Seeking Input from Virginia Public Health Community

The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), with funding from the National Network of Public Health Institutes, is organizing a Virginia state forum to examine the understand of the Community Health Worker role in bridging health care and population health in Virginia. 

The one-day forum, tentatively planned for March 2015, will bring public health and health service providers in Virginia together to define population health and explore the role of Community Health Workers in promoting population health and health equity within our health care systems and communities. It will also explore opportunities to expand the Community Health Worker workforce, as we strive towards improving the overall health of our state. IPHI is seeking input from the Virginia public health community to inform planning of the state forum. If you are a member of the VA public health community, please fill out this survey this survey. The survey will be open until November 14. An analysis of the results will be made available at the forum and electronically.  For more information, email fnageer@institutephi.org.  

This post is reprinted from the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia newsletter. 

2015 Call for Poster Abstracts!

Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center

2015 Annual Teleheath Summit

The Greenbrier

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia 

March 29 - 31, 2015

The Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC) is accepting submissions for abstracts on topics related to innovations in telehealth for poster presentations at the MATRC 2015 Annual Telehealth Summit. 

Abstract Categories

Models, practices, processes and tools related to: 

• Innovations in Clinical Telehealth 
• Innovations in Telehealth Education
• Original Research Contributing to Telehealth Practice and/or Policy

Abstracts and a biosketch must be submitted by e-mail to Anita Browning at anita.browning@virginia.edu on/before 5:00 PM EST Monday, December 1, 2014. Please direct all questions to Anita Browning at anita.browning@ virginia.edu or 434.270.

Health on the Homefront: Addressing the Health Needs of Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Veterans, and Their Families

Register now for: 

Health on the Homefront: 

Addressing the Health Needs of Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Veterans, and Their Families

June 16-17, 2014

Hampton Roads Convention Center

Hampton, Virginia

Given all of the health concerns facing veterans, active duty military and their families, the Virginia Public Health Association has taken a proactive approach. It has developed a conference designed to serve as a critical forum on the complex issues those who have sacrificed so much for our nation. From traumatic brain surgery and PTSD to special considerations clinicians should keep in mind when serving the military family, the implications for public health, and the public health workforce of Virginia, are huge. 

The program qualifies for 12.5 hours of Social Work credit and has been designed with tracks of sessions focused on topics of interest to military health and behavioral health, public health, and primary care professionals, and will offer information relevant to advocates, concerned citizens, educators, policy makers and planners, social service organizations and anyone else with an interest in the health of nearly a third of Virginia's residents. The conference is open to anyone who wishes to participate. Complete details and registration information are available at www.vapha.org. 

Schedule

Session Descriptions and Speaker Biographies

Sponsor and Exhibit Opportunities

Questions? Contact Mary Kidd, CMP, VAPHA Administrator at (804) 367-4860 or mary.kidd@vapha.org. 

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month 2014 - "I Am Beyond"

Recognized since 1977, during May, we honor the heritage of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians and celebrate their many contributions to our nation. The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s theme for this year’s AAPI Heritage Month is “I Am Beyond.” 

"The phrase ['I Am Beyond'] captures the aspirations of the American spirit, how Americans of Asian and Pacific descent have always sought to excel beyond the challenges that have limited equal opportunity in America. 'I Am Beyond' recognizes Dalip Singh Saund's election as the first Asian American Congressman in 1957 after campaigning for the rights of all Asian immigrants to become naturalized U.S. citizens. 'I Am Beyond' recognizes the civil rights work of Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz in championing for the rights of American workers across communities. 'I Am Beyond' recognizes the achievements of Patsy Mink, the first woman of color and first Asian American woman elected to Congress, a woman whose legacy includes the promotion of equal opportunity in education. 'I Am Beyond' recognizes the legacy of Chinese American Grace Lee Boggs, a major figure in the civil rights who continues to work on empowering communities in Detroit, MI at nearly 100 years old. 'I Am Beyond' is the theme of the new Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center exhibition Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation, a look at history, art and culture of Indian immigrants and Indian Americans in the U.S. beyond stereotypes." 

-Konrad Ng, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

To learn more about AAPI Heritage month, click here!

Abstracts Needed for 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health & Health Disparities

Abstract submission is now open for the 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health & Health Disparities. Submission Deadline is June 2, 2014. 

Abstract themes include:

• Behavioral and Mental Health 
• Biomedical Informatics and Computational Biology
• Cancer Health Disparities Research 
• Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
• Child and Adolescent health 
• Clinical and Translational Science Research 
• Community-Based Participatory Research Addressing Minority Health and Health Disparities
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Environmental Science 
• Gene-Environment Interactions 
• Global Health 
• Health Information Technology and Minority and Health Disparities Populations
• Health Policy 
• Health Related Technology Application in Minority and Health Disparities Populations 
• HIV and AIDS
• Immigrant Health 
• Infectious Disease/Immunology/Autoimmunity (Non-HIV)
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI)
• Migrant Health
• Nanotechnologies
• Neuroscience 
• Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmacokinetics/Drug Delivery
• Proteomic Applications in Basic Research for Health Disparities
• Research with Indigenous Populations 
• Rural Health 
• Science of Metabolic Disease 
• Small Business Grants to Address Health Disparities 
• Social Determinants of Health 
• Violence and Health Disparities
• Women's Health 
• Men's Health 
• Other Areas (as related to minority health and health disparities)

Click here for more information or to submit an abstract!

