Overview
Health Disparity Paper 1: Instructions and Grading Guide
Scenario
You are an intern at a community-based mental health agency. You work with a [insert specific population] and have been asked to write two brief papers (6–7 pages each) on the health disparity of [insert specific health condition/disparity] experienced by this population. These papers will be used to educate fellow social workers to enhance practice skills at the individual, community, and policy levels. Use peer-reviewed empirical literature and reputable data sources.
Instructions
Required Components
Your Health Disparity Paper 1 must have these three (3) components:
- Tell the story of a population that experiences a health disparity—a difference in health status based on systemic inequalities, such as those discussed in class. In this component, be sure to:
- Define your population early
- Use statistical data (i.e. prevalence or insistence)
- Use other information/sources
- Clearly explain and define this disease/disparity. In this component, be sure to:
- Define the disease/disparity in non-technical terms
- Explain the physical symptoms of the disease on the individual and the family
- Explain the psychosocial impacts of the disease on the individual and the family
- Tell your audience (the director of the community-based mental health agency) about the causes of the health disparity. In this component, be sure to:
- Explain why this disparity is a significant social problem
- Review and summarize current peer-reviewed empirical literature on the causes of this health disparity
- Identify what theories have been used to explain or investigate this disparity
- Identify the multiple factors at the individual, family, community, provider, or systems/policy level that explain the disparity
Guidelines
Your Health Disparity Paper 1 must follow these structural and academic guidelines:
- Paper length is six to seven (6-7) pages, not including cover and reference pages
- Any tables presented must be at the end of the paper, and are not included in the overall page count
- Citations and references are to be formatted in APA style
- In total, you need ten (10) references
- At least five (5) reputable references related to data and facts about the disparity/disease and population affected
- At least five (5) references from original, peer-reviewed research articles related to the cause of the disparity
- Paper must be uploaded to TurnItIn on Moodle 24-hours before deadline
- Students should check the similarity report, revise as necessary, and resubmit by the deadline
Marking Guide