Webinar on 12/14: How Increasing Memory Problems Impact Daily Life - Recent CDC Findings from the 2015 BRFSS

Memory Loss and the Public Health Burden: Results from the 2015 BRFSS

A recent analysis of the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) indicates that over 50 percent of midlife and older adults with increasing memory problems report negative effects on their ability to perform everyday tasks or do work or social activities. To learn more, join us on Wednesday, December 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST for an in-depth discussion on How Increasing Memory Problems Impact Daily Life -- Recent CDC Findings from the 2015 BRFSS Cognitive Module. The webinar will feature the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new analysis of data from 35 states and territories (the largest group ever to use the Cognitive Module in a single year) and discuss the implications of the findings from the public health perspective. Please register in advance (if prompted, use meeting number 749 037 448).

Dr. Lisa McGuire, Team Lead of the CDC Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program, will present an overview of the aggregated results from 35 states and territories that used the Cognitive Module in their 2015 BRFSS survey. Three of the program’s analysts, Dr. Erin Bouldin, Dr. Valerie Edwards, and Dr. Christopher Taylor, will highlight the burden of subjective cognitive decline (i.e., confusion or memory loss that is getting worse) on older adults aged 45 and older as well as the extent to which they have discussed these problems with a health care provider. 

Then, Sallie Thoreson with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will provide a state-level perspective. She will share how her department plans to use the Colorado BRFSS data to educate the public health community about the impacts of subjective cognitive decline. 

Be sure to register online, mark your calendars, and forward this message to any interested colleagues. 

Utah has Lowest Rates of Obesity Among Young Children from Low-Income Families

Obesity rates showed a statistically significant decrease in 31 states and three territories and increased significantly in four states among 2- to 4-year-olds enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) from 2010 to 2014, according to a study published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).   

Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released a new  data visualization showing how state-by-state obesity rates have changed among 2- to 4-year-old WIC participants since 2000 and a series of maps highlighting states' efforts to help promote nutrition and physical activity in early child care settings.

Utah had the lowest rate of 2- to 4-year-old WIC participants who were obese at 8.2 percent, while Virginia had the highest rate at 20.0 percent, according to today's findings.

2014 STATE-BY-STATE OBESITY RATES OF WIC PARTICIPANTS AGES 2-4

Based on an analysis of new state-by-state data from the WIC Participant and Program Characteristics Study (WIC PC), obesity rates for children ages 2-4 by state from highest to lowest were:

1. Virginia (20.0); 2. Alaska (19.1); 3. Delaware (17.2); 4. South Dakota (17.1); 5. Nebraska (16.9); 6. (tie) California (16.6) and Massachusetts (16.6); 8. Maryland (16.5); 9. West Virginia (16.4); 10. (tie) Alabama (16.3) and Rhode Island (16.3); 12. (tie) Connecticut (15.3) and 12. New Jersey (15.3); 14. Illinois (15.2); 15. (tie) Maine (15.1) and 15. New Hampshire (15.1); 17. (tie) North Carolina (15.0) and Oregon (15.0); 19. (tie) Tennessee (14.9) and Texas (14.9); 21. (tie) Iowa (14.7) and 21. Wisconsin (14.7); 23. Mississippi (14.5); 24. (tie) Arkansas (14.4) and North Dakota (14.4); 26. (tie) Indiana (14.3) and New York (14.3); 28. Vermont (14.1); 29. Oklahoma (13.8); 30. Washington (13.6); 31. Michigan (13.4); 32. (tie) Arizona (13.3) and Kentucky (13.3); 34. Louisiana (13.2); 35. Ohio (13.1); 36. (tie) District of Columbia (13.0) and Georgia (13.0) and Missouri (13.0); 39. Pennsylvania (12.9); 40. Kansas (12.8); 41. Florida (12.7); 42. (tie) Montana (12.5) and New Mexico (12.5); 44. Minnesota (12.3); 45. (tie) Nevada (12.0) and South Carolina (12.0); 47. Idaho (11.6); 48. Hawaii (10.3); 49. Wyoming (9.9); 50. Colorado (8.5); 51. Utah (8.2).

