The Health Behavioral Change Imperative Theory, Education, and Practice in Diverse Populations

Health experts independently state that the most critical urban problems are preventable. This brings an added challenge to public health practitioners working in inner cities with predominately minority communities. In addition to deadly diseases - including transmittable diseases - violence, whether it is physical, sexual or child abuse, is the other predominant morbidity factor that urban areas confront.
Because of these concerns, there is a need for health professionals working with the communities to critically examine health behavior theories and prevention methodologies. Additionally, new prevention practices and programs need to be developed for community-based interventions to better serve the populations in need including programs in:

-HIV Prevention;
-Evaluation and Policy Research;
-Cancer Prevention and Screening;
-Urban Public Health Policy;
-Youth Violence Prevention.

1 The Health Behavioral Change Imperative: Paradigm Shifts and Prevention Mandate.- 2 Strategies for Health Behavior Change.- 3 Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health Care.- 4 Prevention Science: Theory, Research, and Implications for Practice.- 5 Violence Prevention in African American Youth.- 6 Applying Mental Health Behavioral Change to Ethnonational Conflict Resolution.- 7 Development of Authenticity in Public Health: A Culturecology Model as a Culture Critique.- 8 The Preparation and Scope of Practice for Future Advanced Public Health Practitioners in Doctoral Programs.- 9 The Social Context for Faith and Health.- 10 Healing an Addiction through a Twelve Step Program Ending in Faith.- The Coauthors.