Need a Public Health Advertisement?

CDC offers a library of public health ads from a variety of government and nonprofit health organizations that have been tested among target audiences and are designed for print, Internet, billboard, radio or TV.  Several languages are available. Using an existing ad is a great way to conserve resources.

We have added this library to our website toolkits collection here: http://health.utah.gov/disparities/culture.html#toolkits

You can visit the CDC Community Health Resource Center here:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/chmc/Apps/overview.aspx

$32,000 Grant Utah Board of Juvenile Justice (UBJJ) Disproportionate Minority Contact Subcommittee

A $32,000 grant has been made available for the project described below and will be competitively awarded to one recipient.  The grant period begins November 1, 2013 and runs through October 31, 2014. If you are interested in applying, attached is the official Request for Proposal. 

Here is a synopsis of the proposal:

The Utah Board of Juvenile Justice (UBJJ) Disproportionate Minority Contact Subcommittee is requesting a proposal from any individual, non-profit or for-profit entity, institution of higher education, or expert in research and evaluation, to submit an abstract with the following goals and objectives:

Goal: Identify and evaluate evidence-based, best practices, and promising program(s) for school resource officers and school officials that will lead to the reduction of over-representation of minority youth at the arrest and referral points of contact in the juvenile justice system in identified local communities.

Objectives:

1.  Conduct literature review of evidence-based, best practices, and promising program(s) that will lead to the reduction of minority youth arrests and referrals to juvenile court at the school level.

2. Identify current policies, procedures, regulations, and current practices, including, but not limited to, schools, districts, and law enforcement agencies, in addition to determining their effectiveness and making recommendations for improvement.

3. Provide a written report of specific findings, recommendations, and guidelines to achieve the stated goal.

4. Create an evaluation method to measure the effectiveness of any programs/trainings that are implemented as a result of objectives 1-3.

Proposals are due no later than Monday, September 30, 2013, by 8:00 AM.

The proposal requirements and instructions are attached or you can access them at http://www.justice.utah.gov/grants.html and click on UBJJ tab.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Reg Garff at (801) 538-1372 or rgarff@utah.gov.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with Mi Plato

To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and increase awareness about MiPlato – the Spanish complement to MyPlate – the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion is launching new resources for Spanish-speaking audiences. Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov and click on En Español to find the latest resources. Materials include recipes, tip sheets for parents, activity sheets for kids and a series of new recipes to help more Americans prepare healthier meals at home. Teachers and parents can invite kids to become MyPlate Champions by sharing the MyPlate Pledgein Spanish. Educators and health professionals can integrate the En Español section of ChooseMyPlate.gov into program and education efforts. The new resources can be used as part of community health fairs or included in local initiatives to encourage healthy choices at school, work and home. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service also offers a variety of nutrition education resources in Spanish through theWIC Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Team Nutrition. Materials include tips forpregnant and breastfeeding women, older adults, and parents. Service providers are encouraged to share these materials with Spanish-speaking families and communities to promote healthier lifestyles. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month and MiPlato’s 2nd Anniversary, help spread the message of healthy eating… en Español!

ACA State-by-State

Health reform is already making a difference. Click on the map in the link below to learn how the Affordable Care Act is helping people state-by-state.

The Affordable Care Act puts consumers back in charge of their health care. Under the law, a new “Patient’s Bill of Rights” gives the American people the stability and flexibility they need to make informed choices about their health. 

To view the entire interactive map go to: http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/bystate/statebystate.html

New Fact Sheets on In-Person Assistance Resources for Consumers

It can be hard to keep track of all the ways consumers can get help signing up for the new health insurance options. That's why the new fact sheet from Enroll America's Best Practices Institute breaks down the definitions of four key assistance options. It also includes a handy chart that maps out the differences between them. If you or your organization is interested in becoming one of those resources for consumers -- a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) -- look no further than our new fact sheet all about the CAC program.
Enroll America.org

Study Examines Healthier Purchases by WIC Beneficiaries

A study from the Yale Rudd Center on Food Policy & Obesity shows that purchases of whole grain bread and brown rice increased among beneficiaries of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) program following updates to the nutrition standards for the WIC food package that took effect in 2009. The study finds that that whole grain bread purchases tripled from eight percent to 24 percent of total bread purchases made between 2009 and 2011, while brown rice rose to 30 percent of total rice sales. According to lead author Tatiana Andreyeva, the study shows that the updated nutrition standards were “successful and necessary.” 

