Steward Health Choice Utah 2019 Connect the Dots event December 19th

FindTreatment.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the launch of FindTreatment.gov, a newly designed website that will help connect Americans looking for substance abuse treatment with approximately 13,000 locations across the United States.

FindTreatment.gov

Improving Access to Health Care for Utah’s Rural Veterans

Improving Access to Health Care for Utah’s Rural Veterans

Utah is one of three states to be awarded the Rural Veterans Health Access Program

(Salt Lake City, UT) Utah is home to nearly 130,000 veterans and more than 33,000 of them live in Utah’s rural counties. Veterans choose rural communities for a number of reasons: closer to family, friends, and community; access to outdoor recreation; more privacy; lower cost of living; or less crowded towns and schools. While veterans may like the benefits of rural living, they may also experience rural health care challenges intensified by combat-related injuries and illnesses.

Recently, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) was awarded the Rural Veterans Health Access Program from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA). Utah was one of only three states to win the award which is designed to improve health care access for veterans who live in rural areas. The OPCRH will receive $900,000 over a 3-year period. To that end, the OPCRH has established a Rural Veteran Coalition to bring together rural health care stakeholders and Veterans Administration (VA) administrators to create a network of resources and trainings to bridge the gap between local health care organizations and the VA. The OPCRH will be offering two sub-grants each year for $25,000 for communities to help increase access to care for veterans living in their community. For more information, please visit: https://ruralhealth.health.utah.gov/rural-veterans-health-access-program-rvhap/.

Matt McCullough, director of the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) says when writing the application for the grant, he was reminded of VA motto, a quote from Abraham Lincoln which says "To bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan." McCullough says, “I believe Utah has a duty to provide better health care service for our state’s veterans.”

Outside the Wasatch Front, the highest concentration of rural veterans live in the rural and frontier counties of Garfield, Piute, Kane, and Washington. Being geographically isolated with complicated terrain, long travel distances, and few resources available, Utah’s rural

health care organizations provide vital services to their communities. Unfortunately, since veteran populations have a disproportionally higher prevalence of cancer, COPD, diabetes, hearing loss, hypertension, and mental health disorders than non-veteran populations, improving access to readily available health care is a necessity. 

Due to the critical services provided in Utah’s rural communities, Utah Governor Gary Herbert has declared November 18–22, 2019 as Rural Health Week in Utah. For more information about rural health in Utah visit httpw://ruralhealth.health.utah.gov.

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Media Contact: Charla Haley 801-230-5927

UDOH Oral Health Program Adolescent Oral Health Report 2018-2019

During the 2018–2019 school year, the Oral Health Program (OHP) continued the Adolescent Oral Health Campaign which initially launched during the 2016–2017 school year. This intervention, designed to educate middle school-aged students about oral health care, works with the vision of encouraging positive oral health behaviors and increasing participation and utilization of preventive dental services. The campaign targeted middle school and high school health classes in schools along the Wasatch Front.

The OHP provided 126 presentations by visiting 18 schools, reaching 2,938 middle and high school students during the 2018–2019 school year.

Read the results of this campaign. Adolescent Oral Health Campaign 2018-2019

Save the Date! Promoting Full Equity: Public Health Practice and People with Disabilities

Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGVq5-53bmdMYBpRTjY84HzKzO9Buscg7I--7tmDi3IBT-9w/viewform

Grand Opening of U of U School of Dentistry at Liberty Community Learning Center

In partnership with the Salt Lake Education Foundation, University of Utah School of

Dentistry is celebrating the opening of a dental clinic at Liberty Community Learning Center.

The clinic will serve adults and students in neighborhoods of four area elementary schools – Whittier Elementary, Bennion Elementary, Liberty Elementary, and Washington Elementary. Patients will be treated by dental students who are under constant supervision by licensed faculty members. Tooth pain and tooth decay are the leading cause of grade school absence, so providing oral health care to the community is critical with this patient population.

The School of Dentistry’s mission is to provide care to the community, especially to underserved populations, and this partnership is part of an effort to expand access to care to more communities in need throughout Utah. The clinic will serve patients Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. 