Note: 1 = Highest rate, 51 = lowest rate. 

RWJF-Childhood Obesity Weekly Policy Update

2016 Urban Indian Health Profile Released

This report is the fourth community health profile published by the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) and will be updated on a regular basis. This community health profile provides an overview of the health status of AI/ANs living in select urban counties served by the network of Subchapter IV UIHOs across the country.  It presents data specific to demographics, social determinants of health, mortality, sexually transmitted diseases, maternal and child health, substance use, and mental health. 

The profile examines and addresses the disparities that exist among the urban AI/AN population compared to the non-Hispanic White (NHW) population and demonstrates the disproportionality in outcomes and behaviors that adversely affect them. Data for this profile comes from the U.S. Census, the American Community Survey, the U.S. Center for Health Statistics, the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, and the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. 

Home visits proven to help families thrive

Photo: RWJF Advances

Research shows that home visits prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including reductions in child abuse and neglect by 48 percent.

Read more about the data behind home visit programs >

Compendium of Publicly Available Datasets and Other Data-Related Resources

The NPA’s Compendium of Publicly Available Datasets and Other Data-Related Resources (Compendium) is a free resource of publicly available data relevant to research and programs aiming to reduce health disparities. The Compendium compiles in one place descriptions of and links to 132 public datasets and resources that include information about health conditions and other factors that impact the health of minority populations.

The Compendium includes data and data-related resources from the following federal agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Community Living (ACL); Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); Indian Health Service (IHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH); and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It also includes data from the U.S. Census Bureau at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

FIHET Data Compendium [PDF | 2MB]

#CoverageMatters: Share Your Story

November 22, 2016

By: Sylvia Mathews Burwell, HHS Secretary

Summary: 

HHS is launching a new campaign to help you tell us what health coverage means for you and your loved ones. Share your story using #CoverageMatters.

This week, like many families hitting the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, I’m headed home. But today, I’m making a very important stop before I get there.

As you’ve probably heard, there’s been a lot going on in Washington this month. People are talking about the future of the Affordable Care Act, and health care in America. Very soon, Congress will face a choice: Build on the progress we’ve made, or take back the protections and advancements that people depend on.

Too often, what gets covered is politics. That’s where the conflict is, and it’s simpler to cover arguments than what policies mean for everyday people. The real impact of the law is lost to some abstract debate that’s filled with a lot of heat but very little light.

But beyond Capitol Hill, there are many millions of Americans who live the reality of the Affordable Care Act every day – Americans with their own stories to tell. They don’t want to go back to the world as it was before the ACA.

They’re the 20 million Americans who have coverage thanks to the law. The millions of young adults who have been able to stay on their parents’ plans. The tens of millions of women who have gotten coverage for contraception at no out-of-pocket cost. And the more than 120 million Americans who have pre-existing conditions – cancer survivors, people with diabetes, even people with asthma – who can no longer be locked out of coverage.

So today I’m joining a roundtable discussion at the University of Charleston in my home state of West Virginia. We’re going to hear some of the stories of Americans whose health depends on the Affordable Care Act. We’re going to give them the chance to say how access to affordable, quality coverage has changed their lives.

And we’re counting on you to be a part of this conversation.

Today, our Department is launching a new campaign to help you tell us what health coverage means for you and your loved ones. Tell us your story on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #CoverageMatters.

Maybe coverage means you finally got that check-up you’ve been putting off. Maybe it means you could breathe a little easier because your daughter and grandson are now covered by Medicaid. Maybe it means your father can save some money on his prescription drugs, since the Affordable Care Act began closing the Medicare Part D “donut hole.” Or maybe it means you could finally take that business idea and run with it, knowing that you weren’t tied to a job just to stay covered.

Or maybe, if you’re like Mina Richards Schultz, coverage saved your life.

When Mina wrapped up her graduate studies, she planned to serve as a member of the Peace Corps. But for the six months in between, she would be uninsured. Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act would let her stay on her parents’ plan until she turned 26. She didn’t think she’d need health insurance, but she signed up anyway.