RWJF-Child Obesity Weekly Update 

Utah OHD Wins Federal Office of Minority Health Grant

Utah OHD is proud to report that we have been funded by the Federal Office of Minority Health for the next two years. This grant was very competitive. Of the 46 state offices of minority health that were funded last grant cycle, only 22 received funds for this upcoming grant cycle. Of the 22 state offices of minority health that received funding again, about half received a funding reduction from the previous grant cycle. Utah OHD was funded at the same annual level of funding as in the previous grant cycle. This is an impressive accomplishment.

Working Together to Make a Difference: Office of Health Disparities Summit

We have just finished our 3-year grant cycle with the federal Office of Minority Health.  Office of Health Disparities staff and Board Members recently gathered to celebrate out achievements.  

Dulce Diez, Manager of OHD, reported back to the boards on our work over the past three years.

Dr. David Patton, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health, offered some words of wisdom.

We are so grateful to the contractors who have tirelessly worked with us to address health disparities during the past three years:

People's Health Clinic

The Queen Center

National Tongan American Society

and Project Success

Dr. Pamela Perlich of the University of Utah educated us about the changing demographics of Utah and the need to seek out new sources of local demographic data.

Jason Stevenson of the Utah Health Policy Project updated us on the navigator program of the Affordable Care Act.

We sharpened our skills of influence to help us affect change and address health disparities.

And we still had time for networking.

We even enjoyed a few rounds of Speed Networking!

And now we have good news.  We have a new OMH grant that will keep us funded for another two years!

Webinar: Reaching Young African Americans and Latinos

The opportunity to connect millions of Americans to new health insurance options and get the word out to as many consumers as possible, is happening now.

Critical populations to reach are young African Americans and Latinos between the ages of 18 and 35, who are some of the people most likely to be uninsured.

Join this webinar to hear about best practices from veteran leaders in organizations with extensive experience in reaching these communities.

What: Webinar, "Reaching Young African Americans and Latinos" 

When: Thursday, September 19, 2013, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT

Who: Melanie L. Campbell, President and CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

Erin Hemlin, National Organizing and Programs Manager, Young Invincibles

Brent A. Wilkes, National Executive Director, League of United Latin American Citizens

RSVP: Sign up here to join the conversation. 

The webinar will be recorded: a link to the recording will be made available shortly after the event on Enroll America webinar archives. 

Hear from these key leaders about how to make outreach efforts as effective and comprehensive as possible.

Enroll America 

Teleconference about Outreach and Education Best Practices for the Health Insurance Marketplace

Date:  September 19, 2013

Time:  1:00pm – 2:00pm EST

Register at:  http://himcciio1national.eventbrite.com/

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) invites states, navigators, partners & stakeholders to a teleconference to learn about best practices from Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Minnesota in reaching consumers about the Health Insurance Marketplace.  Various grassroots outreach and engagement strategies will be explored that have worked well in these states to help consumers learn about the new way they have to get coverage that meets their needs.  

The call will feature the following speakers followed by Q&A:  

·         Jason Madrick, Access Health CT

·         Heather Haywood, Arkansas Health Connector

·         Jean Klingle, Kynect, Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection

·         Mary Sienko and Mario Vargas, MNSure, Minnesota’s Health Insurance Marketplace

Registration is required. Register at http://himcciio1national.eventbrite.com/

Please forward this invitation to any partners and stakeholders who may want to participate. 

We look forward to your participation!

We value the work you do to ensure that every American is aware of and enrolled in health insurance.

For more information on the Health Insurance Marketplace, please visit our partner resource page at http://marketplace.cms.gov  

Help for the Helpers: Online Resources from CMS

In-person, face-to-face assistance can make all the difference in helping consumers navigate the new health insurance options coming their way. For the organizations and individuals ramping up to connect consumers to coverage, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a host of assistance resources:

• Federal training materials for Navigators and Certified Application Counselors (CACs)
• Application to be a CAC organization in a state with a federally facilitated or partnership marketplace
• Series of videos that break down the application and enrollment process

Enroll America http://www.enrollamerica.org/

New Toolkits Offer Strategies to Reach Latinos and Young Americans

Many of the uninsured Americans who will be able to sign up for new health coverage options this fall are people of color and young adults. To help our partners and organizations across the country develop effective, comprehensive outreach campaigns that are sensitive to the needs of unique communities, we have released Engagement Toolkits for Latinos and Young Americans -- take a look, and see how you can pinpoint your messaging and outreach strategy.