Salt Lake Education Foundation and the
University of Utah School of Dentistry invite you and a guest to the

DENTAL CLINIC AT LIBERTY COMMUNITY

LEARNING CENTER RIBBON CUTTING

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

9:30–10:30 am

9:30 am Remarks and Ribbon Cutting

10:00 am Clinic Tours

10:30 am Event Concludes

Liberty Community Learning Center

1078 S 300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

kindly rsvp by November 18

U of U Caring Connections Grief and the Holidays event

On November 19, Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program will be hosting Grief and the Holidays—our annual public event to support grieving people as they navigate the challenges of the winter holidays. 

This year, our presenter is Haloti Ngata, former defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens—who will be sharing the story of the loss of his parents. Our musical guest is singer/songwriter Junior Maile. Junior Maile lost his brother, and will share an uplifting performance.

Please join us, Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7 pm at the University of Utah Annette Poulson Cumming Building, 10 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City. 

This event is free and parking is provided. 

Call 801-585-9522 for details, or view this announcement from KUED-Contact https://www.kued.org/contact/2019-grief-and-the-holidays

 We are also announcing the Nov 23rd Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, at 10 am at the Utah Sons of the Pioneers Building.

HIV PREVENTION CERTIFIED PROVIDER Program

HIVPCPcertification.org

The HIV PREVENTION CERTIFIED PROVIDER^TM program is an online, self-paced CME curriculum composed of five (5) free e-learning courses in HIV prevention detailing the pertinent clinical and practice information that clinicians need to effectively employ HIV prevention interventions.

CLICK TO TAKE COURSES

Upon successful completion of this program, participants:

• Earn a certificate recognizing their designation as an HIV Prevention Certified Provider (HIV PCP), and receive 5.0 continuing education credits (types detailed below).
   
• Receive a listing in the new HIV PCP National Online Directory, for providers to promote their practice's HIV prevention services and for consumers to identify clinically and culturally competent providers of PrEP and other HIV prevention services.

The HIV PCP is available to all providers and healthcare workers. Continuing education credits are available to:

• Medical Doctors (MD)
• Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• Physician Assistants (PA)
• Nurse Practitioners (NP)
• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
• Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Doctors of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Other degrees, such as Bachelors of Science

 CREDITS

The following continuing education credit types and accompanying credits are awarded for completion of each module:

• Continuing Medical Education (CME) - 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM
• Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) - 1.00 contact hour of continuing education credit
• Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) - 1.0 contact hours (0.1 CEUs)
• Certificate of Completion - 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM

THE NEED FOR AN HIV PCP

The 2019 Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America highlights increased HIV prevention efforts, including the need for more providers to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and support clients with HIV in becoming virally suppressed. The HIV PCP program prepares and educates primary care providers, HIV care providers, internists, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinicians to deliver effective, comprehensive, culturally competent HIV prevention interventions, thereby expanding the HIV prevention workforce.

LEARN MORE AT HIVPCPCertification.org

New TFAH Report: Adolescent Suicide Up 87 Percent Over Last Decade

Pain in The Nation Report Series Addressing a Crisis: Cross-Sector Strategies to Prevent Adolescent Substance Misuse and Suicide Focused on the health and well-being of adolescents, this report continues a series, Pain in the Nation: The Drug, Alcohol and Suicide Crises by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and Well Being Trust. The Pain in the Nation series informs national policy to advance a comprehensive National Resilience Strategy. This report is focused on adolescents for two reasons: adolescent suicides and vaping have spiked in recent years. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers. The report also recognizes that adolescents are at a juncture in their lives where circumstances (socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic background) and negative experiences (bigotry, bullying, and alienation) can increase risk. Conversely, positive experiences (connectedness to school and family, and mentoring) can decrease risk. The report highlights dozens of evidence-based and cross-sector approaches that can improve adolescents’ life circumstances, protect them from harm, and set them on healthy trajectories leading to their success in school and into adulthood. Scaling up the policies and programs outlined in the report would not only decrease adolescent substance misuse and suicide – but they would also improve other important youth outcomes, such as graduation rates. Read the Report

Key Findings: 87 percent increase in adolescent suicide rates (ages 12 – 19) over the last decade. 60 percent of high school students report lifetime alcohol use, down from 82 percent in 1991. Suicide rates among American Indian/Alaskan Native adolescents (ages 15-19) is 60 percent higher than the national average for all teenagers. 48 percent of gay, lesbian and bisexual adolescents report considering or attempting suicide. 5,455 individuals (ages 15-24) died due to a drug overdose in 2017. 78 percent one-year (2017 – 2018) increase in e-cigarette use rates among high school teens and 48 percent among middle school students.

