Utah Department of Health Office of Health Disparities
The Connection: News about overcoming health disparities in Utah

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Online Minority Health Townhall


Health Equity Can't Wait- Act Now in Your Community 

As part of our observation of National Minority Health month, we would like to invite you to participate online in a Minority Health Townhall on Tuesday, April 24th at 12:30 p.m., streamed live from The White House.

The event will be an interactive, open dialogue with stakeholder groups and the media to highlight what the health care law, the Affordable Care Act, is doing to improve the health of racial and ethnic minorities.

This year’s theme, Health Equity Can’t Wait. Act Now in Your CommUNITY!, is a call to action for all of us to work together to reduce health disparities. Join us and learn more about how the Administration is working to improve the health of minority communities and achieve health equity for all Americans.

You can watch the Townhall live at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Please submit questions in advance using the hashtag #MinorityHealth or on our Facebook page.

Monday, April 23, 2012

May 2-4 Asian and Pacific Islander Health Forum

2 ½ day Community Advocacy and Training on Cancer and Health (CATCH) Leadership Training
on May 2-4, 2012 at Salt Lake City, Utah.
This FREE 2½ day training offers skills development for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) individuals, organizations, community members, and health advocates to become competent and effective advocates and leaders on cancer control and public health issues.
REGISTER TODAY! Visit: http://bit.ly/UT_CATCH_Registration
Directions: Argosy University, Suite 300

Job Opportunity: Utah Department of Health Bureau Director

The Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Preparedness, Bureau of Children with Special Health Care Needs is recruiting for a Bureau Director. This recruitment is open to the public. To apply for this position please visit https://statejobs.utah.gov. Apply for Requisition# 26341. This requisition will close on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 11:45pm. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Watts, HR Analyst at mwatts@utah.gov.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

New Local Health Data for Utah Counties

There are two excellent new resources for local data in Utah.

The Utah Department of Health, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health (IBIS) has just released a new feature called Community Snapshots. Now, you can see many Utah Department of Health data indicators about a specific local area on one screen for easy access. Each snapshot includes dozens of current, local health indicators with comparisons to statewide rates and where available, national rates. At present, the Community Snapshots are available by Local Health Department.  In the future, the snapshots will also cover counties and small areas.

Also, County Health Rankings and Roadmaps has recently updated its ranking reports.  It's time to find out if the health ranking of your county has changed.  This year's report includes some new measures, such as how many fast-food restaurants are in a county and levels of physical inactivity among residents. Graphs illustrating premature death trends over 10 years are new as well.

You can access both of these new data sources, as well as other local data, here: http://health.utah.gov/disparities/community/county.htm

50 Languages, Mental Health Info Now Available at Multilingual Library


The Multilingual Library has nine new languages:
  • Assyrian
  • Greek
  • Hebrew
  • Indonesian
  • Punjabi
  • Tamil
  • Tigrinya
  • Turkish
  • Urdu
This brings the total number of languages in the library up to 50!

Additionally, we have added a new topic category: Mental Health.  After this category was added, we found dozens of resources already in the library under other health categories that would appropriately be labeled mental health as well.  This experience has been a small reminder of the pertinence of mental health to other health issues.  We would welcome suggestions from community members about other multilingual or multicultural health websites and brochures that could be added to our new Mental Health section in our library.  Please add your ideas to the comments.

Project Success Youth Fitness Festival

*Project Success Coalition & Harambee will be hosting a Youth Fitness Festival for National Minority Health Month - April 2012. So, come join us as we walk, dance & play on 04/21/12 (Saturday) from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Jefferson Park (3302 Grant Avenue) in Ogden, Utah. This event is free & everyone in the community (babies, youth, young adults, adults, etc.) is welcome to attend.







*On 04/29/12 we will also be having Minority Health Sunday. There will be health demos, health prevention & education literature & more at local churches. For further questions call 801-394-0924 or projectsuccessinc@hotmail.com.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Job Opportunity: HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST

HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST II
Salary Range:  $16.50 - $29.17
Agency:  Dept of Health
Application Period 04/18/2012 - 04/25/2012
Location Ogden or Provo: 480 27th Street, Ogden UT and 1550 North Freedom Blvd, Provo, UT
The Utah Department of Health is proud to be a tobacco free campus.
Position Availability Public : Number of Openings 2   
Full Time 
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
There are two open positions: one in Ogden and one in Provo. Both positions are career service, schedule B, positions.
DHRM Compensation rules will be followed for current state employees.
Spanish Speaking Preferred

Job Characteristics
Incumbent will use a working knowledge to educate individuals regarding state sponsored government medical programs, rules and operating procedures. The incumbent will remain neutral while assisting Medicaid (Title XIX) and CHIP (Childrens' Health Insurance Program) eligible clients make informed choices in health care selection, disseminating health plan and primary care information. Incumbent will deal tactfully with complex personal issues and will deal effectively with the occasional hostile recipient.

Go to State Government Jobs link on right-hand menu of this blog to apply.