Enroll America http://www.enrollamerica.org/

Get the facts: Ready-to-use materials in English and Spanish for all types of health emergencies and disasters

Get the facts: Ready-to-use materials from APHA's Get Ready campaign

Use these free materials from APHA to help Americans prepare themselves, their families and their communities for all public health hazards they may face, including disasters, pandemic flu or other emerging infectious diseases. Share them with those you care about, or pass them out in your community!

Wondering what's new? Check out our new five-part fact sheet series on preparedness for people living with disabilities!

Usage and permissions
Get Ready fact sheets and materials can be used just about anywhere! Read our guides if you want to know about permissions and usage.

Request free hard copies of materials: The Get Ready campaign has free hard copies of its materials on an available basis. If you would like to request that materials be mailed to you, use our request form.

Go to http://www.getreadyforflu.org/new_pg_facts.htm?utm_source=Get+Ready&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Get+Ready+September+2013 for the entire list of resources available.

ARE YOU READY? FACT SHEETS TO HELP PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

• Tornadoes: How to get ready for a tornado  (PDF) English or Spanish • Hurricanes: Getting ready for hurricanes  (PDF) English or Spanish • Tsunamis: How to prepare for a  tsunami English or Spanish • Earthquakes: How to get ready for earthquakes  (PDF) English or Spanish • Floods: How to get ready for floods  (PDF) English or Spanish • Wildfires:How to get ready for wildfires  (PDF) English or Spanish • Heat waves:How to get ready for a heat wave  (PDF) English or Spanish • Landslides: How to get ready for a landslide  (PDF) English or Spanish • Volcanoes: How to get ready for a volcano  (PDF) English or Spanish • Winter storms: How to get ready for a winter storm  (PDF) English orSpanish • Chemical exposures: How to avoid chemical exposure  during a disaster (PDF) English or Spanish • Power outages: How to get ready for power outages  (PDF) English orSpanish • Sheltering in place: What you need to know to stay put  during a disasterEnglish or Spanish • Mosquitoes: How to stay safe from mosquito-borne  diseases English orSpanish

Judge Andrew Valdez to be Keynote Speaker at Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit in October

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Office of Multicultural Affairs is pleased to announce that Third District Juvenile Judge Andrew Valdez will be its keynote speaker during the Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit, Oct. 30, at Weber State University.

“Judge Valdez’s personal story of finding his place in the world as a troubled youth, and his years of offering direction to Utah’s youth is truly an inspiration,” said Utah Office of Multicultural Affairs Director Claudia Nakano.

Judge Andrew A. Valdez was appointed to the Third District Juvenile Court in June of 1993 by Gov. Michael O. Leavitt. He serves Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties. He graduated from the University of Utah College of Law in 1977. Prior to his appointment, Judge Valdez was a commissioned captain in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corp and trial counsel with the Legal Defenders Association Felony/Homicide Division.

Valdez’s book, “No One Makes It Alone” describes how a poor, fatherless, Westside Latino paperboy was mentored by a businessman, forever changing the boy’s life. Nearly forty years later, Valdez returned the favor. Finding the same man destitute and suffering from Alzheimer’s, Judge Valdez cared for him in his last years.

The Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit: “Preparing for the Real World” will take place Oct. 30, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Building on the campus of Weber State University.

There is no registration fee, but registration is required. For information on how to register, please go to http://multiculturalyouthleadershipsummit.eventbrite.com. Registration deadline is Oct. 2, 2013.

Marketplace Stakeholder Teleconference with HHS and CMS on the Utah Health Insurance Marketplace

Date: September 10, 2013

Time: 3:00 pm MDT

Register at: http://cmsregion8himut3.eventbrite.com

Jeff Hinson, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Administrator, and Doyle Forrestal, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Regional Director, invite partners & stakeholders to the third in a three-part series of teleconferences regarding the health insurance marketplace in Utah.  This call is part of the ongoing commitment by HHS and CMS to encourage public participation as it builds a new Health Insurance Marketplace in Utah.

This call is intended specifically for stakeholders in Utah where there will be a Federally Facilitated Marketplace for the individual market and a State Based Marketplace for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).   The call will feature HHS and CMS Denver Regional Office officials and an Avenue H official followed by time for Q&A.  Speakers are:  

·     Doyle Forrestal, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

·         Jeff Hinson, Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

·         Patty Conner, Executive Director, Avenue H

Registration is required. Register at http://cmsregion8himut3.eventbrite.com

You can also visit our Open Door Forums website for links to registration and information on future calls.

