New Certificate Program: Public Health Fundamentals for Park and Recreation Professionals

People on a walking path in the city

The Eppley Institute recently released their newest certificate program, Public Health Fundamentals for Park and Recreation Professionals. The certificate program is the combination of the five Public Health & YOU e-courses, developed in partnership with the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington, and post-course assignments that promote participants’ understanding of their agency’s contribution to community health.

Through the certificate program, park and recreation agencies have the unique opportunity to learn the language of public health while applying health concepts to their existing programming and policies. Participants are sure to develop a deeper understanding of their contributions to the town_lake_hike_bikecommunity’s health while at the same time exploring new partnerships that can assist in the implementation and evaluation of new programs and strategies.

There are two ways participants can sign up for the certificate program. There is a cohort option ($275/person) and an individual option ($350/person). The cohort option requires participants to commit to a schedule over a three-month time period and to participate in discussion forums. The discussion forums encourage professional networking and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. A list of advantages and disadvantages of cohort-based programs can be found here. The individual option is designed for professionals who cannot commit to a schedule and prefer to submit assignments at their own pace over the course of a year.

After completing the certificate program, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the role of park and recreation agencies in resolving public health issues.
  • Apply concepts learned in the e-courses to a parks and recreation model.
  • Identify and describe program and/or policy strategies that park and recreation agencies can use to promote health.
  • Identify partners outside the field of parks and recreation who could assist in implementing and evaluating program and/or policy strategies.
  • Describe the different factors that impact positive health behavior with regard to the ecological model.

The Eppley Institute is offering a special 50% discount offer for those who would like to be in the program’s first cohort. The first cohort will begin Monday, March 30th and run through June 7th. If you are interested in this special offer, sign up for the March cohort offering found here http://provalenslearning.com/certificate-programs/public-health-fundamentals-for-park-and-recreation-professionals-certificate-program. Further discounts will be offered for agencies who register three or more people. If you have questions about the certificate program, contact Sally Pelto-Wheeler at sjpelto@indiana.edu.