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

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Registration is now open for the 2017 Health Services Research Conference

The Utah Partnership for Value and Utah's Annual Health Services Research (HSR) Meeting hosted by Intermountain Healthcare and the University of Utah have designed an innovative day-long conference that will focus on improving patient engagement and patient centered outcomes in Utah.

Patients, researchers, providers, policymakers, and payors are invited to the event.

The event is being co-designed with stakeholders from Intermountain Healthcare, the University of Utah, Community Faces of Utah, Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable, and the Utah Health Policy Project, and will feature presentations and facilitated discussion.

Participants will engage in breakout sessions to address health services research questions as well as provide community member input into patient centered outcomes research design, inquiry, and ongoing participation.

See the agenda and get more information here.

SOAR to Health and Wellness Live Webinars


SOAR training logoMany victims of human trafficking come into contact with health care and social service professionals and remain unidentified. Potential victims can present with a wide-range of physical and psychological health issues and social service needs. The SOAR to Health and Wellness training aims to educate health care and social service professionals on how to identify, treat, and respond appropriately to potential victims of human trafficking.

Agenda
1:00 pm EST – 1:50 pm EST                        Introduction and Stop (50 min)
1:50 pm EST – 1:55 pm EST                        Break (5 min)
1:55 pm EST – 2:40 pm EST                        Observe (45 min)
2:40 pm EST – 3:25 pm EST                        Ask (45 min)
3:25 pm EST – 3:30 pm EST                        Break (5 min)
3:30 pm EST – 4:10 pm EST                        Respond (40 min)
Training Calendar

Target Audience
This activity is designed to educate health care and social service professionals on how to identify, treat, and respond appropriately to potential victims of human trafficking. The target audience includes: physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, registered nurses, dentists, psychologists, social workers, case managers, school counselors, public health professionals, and health education specialists.
 
Educational Objectives
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:
  • Describe the types of human trafficking in the United States
  • Recognize possible indicators of human trafficking
  • Demonstrate how to identify and respond to potential trafficking victims
  • Respond appropriately to potential human trafficking in your community
  • Share the importance of human trafficking awareness and responsiveness with others in your work environment 
Requirements for CME/CE Credit 
Please read the requirements for CME/CE credit prior to registration to ensure proper selection of appropriate continuing education credit and to review complete accreditation information. Failure to comply with the requirements noted will prohibit you from earning proper credit. You can read these requirements at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/training/soar/continuing-education-credit.

To sign up for SOAR updates, including new webinar and in person training dates, please email info@nhttac.org.​

Recruiting participants for Vietnamese dementia caregiver study

Study Title:  Our Family Journey Program for Vietnamese American Dementia Caregivers

This is a research study to see if a new Vietnamese program can enhance the quality of life of people who care for persons with dementia or related condition, or significant memory loss/confusion.  Dr. Van Ta Park from San José State University is conducting this study. Participants will receive a $100 giftcard and a Certificate of Completion from San Jose State University and Stanford University School of Medicine. Interested participants should email vncaregivingstudy@gmail.com or call, (408) 924-2988.

Climate & Health Symposium

Salt Lake County Health Department is holding a Climate & Health Symposium to bring together a diverse audience of health professionals, climate experts, and the general public to study and discuss the local health impacts of climate change. The symposium’s goal is to increase understanding of the public health issues climate change presents, and to encourage discussion on how to build a healthier, more resilient community. You can register for this free event at: https://climatesymposium.eventbrite.com.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Office of Minority Health Funding Opportunities

New Funding Opportunity Announcements

The HHS Office of Minority Health has issued four new funding opportunity announcements. Share with your network and learn more about how to apply!
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Minority HealthAmerican Indian/Alaska Native Health Equity Initiative (AI/AN Health Equity Initiative)
Announcement Number: MP-AIA-17-001
Estimated Funding Level: $2 million per budget period
Application Deadline: April 3, 2017, 5:00 pm ET
Minority Youth Violence Prevention II (MYVP II): Integrating Social Determinants of Health and Community Policing Approaches
Announcement Number: MP-YEP-17-001
Estimated Funding Level: $3.6 million per budget period
Application Deadline: April 4, 2017, 5:00 pm ET
National Lupus Outreach and Clinical Trial Education Program (Lupus Program)Announcement Number: CPI-MP-17-002
Estimated Funding Level: $2 million ($1 million for each Priority)
Application Deadline: March 31, 2017, 5:00 pm ET
Partnerships to Achieve Health Equity (Partnership) 
Announcement Number: MP-CPI-17-001
Estimated Funding Level: $4.7 million per budget period
Application Deadline: March 31, 2017, 5:00 pm ET

Job opening with Salt Lake County Health Department


Salt Lake County Health Department has a job opening in the BeWise Program 

The job requires the candidate to be fluent in Spanish.  It is a part-time position (25 hours/week).