Please forward this invitation to any partners and stakeholders who may want to participate. 

We look forward to your participation!

We value the work you do to ensure that every American is aware of and enrolled in health insurance.

For more information on the Health Insurance Marketplace, please visit our partner resource page at http://marketplace.cms.gov  

Salt Lake County launches its own webpage for Affordable Care Act help

Message from Mayor Ben McAdams

The Affordable Care Act – also known as healthcare reform—sets out new requirements and resources for consumers so that they can help navigate the changing health insurance coverage system. Surveys show that many Utahns are unsure about the new law and how they can find reliable, accurate information.  Healthcare reform seeks to expand coverage.  But achieving that goal depends on consumers’ ability to effectively participate in health coverage in ways that have been unavailable until now.

With this website, I hope we can help you with answers to questions such as:

• 
  
• How can I find coverage?
• What will it cost?
• When will I see the benefits?

Health care is a very personal issue that touches all our lives. My hope is that the information available here assists you and your family in making the best possible choice for you.

Go to http://www.slco.org/humanservices/affordablecareact/ to find help.

Can I get dental coverage in the Marketplace?

In the Health Insurance Marketplace, you generally can get dental coverage as part of a health plan or by itself through a separate, stand-alone dental plan.

Adult and child dental insurance in the Marketplace

Under the health care law, dental insurance is treated differently for adults and children 18 and under.

Dental coverage for children is an essential health benefit. This means it must be available to you either as part of a health plan or as a free-standing plan. This is not the case for adults. Insurers don’t have to offer adult dental coverage.

You don’t have to provide dental coverage for either adults or children.

Dental coverage is available two ways

• Health plans that include dental coverage. In the Marketplace, dental coverage will be included in some health plans. You’ll be able to see which plans include dental coverage when you compare them. You’ll also see what the dental benefits are. If a health plan includes dental coverage, you will pay one premium for everything. The premium shown for the plan includes both health and dental coverage.
• Separate, stand-alone dental plans. In some cases separate, stand-alone plans will be offered. You may want to choose this option if the health coverage you plan to enroll in doesn’t include dental coverage, or if you want different dental coverage.

If you choose a separate dental plan, you’ll pay a separate, additional premium for the dental plan.

For more information about dental coverage, go to www.healthcare.gov. 

New CDC Report: At least 200,000 deaths from heart disease and stroke each year are preventable

Nearly 1 in 3 deaths in the US each year is caused by heart disease and stroke. At least 200,000 of these deaths could have been prevented through changes in health habits, such as stopping smoking, more physical activity, and less salt in the diet; community changes to create healthier living spaces, such as safe places to exercise and smoke-free areas; and managing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
More people will have access to health care coverage and preventive care through the Affordable Care Act. Health care providers should talk with their patients about healthy habits at every visit and follow patients’ progress.
Health care systems and providers can also:

• Use electronic health records to identify and support patients who need help quitting smoking or who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Refer patients to community resources, such as smoking quitlines and blood pressure selfmanagement programs.
• Track patient progress on the ABCS of heart health—Aspirin when appropriate, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation.

*Preventable (avoidable) deaths are defined as those from ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic rheumatic heart disease, and hypertensive disease in people under age 75, although changes in health habits and the health care system can reduce death among all ages.

Find the entire article and infographics at http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/HeartDisease-Stroke/index.html and view helpful resources.

At least 200,000 deaths from heart disease and stroke each year are preventable.*

6 in 10
More than half of preventable heart disease and stroke deaths happen to people under age 65.

2x
Blacks are nearly twice as likely as whites to die from preventable heart disease and stroke.

UDOH Training: Motivational Interviewing Techniques for Clinical and Community Settings

The Communicable Disease Prevention Program of the Utah Department of Health is hosting a Motivational Interviewing training session in Salt Lake City, October 22, 2013 from 1 to 5 p.m.. The training will be provided by the Denver Prevention Training Center The primary goal of this training is to provide participants with the skills to utilize motivational interviewing techniques in clinical and community based settings, in an effort to assist patients in developing a risk reduction plan related to self-defined challenging behaviors. Utilizing motivational interviewing techniques will help patients explore and possibly resolve ambivalence in order to change or modify unhealthy/risky behaviors. Ultimately these techniques will help improve patient outcomes.

 If you, or someone you know may be interested to participate in this training, please submit name, agency name, title, email and phone number to Edwin Espinel, eespinel@utah.gov.