That’s when the pain in her knee started. At first, the doctors thought it was a sprain. When it didn’t go away, an MRI showed that she had bone cancer. Luckily, thanks to the ACA, she was covered. Mina got the care she needed to fight her cancer, and five years later, she’s healthy.

Because of the law, coverage was there for her the whole time. When she was too old to stay on her parents’ plan, she got coverage the old fashioned way – searching frantically for a job to stay covered. But then the Health Insurance Marketplace opened, and Mina could shop around for her own coverage on HealthCare.gov. Thanks to the law, no insurance company could turn her down because of her pre-existing condition.

Today, Mina works as an application counselor to help other people get covered. Because she knows firsthand how important it is to have health care when you need it.

Mina says she’s scared about what the future holds for the ACA because if the law goes away, she doesn’t know how she’d stay covered. I know there are many Americans who feel the same way. I’ve had the chance to meet a lot of these folks as Secretary – people who depend on care that’s there when they need it, so they can live healthy, productive lives.

But we don’t have time to be scared. We have to speak up.

The Affordable Care Act is part of the fabric of our nation, and it’s the law of the land.

And with #CoverageMatters, you can make your voice heard, and join the voices of Americans in small towns and cities across the country. Share this blog. Share the hashtag with your friends and family. Together, let’s tell all of America why #CoverageMatters.

The Health Insurance Marketplace is open for business through January 31, 2017. But don’t wait. Check out your options for affordable, quality coverage today at HealthCare.gov. Most people can buy a plan for less than $75 a month thanks to financial assistance. December 15 is the deadline to enroll for coverage that is effective January 1.

Join a Three Day Strengthening Families Framework Training

Surgeon General Releases Substance Abuse Report

Today, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy published a landmark report on a health crisis affecting every community in our country. Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health is a comprehensive review of the science of substance use, misuse, and disorders. The report is available online at https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov.

Nearly 21 million people in America have a substance use disorder involving alcohol or drugs, an astonishing figure that is comparable to the number of people in our country with diabetes and higher than the total number of Americans suffering from all cancers combined. But in spite of the massive scope of this problem, only 1 in 10 people with a substance use disorder receives treatment.

The societal cost of alcohol misuse is $249 billion, and for illicit drug use it is $193 billion. What we cannot quantify is the human toll on individuals, families, and communities affected not only by addiction, but also by alcohol and drug-related crime, violence, abuse, and child neglect.

Though this challenge is daunting, there is much reason to be hopeful. That’s because we know how to solve the problem. We know that prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible for everyone. We know that we cannot incarcerate our way out of this situation; instead, we need to apply an evidence-based public health approach that brings together all sectors of our society to end this crisis. And we know that addiction is not a moral failing. It is a chronic illness that must be treated with skill, urgency, and compassion.

To mark the launch of the report, the Office of the Surgeon General and the Facing Addiction coalition are hosting “Facing Addiction in America, A National Summit.” Please join the livestream of this event from the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles at https://www.facingaddiction.org today at 1 pm PST (4 pm EST). The event will feature a series of conversations with individuals affected by the crisis, experts in the field, and leaders who are making a difference.

Previous reports of the Surgeon General, including those on tobacco (1964), AIDS (1987), and mental health (1999), have helped to create understanding and urgency to address critical public health challenges. Building on this heritage, The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health will equip clinicians, policymakers, law enforcement, community leaders, and families with the evidence and tools they need to take action. 

Together, we can prevent addiction and create hope for millions of people in treatment and recovery. When we stop judging, we can start helping.

Linking Health Care to Housing through HRSA Safety Net Programs

Linking Health Care to Housing through HRSA Safety Net Programs By: Jim Macrae, Acting Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) When people have stable living conditions, it positively impacts their health. Programs across the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognize this connection and have linked health care services and housing, whether directly through grant awards or through partnerships across the Federal Government. READ MORE: Linking Health Care to Housing through HRSA Safety Net Programs

Trauma Awareness Training

Utah’s Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is excited about being able to offer a 4 hour Trauma Awareness Seminar to all state agency staff and community partners.  