National Women's Health Week: May 11-17!

National Women's Health Week is May 11-17 with National Women's Check-Up Day on May 12, 2014!  

Click here to visit the website and join the cause!

Free, Upcoming Webinars on Rural Health Factors, Veteran Health Care

On May 6 and 7, 2014, the Virginia Rural Health Association will host two free webinars focusing on health factors in rural communities and veteran health care concerns and benefits. "Rural Social Determinants of Health" will be broadcasted on May 6 at 12 p.m. and will focus on the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health outcomes, known as Social Determinants of Health. "Improving Health Care for Veterans Begins With You" will begin at 10 a.m. on May 7 and review common concerns that veterans have and provide screening tools to use when providing care to veterans. For more information on the sessions and to register, click here. 

Invite to OMH Stakeholder Call Announcing New Cultural Competency Program for Oral Health Professionals

In commemoration of National Minority Health Month, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invites you to attend a stakeholder call announcing the launch of a new Cultural Competency Program for Oral Health Professionals. This oral health e-learning program is the first Think Cultural Health e-learning program based on the enhanced National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National CLAS Standards) designed specifically for oral health professionals.

What: Stakeholder call announcing new Cultural Competency Program for Oral Health Professionals
Date: Thursday, April 17, 2014
Time: 2:00 pm (EDT)
Duration: 1 hour
Dial-In: 888-455-1840, passcode: 5780103. No pre-registration is needed.

Speakers:

J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Mayra E. Alvarez, MHA, Associate Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Rear Admiral William Bailey, Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Dental Officer, U.S. Public Health Service (HHS)

VFHY Accepting Proposals for 2014-15 Marketing Contracts

The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) has released a Request for Proposals for the following Marketing contracts for 2014-15: 

Social Marketing Initiatives, Messaging, and Media

Evaluation and Research of VFHY's Social Marketing Initiatives

VFHY's Youth Engagement, Volunteerism, and Advocacy Initiative

For more information, click here.

SCALE Requesting Proposals for Read.Write.Act Virtual Conference

The Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education (SCALE) is announcing a call for proposals for their Read.Write.Act Virtual Conference on November 7-8, 2014.

Each year, SCALE hosts the Read.Write.Act Virtual Conference, which connects college students at campus based literacy groups, program administrators, higher education faculty, and non-profit professionals from around the country with content specialists, community-based literacy organizations and other leaders in literacy who are committed to creating a more just society by engaging young people in literacy education.

SCALE is looking for proposals that look at best practices for college-aged literacy leaders and volunteers (for K-12, ESL, and Adult tutees), program management (such as volunteer management, leadership transition or program evaluation), or stories of the way literacy intersects with social justice issues. Presenters need to be local: they use Blackboard Collaborate for all presentations in a Webinar format.

Additionally, they're looking for poster proposals that spotlight literacy programs, research and best practices. These will be available to view during the Virtual Conference and can be turned in as either a Prezi or a PowerPoint (which will be turned into a Prezi). To learn more and submit a proposal, click here!

Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation Mini-Grants Due April 14

The application process for the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (VBCF) Mini-Grant Program is now open. Mini-grants of up to $1000 will be awarded non-profit organizations providing breast cancer education to Virginians. Priority will be given to projects in areas of the state with breast cancer incidence or mortality rates higher than the state average and/or to projects serving low-income, un- or underinsured, medically underserved or other marginalized populations in need of targeted, customized breast cancer educational approaches. Review criteria and apply here. Applications are due by noon on April 14 and award decisions will be communicated by Friday, April 25. 

Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Deadline Extended

The Veteran's Administration announced today that it is extending the application deadline to midnight eastern standard time on May 27, 2014 to allow applicants additional time to apply for funds available under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program. To review the original funding post, click here. 

LGBT Healthcare Equality Index Open for Participation

The national LGBT Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is a free online survey, offered annually since 2007, that hospitals and clinics use to provide LGBT patient-centered care. Patients can assess themselves against CMS and Joint Commission requirements, learn industry best practices, access free staff training, and earn Leader designation. 

718 healthcare facilities participated in the HEI 2013, and the 2014 survey is now open! To learn more about it, click here!

Healthy Roads Media Introduces "Do I need an Interpreter?" Videos

Healthy Roads Media has posted a new video called, "Do I Need an Interpreter?" that is available in 7 languages, including Arabic, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.

You can access the videos in multiple ways:

1) Visit the Healthy Roads Media Website

2) Use your smart phone to access the Health Roads Media Mobile site

3) Download the videos onto your computer

Celebrate National Minority Health Month in April!

During April, we mark National Minority Health Month by raising awareness about the health disparities that continue to affect minority populations.  First observed in 2001 in response to Healthy People 2010, this year’s theme is Prevention is Power: Taking Action for Health Equity, emphasizing the critical role of prevention in reducing health disparities.

“National Minority Health Month is an inclusive initiative that addresses the health needs of African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and other minorities.  Its goal is to strengthen the capacity of local communities to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness in minority populations through prevention, early detection, and control of disease complications.”

                -National Minority Quality Forum

We want to hear from you! 

Is your office or organization involved in an effort to reduce health disparities affecting Virginia’s minority populations? Help us celebrate this month by submitting examples of Community Success Stories to the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE). For more information or to make a submission, contact Sarahbeth Jones, OMHHE Health Equity Communications Specialist at sarah.jones@vdh.virginia.gov or (804) 864-7422.