The BeWise Program works with low-income women to help them prevent risk factors for chronic disease.  As health educators we work one-on-one with individuals as well as teach classes to help them set goals regarding nutrition, exercise, and other healthy habits.  Anyone who is a current Junior/Senior or already graduated is eligible.  

Applications close on March 10, 2017.


https://www2.apply2jobs.com/SaltLakeCounty/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=4936&CurrentPage=2

Monday, February 6, 2017

OHD Job Opportunity - Health Program Specialist I



TEMPORARY POSITION - Health Program Specialist I


Agency:  Utah Department of Health, Office of Health Disparities

Duration:  February 21, 2017 – April, 2018

Hours:  20 - 25 h/week (including some evenings and weekends) 

Salary: $16.00 per hour   

Benefits: This is a non-benefited position 

Openings: 1 

Responsibilities
  • Main Responsibility: Assist in the planning, implementation and evaluation of a community health program aimed to reduce birth outcomes disparities among Utah's Pacific Islanders/Hawaiian Natives (PI/HN).  
  • Additional Responsibilities: Assist in the implementation of other projects and activities as assigned by the Office of Health Disparities Management.  

Duties
  • Assist in qualitative data collection 
  • Outreach and recruit PI/HN community members to participate in the project
  • Recruit facilitators and implementation sites
  • Assisting training facilitators
  • Curriculum implementation and evaluation 
  • Giving presentations
  • Other tasks as needed

Requirements
  • BS from an accredited U.S college or university in public health, community health, health promotion or related field 
  • Knowledgeable about and well-connected to the PI/HN communities in Utah
  • Communicate information and ideas clearly and concisely
  • Available to work flexible schedules, including evenings and weekends (Saturdays)
  • Must have own vehicle and current Utah driver's license
Location               
  • Utah Department of Health, Cannon Building (1460 W, North Temple), Salt Lake City. Some travel required, mostly along the Wasatch Front
Application
  • Qualified applicants must email resume (no more than 2 pages) and additional information (see below) to Dulce Díez ddiez@utah.gov  Subject: PIHN Project Assistant Position
  • Additional information: Briefly explain (in no more than one additional page) your experience with, and knowledge of, Utah’s PIHN communities. Provide specific examples as well as references and contact information for those references  
Deadline
  • Requested materials (resume and additional information) must be received by Monday, February 13, 2017 at 8:00 AM

Disclaimer: The State of Utah is an equal opportunity employer. Hiring is done without regard of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability. Qualified applicants of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Health Department to Implement Limited Medicaid Expansion

For Immediate Release
February 3, 2017

Media Contact:
Tom Hudachko
Utah Department of Health

Health Department to Implement Limited Medicaid Expansion

(Salt Lake City, UT) – At the direction of Gov. Gary R. Herbert and legislative leadership, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) will amend its Medicaid State Plan to extend coverage to an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 low-income Utah parents. Low-income parents who earn up to approximately 45 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) are currently eligible for Medicaid; the amended plan will raise the effective income eligibility limit to 60 percent of the FPL.

The amended plan will require federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

Newly eligible parents will likely be able to apply for Medicaid benefits beginning July 1, 2017. The funding to provide coverage for these adults was appropriated during the 2016 legislative session through House Bill 437.

The UDOH initially submitted this request to CMS in 2016 as part of a larger request to expand coverage to targeted groups of adults, including the chronically homeless and those involved in the criminal justice system. The larger request would have provided coverage to an additional 6,000 to 8,000 adults. CMS officials are still considering elements of the larger request submitted last year. 
  
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Thursday, February 2, 2017

UDOH Open Positions

The Utah Department of Health has a recruitment open for the following position:

Public Health Nutritionist 
$17.89 - $26.89

This is a full-time, career service position with benefits.
Requisition #   11201
Closes:   02/14/2017 at 11:59 pm MST 

In order to be considered for an interview for these positions, you will need to apply on-line at https://statejobs.utah.gov.  If you have not done so already, you will need to create a job seeker account.    

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The Utah Department of Health, Office of Vital Records and Statistics has an opening for a 

Data Analysis Supervisor, posting # 11151.  

The posting will close at midnight on February 19, 2017 MST
  
In order to be considered for an interview for this position, you will need to apply on-line at STATEJOBS.UTAH.GOV .  If you have not done so already, you will need to create a job seeker account.