Health Care & Health Issues
Resources to help you organize dialogue & deliberation programs about health care reform, alcohol abuse, abortion, cancer, drugs and end of life issues.
Guides to Dialogue & Deliberation
Alcohol: Controlling The Toxic Spill
1999. National Issues Forums.
Excessive drinking creates countless personal disasters, including job losses, bankruptcies, suicides, divorces, crimes, lost friendships, and ruined family life. Nearly one in ten adults meets criteria for chronic alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction. How can a democratic society safely control the drug, alcohol? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
At Death's Door: What Are The Choices?
1997. National Issues Forums.
Medical technology has greatly extended American lives, though patients' final days or months are often spent on artificial life-support systems. Death often follows a medical decision to withdraw treatment. Some are demanding a larger role for patients in making decisions about the time and manner of their deaths. Do patients have a right to a physician's assistance in committing suicide? Lawmakers and jurists are wrestling with this question, and they need to know what approach Americans want to take. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
The Battle Over Abortion: Seeking Common Ground In A Divided Nation
1990. National Issues Forums.
In one state after another, fundamental questions have been raised about whether access to abortion should be restricted. Few issues pose such a difficult test of our ability to discuss topics about which we disagree. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
Breast Cancer: We Can Overcome
For certain groups of women-notably the poor, the poorly educated, and the elderly-breast cancer death rates remain unnecessarily high. Citizens in rural Alabama look at three ways in which a community might deal with this problem. To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.
The Coalition for Healthier Cities and Communities
Publishes a Dialogue Guide, intended to help bring citizens together to discuss and plan for building local community and creating local health, broadly defined. The Guide offers step-by-step instructions for planning, conducting, and following up upon community dialogue, plus guidelines for the dialogue facilitator and sample dialogue questions.
The Community Tool Box
Contains over 250 separate online sections on community development and health promotion. Intended to provide practical guidelines for community workers. Among relevant sections are ?Leading a Community Dialogue on Building a Healthy Community? (Chapter 3, Section 17), and ?Developing Facilitation Skills? (Chapter 16, Section 2). Most sections contain summary checklists; many have downloadable overheads.
Day of Dialogue: A community conversation about alcohol.
Greek Summit - Sponsor: NASPA's Fraternity/Sorority Knowledge Community
Provides a model for discussing issues related to alcohol and alcohol-free housing. Contact Tisa Mason, NASPA Day of Dialogue Committee Chair, at .
Equal Access to Health Care: Whose Problem Is It?
A stagnant economy, lack of education, and cultural resistance combine to prevent many people on the island of Kaua'i from getting needed medical care. This booklet outlines four alternatives for ensuring that all citizens have equal access to health care. To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.
Examining Health Care: What's the Public's Prescription?
2003. National Issues Forums.
The U.S. spends more than any other country in the world on health care -- $1.3 trillion in 2000, or $4,637 on every man, woman, and child. Yet serious problems with access, cost, and quality persist, depriving many people of the care they need and jeopardizing the health of our nation. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
The Health Care Cost Explosion: Why It's So Serious, What Should Be Done
1993. National Issues Forums.
Most Americans think the health care system needs to be fundamentally reformed. But there is no agreement about how to proceed. How far do we need to go to contain costs? Which direction is the best direction? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
The Health Care Crisis: Containing Costs, Expanding Coverage
1992. National Issues Forums.
Health care reform is one of the most prominent issues on the public agenda. The flaws of America's health care system have become increasingly apparent, a reminder that the system needs to be fixed and perhaps radically modified. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
Illegal Drugs: What Should We Do Now?
1997. National Issues Forums.
One in every two Americans either has a drug problem or knows someone who does. Teenage use of drugs has doubled since 1992. Is the nation's war against drugs working? What should we be doing? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
The Living Dialogue on Health and Care - Facilitator's Guide & Starter Kit
2001. Valeo Initiative, The Living Dialogue National Demonstration Project.
Based on Appreciative Inquiry, these include a guidebook for conducting workshops on the living dialogue and a guide to organizing a dialogue. For more information, e-mail or go to www.vvaleo.org.
The New Science of Food: Facing Up to Our Biotechnology Choices
2003. National Issues Forums.
The use of new biotechnology tools in our global agricultural and food system has rapidly increased during the past decade. Scientists can now use biotechnology to create characteristics in plants or animals by transferring genetic material from one source to another plant or animal. In the process, new personal and societal decisions emerge about these food and agricultural production practices. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
When the Mind and Body Start to Fail: What Are the Choices?
As more Americans live longer the incidence of chronic and degenerative diseases increases. This booklet provides a framework for discussing the rights of frail and disabled individuals to live as they want and the obligations of society to care for them. To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.
Related Materials
Americans Deliberate on Alcohol Abuse: A National Report
2001. National Issues Forums.
A report on the outcome of forums held across the nation on this issue. Making use of participants' answers to Pre- and Post-Forum Questionnaires, reports from moderators, and in-depth studies of selected forums, these reports describe in some detail what happened as people deliberated about the issue at hand. These reports range from 20 to 48 pages and cost $3.00 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
Building Healthy Communities
Adams, Bruce. Pew Partnership for Civic Change.
This 32-page report describes the elements of a healthy civic community, with examples of how citizen leadership works. Available at www.cpn.org/tools/manuals/Community/healthy.html.
Health Care that Works: Georgia Businesses Define a Framework for Action
1996. Prepared by the Harwood Group for the Georgia Health Policy Center and the Georgia Business Forum on Health.
Most people agree that some changes are needed in the health care system. But what kind of change? What are our priorities? What values and principles should drive our efforts to improve health care? This report addresses these questions from the perspective of the Georgia business community. We help them explore their situation and what steps they can take in the future. Order at www.theharwoodinstitute.org.
Keep Kids Alcohol Free: Strategies for Action.
This easy-to-use, 17-page booklet introduces three basic strategies to prevent alcohol use by children aged 9 to 15 and explains how these strategies can be put into practice in the home, school and community. It also lists first steps to help people get local campaigns started and provides direct links to online sources of information about developing more comprehensive community-wide programs. To order, email .
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