The seminar is a basic introduction to the area of trauma. It is designed for anyone who encounters individuals and families who may have experienced trauma, whether in the front lobby of an agency, while delivering home services or even passing people on the street.  

At the end of this seminar participants will be able to better answer questions such as:

• What is Trauma?
• What is the impact of trauma and how do I recognize possible trauma reactions?
• How can I be more effective in working with people with a trauma history?
• What can I do to care for myself as I work with people who have experienced trauma?

The seminar provides information but also practical, skill based application to a variety of work tasks. 

The seminar is free but registration is required. There are two identical sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. To register for the session of your choice simply click on the link below.

https://traumaaware_midvale_am.eventbrite.com

https://traumaaware_midvale_pm.eventbrite.com

The seminars will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  The seminar runs the entire 4 hours; thus, it is very important to arrive a few minutes before the start times. See the attached flyer for full info.

If you have any questions you can call Mary Beth Vogel-Ferguson – 801-581-3071.

Dementia Among African American and Hispanic Communities

On November 17, a live webcast will explore the clinical and cultural challenges of dementia in African American and Hispanic communities. While research shows that the symptoms and course of dementia are similar across race and ethnicity, disparities exist among ethnic minorities, including being less likely to receive a formal diagnosis. Register now for this webcast hosted by the State University of New York School of Public Health.

Training like this can help public health practitioners develop and use culturally-appropriate strategies to promote early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, as recommended by the Public Health Road Map. Public health and community partners around the country are already tailoring outreach specifically to Latino and Hispanic populations. In Oregon, for example, a fotonovela (a narrative tool with pictures and story) helps Spanish-speaking families understand the importance of timely detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment. And in Minnesota, the Latino Collaborative for ACTing on Alzheimer’scontinues engaging the Latino community to better ensure dementia-readiness (view their progress report).

National Prematurity Awareness Month: Celebrating Successes and Taking Action

About 1 in 10 babies are born before completing the normal 37 to 40 weeks of pregnancy, missing out on the important growth and development that happens in the final weeks. Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality. Babies who survive can have short- and long-term health problems. November is National Prematurity Awareness Month, an opportunity to reflect on the nearly 400,000 babies born too early each year in the United States and what we can do to prevent it. Although preterm birth rates rose slightly in 2015, it’s encouraging that the national rate of preterm birth declined 8 percent between 2007 and 2014. A recent CDC analysis published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) finds that fewer births to teens and young mothers in those years has translated to lower preterm birth rates.

Key findings:

• The 8 percent decline in the national preterm birth rate between 2007 and 2014 is related, in part, to teen pregnancy prevention and declines in unintended pregnancy.

• Increases in births to women ages 30 years or older, who have higher rates of preterm birth, lessened the overall decline in the preterm birth rate. 

This report underscores that, because risk factors for preterm birth can vary by age, healthcare and public health professionals can work with women during each stage of their life to address risk factors for preterm birth. We can start by implementing effective public health strategies for reducing preterm birth rates, including preventing unintended pregnancy and improving access to preconception care to help women enter pregnancy as healthy as possible.  

Commemorating the first Americans in November

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose. 

In commemoration of Native American Heritage Month, the Center for Minority Health Services will be hosting a webinar entitled “Native Americans 101”.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Ann Dionne is the Minnesota Department of Health’s first Director of American Indian Health/Tribal Liaison and is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe.

To learn more about the speaker, click https://idph.adobeconnect.com/americanindians2/event/speaker_info.html

Ms. Dionne's presentation will provide an overview of:
1.      National history of Native Americans
2.      Demographic data
3.      Social determinants of health and health inequities
4.      Policies and practices that have negatively affected Native   Americans
5.      Minnesota's Native American health initiatives and programs

Ms. Dionne will also discuss Native Americans in Minnesota and the 11 Minnesota Tribal Nations as well as the government to government relationship that the State of Minnesota has with the 11 Minnesota Tribal Nations.

Event: Native Americans 101
When: Monday 7 November 2016 

Time:  Two options to participate

·       10:00am - 11:00am.  Register for this time.

·       02:00 pm - 03:00 pm.  Register for this time.  

