Vulnerable Population Summary and Proposed Program

The first of your two written assignments for the course will provide a beginning framework that you will utilize in the development of your
Final Project: a proposal for a community-based program in your area. For this first written assignment, you will select one of the vulnerable groups identified in the text that will serve as your target population of interest throughout the duration of your next written assignment and Final Project.

Select one among the following groups from Chapter 1:

• Vulnerable mothers and children
• Abused individuals
• Chronically ill and disabled people  
• People diagnosed with HIV/AIDS
• People diagnosed with mental conditions
• Suicide- and homicide-liable people
• People affected by alcohol and substance abuse
• Indigent and homeless people
• Immigrants and refugees
• Groups for special consideration (you may propose a different vulnerable population at the consent of the instructor)

Once you have selected a group of interest, write a three page paper that covers the following:

• Discuss the impact that at least two of the factors below have on the vulnerability of your chosen group:
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Culture/Ethnicity
  • Income
• Analyze the intersection of social, political, and economic factors affecting vulnerability (must address all three factors).
• Draft the design of a new model program, not currently existent within your community. Provide a two- to- three paragraph statement that introduces your proposed community program. This section is tentative and might change as you conduct more research. At a minimum, however, items to address should include:
• An explanation of the issues and risk factors experienced by the selected population.  
• An evaluation of the health needs of the group and a proposed continuum of care level (preventive, treatment, or long-term care) based on the group’s issues, risk factors, and needs.  Justify the proposed level with supportive research/evidence.
• A description of one to two proposed services your program will include. 

Your assignment should be a minimum of three pages in length (excluding title and reference pages), and should include a minimum of three scholarly sources cited according to APA guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Required Resources

Required Text

1. Burkholder, D. M., & Nash, N. B.  (2013). Special populations in health care [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

• Chapter 3: Why are Some More Vulnerable than Others?
  • This chapter provides facts and research on why some populations are more vulnerable than others and why it is so crucial to have an effective care continuum.
• Chapter 4: Seeking an Effective Care Continuum
  • This chapter reviews the different approaches to health care.

Articles

1. American Physical Therapy Association. (2012). Care Continuum Alliance issues 2012 health care outlook.  PT in Motion, 4(3), 11. 
   • The full-text version of this article can be accessed through the EBSCOhost database in the Ashford University Library.
2. Herrenkohl, T. (2012). Pediatrics; marriage, education can help improve well-being of adults abused as children.  Pediatrics Week, 92. 
   • The full-text version of this article can be accessed through the ProQuest database in the Ashford University Library.

Multimedia

1. Kilberg, R. (Producer), & Margolis, B. (Director).  (2008). Reinventing healthcare —  A Fred Friendly seminar [Video file].  Retrieved from the Films On Demand database.
   • To view the Privacy Policy and Accessibility Statements for this source, please view the Privacy Policies and Accessibility Statements listed in your Syllabus.

Recommended Resources

Article

1. Kane, R. A. (2012).  Reflections of a disability activist.  Generations, 36(1), 64-68. 
   • The full-text version of this article can be accessed through the EBSCOhost database in the Ashford University Library.

Website

1. National Center on Elder Abuse (Links to an external site.).  (http://ncea.aoa.gov/ncearoot/Main_Site/index.aspx)