to design various smoking cessation programs. I will also be involved in every implementation process. I will also be part of every evaluation process. I will also undertake numerous studies in order to present evidence-based concepts. Such concepts will eventually deliver positive results. Such studies will outline the major challenges associated with smoking (Rigotti, 2012).
These activities will ensure more people achieve their goals. The implementation process will ensure more people benefit from the process. As well, new studies will be conducted in order to support the proposed programs (Liu & Tan, 2009). These approaches will make it easier for more people to stop smoking. The activities will ensure the implemented program addresses the major health challenges associated with smoking (Tobacco, 2015). The important goal is to inform more people about the dangers of smoking. The strategy will also propose a powerful model that can be used to deal with smoking.
Implications for Professional Development
The targeted internship will equip me with powerful competencies. To begin with, I will develop new project management skills. Such skills will make it easier for me to identify and address various health challenges (Ji, Xiong, Gilpin, & Biener, 2007). I will use such skills to address various public health problems. I will acquire new decision-making, critical thinking, and problem-solving concepts (Liu & Tan, 2009). Such concepts will make it easier for me to support more smokers. I will apply such competencies in different situations in order to support more individuals. New practices such as communication and teamwork will become part of my professional practice.
Reference List
CEASE: Mission & Goals. (2015). Web.
Ji, M., Xiong, C., Gilpin, E., & Biener, L. (2007). Assessing the Effectiveness of Anti-smoking Media Campaigns by Recall and Rating Scores: A Pattern-Mixture GEE Model Approach. Journal of Data Science, 5(1), 23-40.
Kumar, R., & Vijayan, V. (2012). Smoking Cessation Programs and Other Preventive Strategies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Supplement to JAPI, 60(1), 53-60.
Liu, H., & Tan, W. (2009). The Effect of Anti-Smoking Media Campaign on Smoking Behavior: The California Experience. Annals of Economics and Finance, 10(1), 29-47.
Rigotti, N. (2012). Strategies to Help a Smoker Who Is Struggling to Quit. JAMA, 308(15), 1573-1580.
Tobacco. (2015). Web.