New Resource about Serving LGBT Clients

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released a report about health disparities and health resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals.  You can find the report on our website at: http://health.utah.gov/disparities/culture.html#cultures

Webinar on Successful Asthma Management


Successful Asthma Management

Join us on Thursday, May 10, 2012
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EST (2:00 PM – 3:30 PM MST)


May is Asthma Awareness Month! Asthma affects almost 25 million people of all ages and races. Despite this prevalence, public awareness of common asthma triggers and effective asthma management strategies remains limited. Join us to learn the latest in successful asthma management including identifying warning signs of an attack, avoiding triggers, asthma clinical guidelines and successful intervention strategies.

Agenda: (MST)

2:00 PM to 2:05 PM – Welcome and Introductions
Alicia Aalto, Children’s Environmental Health Coordinator, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 Cherri Pruitt, Maternal and Child Health Regional Consultant, US Health Resources and Services Administration, Region VIII
2:05 PM to 2:20 PM – Reducing Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities - Current efforts of the Interagency Task Force for Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children Alisa  M. Smith, PhD, Indoor Environments Division, US Environmental Protection Agency
2:20 PM to 2:35 PM – Organized Federal efforts to improve asthma control Stanley J. Szefler, MD, National Jewish Health, CEH Research Center
2:35 PM to 2:50 PM – Environmental control measures to improve asthma management:  Practical tips Andrew Liu, MD, National Jewish Health, CEH Research Center
2:50 PM to 3:05 PM – Application of the asthma guidelines in the school setting: Communication with Health Care Providers Melanie Gleason, PA, National Jewish Health, Pediatric Research Clinic
3:05 PM to 3:20 PM – Answers to questions posted by Webinar attendees
3:20 PM to 3:30 PM - Events, and Resources
Facilitator: Cherri Pruitt

Cherri Jacobs Pruitt, Maternal and Child Health Regional Consultant
HRSA/MCHB/DSCH-Region VIII
Phone: 303-844-7872|Fax: 303-844-0002

Two-Week Job with Highway Safety

The Utah Highway Safety Office is planning on hiring four individuals to conduct seat belt surveys as part of our annual study in June. It would entail two weeks of full-time work. Perfect for a college student in either math/statistics or health education.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
UTAH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Division: Utah Highway Safety office
Location: 5500 Amelia Earhart Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
Job Title: Seat Belt Use Data Collector
Reports to: Kristy Rigby Title: Program Manager
− $20 / hour
− Travel, mileage, and per diem expenses will be reimbursed
− Temporary position with two weeks of employment
− Some travel is involved in the position
− Must be available June 16 – June 30, 2012
− Must attend a mandatory training on June 15, 2012
− No leave or health benefits are available
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Utah Highway Safety Office will be conducting a seat belt observational study in June and will recruit and hire four
data collectors to perform the sruvey. Data collectors will be asked to stand on specified street corners in specific
counties of the state of Utah and use a digital voice recorder to record the number of drivers and front seat passengers
who are wearing seat belts. Each shift is 8 hours per day for 5 days per week, with no overtime. The 5 days of the week
that each data collector will work is randomly selected and could include any day.
REQUIREMENTS
− Must have a valid Utah driver license
− Must be willing and able to travel throughout Utah
− Must have a reliable vehicle and proof of insurance
− Must have good eyesight
− Must be able to stand for extended periods of time
− Must have good attention to detail
− Must have clearly understood diction
SUBMIT RESUME BY: APRIL 20, 2012
FAX OR EMAIL RESUME TO: KRISTY RIGBY, 801‐366‐6044 OR KRIGBY@UTAH.GOV
INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD: MAY 14‐18, 2012
FOR QUESTIONS CALL: KRISTY AT 801‐366‐6047

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Job Opportunity: Public Health Nurse

All jobs close at 12:01 a.m. MST on the closing date of the job announcement.   
Job Title:  Spanish Speaking Preferred - Public Health Nurse 
Salary:  Grade 30 - $25.48 Hourly | Grade 30 - $4,416 Monthly 
Salary Grade:  30
Opening Date:  04/16/2012  | Closing Date:  04/21/2012 
Position Type:  Full-Time | Work Hours:  40
 Department:  Human Services | Division:  Salt Lake Valley Health Department | Section:  Family Health
Work Location:  Salt Lake County Government Center - 2001 South State Street
Important Information:  It is preferred the successful applicant be able to read, write and speak English and Spanish fluently.
Current Utah Driver’s license as required for job responsibilities.
The successful applicant may be required to periodically work in another clinic in Salt Lake County.

Position Description:  JOB SUMMARY
The public health nurse will function under the direction of the assigned bureau/district manager/ nursing supervisor. Provide nursing services and case management to assigned clients. Provide medical-legal record management, community outreach, education and positive public relations.   Promote the infrastructure of the Health Department as well as promote and facilitate professional education. Maintain professional educational requirements.

For a complete job description and to apply go to Salt Lake County jobs at: https://www2.apply2jobs.com/SaltLakeCounty/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=242&CurrentPage=1

Free Community Advocacy and Training on Cancer and Health (CATCH) Leadership Training