{"id":1404,"date":"2026-06-12T16:23:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/?p=1404"},"modified":"2026-06-12T16:23:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:23:20","slug":"building-a-stronger-foundation-for-community-health-across-south-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/2026\/06\/12\/building-a-stronger-foundation-for-community-health-across-south-carolina\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Stronger Foundation for Community Health Across South Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Communities thrive when people have a shared understanding of the factors that influence health and well-being. To help build that foundation across South Carolina, the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health at Furman University is proud to launch <strong>Foundations in Community Health<\/strong>, a new online learning series designed to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to improve health outcomes and strengthen communities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Funded through a grant from the South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, this innovative educational program provides accessible, high-quality training focused on the many factors that shape health beyond the walls of a clinic or hospital. With a particular emphasis on the unique strengths and challenges of rural communities, the series helps participants understand how communities can work together to create conditions that support health for all.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Foundations in Community Health?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Health is shaped by much more than healthcare. The conditions in which people live, learn, work, worship, and play all influence opportunities for health and well-being. Understanding these factors and how they interact, is essential for anyone working to improve health outcomes in their community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The Foundations in Community Health series was created to build a shared language and understanding around community health across South Carolina. Whether you are a healthcare provider, community health worker, student, social worker, researcher, educator, faith leader, or engaged community member, these courses provide practical, foundational knowledge that can be applied immediately in your work and community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">By strengthening understanding of the factors that influence health, participants will be better equipped to identify opportunities for change, foster collaboration, and contribute to healthier, more resilient communities.<\/p>\n<h2>Explore the Five Course Modules<\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The series consists of five self-paced online courses, each designed to introduce key concepts and practical applications related to community health.<\/p>\n<h3>Social and Environmental Factors that Affect Health<\/h3>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Explore how the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age influence health outcomes and contribute to differences in health across communities and populations.<\/p>\n<h3>Rural Health Dynamics and Strategies<\/h3>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Examine the unique characteristics of rural communities, including both the challenges and strengths that influence healthcare access, delivery, and health outcomes. Learn strategies for supporting health and well-being in rural settings.<\/p>\n<h3>Health Policy and Financing<\/h3>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Develop a foundational understanding of how healthcare systems, policy decisions, and financing mechanisms shape access to care, health outcomes, and community health initiatives.<\/p>\n<h3>Faith, Spirituality, and Community Health<\/h3>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Discover the important role faith, spirituality, and religious institutions can play in promoting health, supporting healing, building resilience, and strengthening community connections.<\/p>\n<h3>Community-Engaged Research<\/h3>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Learn how meaningful partnerships between researchers and communities can help address community needs, generate actionable knowledge, and create sustainable improvements in health outcomes.<\/p>\n<h2>Designed for Busy Learners<\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The Foundations in Community Health series was intentionally developed to be flexible and accessible for learners from a variety of professional and educational backgrounds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Participants can expect:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>Five one-hour online courses<\/li>\n<li>Fully asynchronous and self-paced learning<\/li>\n<li>No cost to learners<\/li>\n<li>Online access from anywhere<\/li>\n<li>Practical and immediately applicable content<\/li>\n<li>Opportunities to earn professional continuing education credits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Whether you complete one course or the entire series, participants can engage with the content at their own pace and according to their interests and professional goals.<\/p>\n<h2>Continuing Education and Professional Credentialing<\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Participants who complete individual modules may earn continuing education units (CEUs) for those courses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Learners who successfully complete all five courses are eligible to receive CME credit and earn the <strong>Foundations in Community Health digital badge<\/strong>, issued by Furman University through Credly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">This digital credential recognizes a participant&#8217;s commitment to understanding the foundations of community health and demonstrates competency in key concepts related to community health, rural health, health policy, faith and spirituality, and community-engaged research.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The credential also reflects the development of skills such as:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>Critical Thinking<\/li>\n<li>Evidence-Based Practice<\/li>\n<li>Advocacy<\/li>\n<li>Change Leadership<\/li>\n<li>Reflective Practice<\/li>\n<li>Community Health Knowledge and Application<\/li>\n<li>Lifelong Learning<\/li>\n<li>Public Service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Earn the Foundations in Community Health Digital Badge<\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The Foundations in Community Health digital badge signifies successful completion of a comprehensive five-course learning experience focused on understanding and improving community health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">To earn the credential, participants must:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>Complete all five Foundations in Community Health courses<\/li>\n<li>Successfully complete competency assessments<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate understanding of key community health concepts and their practical application<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">By the end of the series, participants will have developed foundational competencies that can be applied immediately within healthcare settings, educational environments, community organizations, and public service roles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The badge serves as a visible recognition of professional growth and a commitment to strengthening the health and well-being of communities.<\/p>\n<h2>Who Should Enroll?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Foundations in Community Health was designed for anyone interested in understanding and improving community health, including:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>Healthcare professionals<\/li>\n<li>Physicians and nurses<\/li>\n<li>Community Health Workers<\/li>\n<li>Social workers<\/li>\n<li>Public health professionals<\/li>\n<li>Researchers<\/li>\n<li>Students<\/li>\n<li>Faith leaders<\/li>\n<li>Community leaders<\/li>\n<li>Nonprofit professionals<\/li>\n<li>Engaged community members<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The diversity of learners is one of the strengths of the program. By bringing together participants from different backgrounds and sectors, the series encourages a shared understanding of community health and promotes collaboration across disciplines.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/canva.link\/m8q9awnc1t5sv5j\">Meet the Instructors<\/a><\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Foundations in Community Health features a multidisciplinary team of educators, researchers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders who bring extensive experience in community health practice, rural health, health equity, policy, faith and health, and community-engaged research.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Each instructor contributes practical expertise and real-world perspectives designed to help learners connect concepts to action.<\/p>\n<h2>Building Healthier Communities Together<\/h2>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Improving community health requires collaboration, shared understanding, and a commitment to learning from one another. The Foundations in Community Health series was created to provide accessible, evidence-informed education that empowers individuals and organizations to make meaningful contributions to the health and well-being of their communities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Whether you are looking to strengthen your professional knowledge, expand your understanding of community health, earn continuing education credits, or gain a recognized credential, Foundations in Community Health offers an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/innovationlab.furman.edu\/foundations-of-community-health\/\">Start Learning Today<\/a><\/h3>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Registration is now open, and all courses are available at no cost to learners.<\/p>\n<p>Join us in building a stronger foundation for community health across South Carolina.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Communities thrive when people have a shared understanding of the factors that influence health and well-being. To help build that foundation across South Carolina, the Institute for the Advancement of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[34,75,23],"class_list":["post-1404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-community-health","tag-furman-innovation-lab","tag-furman-university"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1404"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1432,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404\/revisions\/1432"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/institute-advancement-community-health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}