Background on Group Education
What is immunization group education?
- Through group education strategies, trained instructors provide information and resources as part of group classes or meetings to increase knowledge, skills and support related to immunizations. Information may be general or specific to an individual or group.
- Group education strategies may include presentations as well as individual or group activities that occur in schools, community centers, clinics, day care centers, homes, churches, worksites, or other meeting spaces. Using a detailed curriculum, these strategies can:
- increase knowledge about immunizations;
- provide a link between health and immunizations;
- promote specific behavior changes to become immunized;
- and improve social support or group norms related to immunizations.
How can I use group education to increase immunization rates?
- Many individuals feel comfortable being part of a group. Most students are taught in classes. Many employees work in teams, departments, or organizations. Children, adolescents, and adults often play or hang out with their friends. Residents may have block parties with their neighbors. A lot of individuals live with their families or friends. These social groups can help individuals learn by observing others or getting feedback from others.
- Group education works best when both individual and group strategies are used. Individual strategies can improve knowledge, attitudes, beliefs or skills. Group strategies can change social norms and peer pressure or help with handling conflict, gaining support or increasing communication. For example, it may be more helpful to provide information about common concerns about childhood immunizations and have the group talk about how those concerns influence their decisions.
- Similar to individual education and campaigns and promotions, group education can be designed to meet the needs of general audiences or specific groups. For example, group education childhood immunization messages can address all parents or parents from cultures with low immunization rates.
- Group education can be part of existing programs or services, such as health education classes in schools or prenatal care classes. Or, new group education classes or meetings can be set up to focus only on immunizations.
Who do I work with to develop group education strategies?
- To get help with your group education strategies, you may want to work with some of the following individuals or groups:
- health departments, including health educators or providers
- health care facilities, including providers in clinics, hospitals or other health care organizations
- schools, including teachers, coaches, nurses, counselors or administrators
- community coalitions
- civic organizations or community organizations such as Head Start, Boy/Girl Scouts, YMCA or 4H Club
- worksites, including wellness trainers and managers
- senior independent living facilities
- faith-based organizations
- neighborhood organizations and community members
- To promote your group education classes or meetings, it is helpful to work with some of the following individuals or groups:
- communications or advertising agencies
- celebrities or professional athletes
- advocacy organizations
- elected officials, policy-makers, decision-makers or community leaders
- government agencies
- metropolitan centers
- media, including newspaper, billboards, television or radio
- researchers and evaluators