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About
A Tribe Choice Is a healthy choice.
Prevention and Education ServicesThe Health Promotion staff provides a wide range of educational, referral, and outreach services for students who are concerned about wellness, disease prevention, and other health-related issues. Additionally, the Health Promotion coordinates or participates in many initiatives, including the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Task Force and AlcoholEdu. |
One-on-One ConsultationsHealth Promotion offers one-on-one consultations, a free service for all full-time students. If you're concerned about any health issue or about how to help a friend, email wellness@wm.edu. |
Awareness EventsHealth Promotion collaborates with many departments and student organizations on campus to present several awareness events during the school year. In the past these events have included Sleep Awareness Week, Red Flag Campaign, Sexual Assault Awareness Week, de-stress events, No Shave November/Movember, Alcohol Awareness Week and more. |
Assessment & EvaluationWe regularly evaluate our programs by surveying the William & Mary student body. Every three years William & Mary students participate in the National College Health Assessment. Over a thousand students complete this random-sample survey. The data provided by this survey guides the activities of Health Promotions. Want to learn more about the results? Contact T Davis. |
Our Systems-Level Approach: The Socioecological Model
The Office of Health Promotion uses many strategies to promote behavior change. One approach is the Socioecological Model (SEM). This model is a systems-level approach, which provides a theoretical framework to address several behaviors. Addressing behaviors at multiple levels is most effective in supporting behavior change. The model posits that the individual and the environment are reciprocal, thus the individual influences their environment and vice versa. It also postulates that the environment is comprised of multiple levels, which include the individual, interpersonal relationships, the community, and policy.
IndividualThis level considers the internal components of behavior, such as knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and skills. Prevention strategies here seek to increase the skills and knowledge necessary to change attitudes and behavior and provide support for high-risk individuals to prevent or reduce harm. |
InterpersonalThis level comprises the external influences of friends, family, peers, and those in one’s close circles. Social norms and social identity, among other influences, operate at this level and can influence lifestyle choices. Prevention strategies at the interpersonal level include programming designed to strengthen these individuals’ problem-solving skills and promote health. |
CommunityThis level includes individuals, organizations/clubs/teams, and the institution. Here we consider rules and policies that guide and support behavior, including healthy and unhealthy behaviors. We explore the settings in which social relationships occur and identify the characteristics in these settings associated with unhealthy behaviors, and increase the availability of healthy opportunities in these settings and social activities. |
Policy/EnforcementThis level is the authoritative decisions made at the institutional level. Here, we establish and enforce community standards and strive for consistent consequences when standards are violated. |
The Social Ecological Model attends to the aforementioned levels creating environments where the change and synergy needed to support sustainable improvement in health can occur. Change strategies are most effective and likely to be sustained when directed at multiple levels. With this understanding and knowledge of the complex interplay between the levels, OHP uses SEM to promote change on our campus.