Program Overview-Health Education and Promotion Network (HEP Network)

The HEP Network is a collaboration between the American Association for Health Education (AAHE), which is an association of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and The Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education (FAHE). The mission of HEP Network is the design, production and marketing of high quality health education courses to be delivered online in partnership with universities and non-governmental organizations. The HEP Network partners with universities and other educational program providers to offer online courseware for college credit or for approved in-service credit.

A cooperative agreement between FAHE and The American Association for Health Education (AAHE), an affiliate of The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, provide the forum to effectively market and disseminate courses and other educational materials. AAHE's recognition as the preeminent professional membership association for health educators, along with the state and regional AAHPERD structure, provides both the visibility and organizational structure to market HEP Network materials in an effective manner.

Although the first series of courses are designed for graduate students seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in school health education, subsequent courses will be added to the network in a variety of topical areas. In addition, some university partners will offer courses for undergraduate credit as well as graduate credit. Health education professionals interested in adding courses and materials to the HEP Network will be asked to prepare a brief application and marketing plan to obtain approval before preparing instructional materials. (The guidelines are being developed)

The HEP Network is working with a collaborating university to channel students who complete HEP Network courses into their online master’s degree programs, thus allowing students to complete a master’s degree completely online using a combination of HEP Network courses and courses and field experiences from the partnering universities.

The HEP Network strives to develop high quality health education and health promotion materials that can be delivered using website applications. The Network developers understand that needs in the field are dynamic and therefore the HEPNetwork will need continual updating and improvement. To this end, The HEP Network will maintain a commitment to continued growth and improvement of instructional materials to meet the changing needs of health educators and the health education profession.