Time Zone: CST Central Standard Time 

To know more about the event, please visit our website:

https://idph.adobeconnect.com/americanindians2/event/event_info.html

Fighting Hepatitis and HIV Co-infection in Minority Communities Webinar Series Veterans and Hepatitis C: Test, Treat, Cure Thursday, November 10 at 3 pm EST REGISTER The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest hepatitis C care provider in the United States. This webinar will provide an overview of VHA's viral hepatitis program, including efforts in hepatitis C birth cohort testing and linkage to care. The webinar will provide information on innovations being used to increase testing treatment rates, as well as share our recent marketing and outreach efforts. Presenters: Tim Morgan, MD Pam Belperio, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP Lisa Backus, MD, PhD Rachel Gonzalez Elizabeth Maguire, MSW This webinar series, hosted by the Office of Minority Health Resource Center, is designed to help health professionals, agencies and clinics address the rising rates of hepatitis and HIV co-infection in their communities. Find out more about this series.

HealthCare.gov is Open for Business Today

HealthCare.gov is Open for Business Today “This Open Enrollment, we’re encouraging every American who might need coverage to visit HealthCare.gov, where they’ll find options for affordable health insurance. This year, the vast majority of consumers will qualify for tax credits that help keep coverage affordable, and it’s easier than ever to shop around and compare options,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “As we sound today’s opening bell, let’s also take stock of the historic gains in coverage we’ve made as a country, and work together to continue that progress.” “We want to make sure everyone knows it’s easier than ever to visit the Marketplace, compare your options, see if you qualify for lower costs, and sign up for the plan that best meets your needs and budget,” said HealthCare.gov CEO Kevin Counihan. “That’s why we’re going all-out for Open Enrollment this year, with a top-tier public education campaign and on-the-ground partnerships to reach people where they are and spread the word about the opportunity to enroll in affordable coverage. The full press release can be found here: http://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2016/11/01/hhs-launches-2017-open-enrollment-encourages-americans-shop-affordable-coverage-healthcare-gov.html.  We’ve also updated our HealthCare.gov media resources page: https://marketplace.cms.gov/outreach-and-education/press-resources.html . On this page you’ll be able to download stock photos and b-roll footage, find links to our recent news and data releases, a list of key dates and deadlines, and learn more about our leadership. If you haven’t in the past, bookmark this page and visit often throughout Open Enrollment. We will be updating the page regularly with new images and resources as we progress through Open Enrollment.

Premature Births Rise Once Again, Despite Efforts To Prevent Them

Anthony Saffery/Getty Images              

Kaiser Health News
The number of preterm births in the United States rose in 2015 for the first time in eight years, according to data presented Tuesday by the March of Dimes. Babies born too early face a risk of health complications that can last a lifetime.

The organization also reported that racial minorities continue to experience early labor at higher rates.

Preterm births increased from 9.57 to 9.63 percent of births in 2015, an additional 2,000 babies born prematurely in the U.S., the report found.

Seven states — Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah and Wisconsin — had higher preterm birth percentages than in 2014. Four states — Vermont, Oregon, New Hampshire and Washington — earned the highest marks from the organization for having a preterm birth rate at 8.1 percent or below.

Overall, the national uptick earned the U.S. a C rating on an A to F scale. The March of Dimes researchers used data compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics and assigned grades using a formula that compared the state's current prenatal birth rate to the national average in 2014 and the organization's goal of 8.1 percent.

Despite its wealth and medical prowess in saving the lives of premature newborns, the U.S. lags behind the majority of industrialized countries and some less developed ones in preventing their early arrival. According to the latest data available from the World Health Organization, the U.S in 2010 ranked in the middle of the pack, falling behind Somalia, Afghanistan and Thailand.

Lowering the rate of preterm births to 8.1 percent would place the U.S. among countries with the lowest rates of preterm births. The March of Dimes says the U.S. should reach this goal by 2020, but the lack of progress signals to Edward McCabe, the chief medical officer of the organization, that new responses are needed. "We feel that this is a recognition that we need to work harder as a nation, that we need to focus," he says.

Utah's Indigenous Day