Welcome to Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is here. Visit HealthCare.gov to create an account and submit an application for 2020 health care coverage.

You may qualify for assistance to reduce your monthly premiums. Come back to HealthCare.gov to create an account and review your coverage options for 2020.

There’s more than one way to enroll in Marketplace coverage. If you want help from an agent or broker, or would like to enroll through one of our certified enrollment partners, learn more here. Deadline: You have until December 15 to enroll in a plan for 2020 health coverage.

AUCH is hiring Community Health Workers

Association for Utah Community Health

CHW - SelectHealth

Job Description

Have you ever helped a family member or friend receive healthcare services? Do your neighbors or friends come to you for help? Are there things harming your community you feel passionate about changing? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," this might be the job opportunity for you.

Position Title: Community Health Worker (CHW) - SelectHealth

Start Date: December 2019

Position Description:

CHWs are trusted, knowledgeable frontline health personnel who typically come from the communities they serve. CHWs bridge cultural and linguistic barriers, expand access to coverage and care, and improve health outcomes.

CHW responsibilities include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• Supporting community partnerships, in coordination with Lead Support Specialist CHW, and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders in the community by serving as an advocate to improve health and social outcomes
• Establishing trusting relationships with patients and their families to help them become more engaged in their health
• Conducting intake interviews with patients utilizing motivational interviewing and health coaching, and enrolling and/or referring patients into applicable health and community resources
• Following-up with patients via phone calls, home visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be found
• Working closely with clinical teams to ensure that patients have comprehensive and coordinated care
• Documenting patient activities and outcomes in appropriate databases
• Participating in community and professional events as requested
• Attending team meetings as assigned to discuss progress, successes, and challenges
• Other duties as assigned

This full-time position will support AUCH’s partnership with SelectHealth in providing services to their members.

Organizational Background/Mission

For over 30 years, The Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH) has represented Utah's Health Centers and their patients. As the Primary Care Association in the state, we provide over 12,000 hours of training and technical assistance to 13 Health Centers and 5 affiliate members each year. Our members include Federal Health Center grantees who provide comprehensive, high-quality primary and preventive healthcare services to all individuals, with or without insurance, regardless of ability to pay. Health Centers are community-based, patient-directed organizations that eliminate geographical and financial barriers and serve populations with limited access to care. In support of our members and the people they serve, AUCH helps reduce barriers to healthcare through health promotion, community engagement and development, education, and policy analysis. AUCH is designated by the Federal Bureau of Primary Health Care as the state Primary Care Association and receives federal program support to develop and enhance services for members.

Category:                                                 Responsible to:                                              Salary Range:

Full-Time, Non-Exempt                             CHW Manager                                                DOE

Qualifications and Requirements: The following requirements must be met to be considered for the program:

• High school diploma or GED
• Written and oral fluency in English; other language capabilities desired
• Basic computer skills
• Familiarity with documenting and data reporting
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with patients and program stakeholders
• Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the target community
• Good communication skills such as listening, speaking, and writing
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to patients
• Ability to work independently and as part of a group
• Willingness to take initiative and be pro-active in daily work
• Experience working within community partnerships preferred
• Experience working as a Community Health Worker, or within a similar capacity, for at least one year preferred

Benefits include medical and dental insurance, paid holidays, sick leave and vacation, life and disability insurance, flex spending plan, and retirement plan (Simplified Employee Pension or SEP).

A background check will be conducted on all potential candidates.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Cynthia O’Connor at Cynthia@auch.org. Applications without a resume and cover letter will not be considered.

November is Native American Heritage Month

Join the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the HHS Indian Health Service (IHS) for a Twitter chat in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. The chat will focus on maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle and sharing resources to help the Native American community. Use hashtag #NativeHealthChat to join.
November 13, 3:00 pm ET. Learn more. 

Utah Census 2020 Grant

https://gomb.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Utah-Census-2020-Grant-Information-1.pdf