Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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

Friday, April 11, 2014

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)

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

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!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

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

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

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.