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

Friday, June 28, 2013

New Standards Will Ensure Healthy Options at Vending Machines and Snack Bars in Schools

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights New "Smart Snacks in School" Standards; Will Ensure School Vending Machines, Snack Bars Include Healthy Choices

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that under USDA's new " Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards, America's students will be offered healthier food options during the school day.
"Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children," said Secretary Vilsack. "Parents and schools work hard to give our youngsters the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong, and providing healthy options throughout school cafeterias, vending machines, and snack bars will support their great efforts."
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires USDA to establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools -- beyond the federally-supported meals programs. The "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards, to be published this week in the Federal Register, reflect USDA's thoughtful consideration and response to the nearly 250,000 comments received on the proposal earlier this year.
"Smart Snacks in School" carefully balances science-based nutrition guidelines with practical and flexible solutions to promote healthier eating on campus, drawing on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and existing voluntary standards already implemented by thousands of schools around the country, as well as healthy food and beverage offerings already available in the marketplace.
Highlights of the "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards include:
  • More of the foods we should encourage. Like the new school meals, the standards require healthier foods, more whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and leaner protein.
  • Less of the foods we should avoid. Food items are lower in fat, sugar, and sodium and provide more of the nutrients kids need.
  • Targeted standards. Allowing variation by age group for factors such as portion size and caffeine content.
  • Flexibility for important traditions. Preserving the ability for parents to send their kids to school with homemade lunches or treats for activities such as birthday parties, holidays, and other celebrations; and allowing schools to continue traditions like fundraisers and bake sales.
  • Ample time for implementation. Schools and food and beverage companies will have an entire school year to make the necessary changes, and USDA will offer training and technical assistance every step of the way.
  • Reasonable limitations on when and where the standards apply. Ensuring that standards only affect foods that are sold on school campus during the school day. Foods sold at afterschool sporting events or other activities will not be subject to these requirements.
  • Flexibility for state and local communities. Allowing significant local and regional autonomy by only establishing minimum requirements for schools. States and schools that have stronger standards than what is being proposed will be able to maintain their own policies.
USDA is focused on improving childhood nutrition and empowering families to make healthier food choices by providing science-based information and advice, while expanding the availability of healthy food.
America's students now have healthier and more nutritious school meals due to improved nutrition standards implemented as a result of the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
  • USDA's MyPlate symbol and the resources at ChooseMyPlate.gov provide quick, easy reference tools for parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and communities.
  • USDA launched a new $5 million Farm to School grant program in 2012 to increase the amount of healthy, local food in schools.
  • USDA awarded $5.2 million in grants to provide training and technical assistance for child nutrition foodservice professionals and support stronger school nutrition education programs.
Collectively these policies and actions will help combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children; a top priority for the Obama Administration. The interim final rule announced today is an important component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to combat the challenge of childhood obesity.
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Additional materials available:
For more information on Smart Snacks in School, please visit www.usda.gov/healthierschoolday

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Underserved Utahns Offered Free Health Screenings

Underserved Utahns Offered Free Health Screenings 

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Throughout the summer, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), Office of Health Disparities (OHD) will partner with community groups and clinics to screen underserved Utahns for health risks. If problems are uncovered, volunteers will help participants find affordable primary care. 

The OHD Bridging Communities and Clinics (BCC) Outreach Team will offer screenings for blood glucose and cholesterol, hypertension, body mass index, and other health risk factors at several events hosted by multicultural, community-based organizations. In addition, local clinics that offer free, reduced-cost, or income-based primary care services partner with BCC to then address any health problems identified through the screenings. Eligibility workers will also be on hand to help qualified individuals apply for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) if needed.

The BCC model was launched last year as a pilot project that included 24 outreach events through a network of 12 referral clinics and 22 community partners, for a total of 883 screenings Click here to see a complete report on the 2012 BCC pilot project.

Leaders of the underserved communities called the outreach effort a great success. "We are very thankful for the support of the Bridging Communities and Clinics program as we ensure that more members of the Latino community in Utah have access to appropriate health services." said Luis Garza, Director, Comunidades Unidas. 

Ivoni Nash of the National Tongan American Society agrees. "All the screenings that BCC offers are urgently needed by our people,” Nash said. “But many do not know where to go and this program gives them referrals to a clinic so they can get the help they need."

Interns studying in health sciences fields will conduct the screenings this summer. Many have multicultural backgrounds and speak more than one language. Dulce Lisle, a BCC intern, said, “I am thrilled to be a part of this program because it feels like we're really making a difference for these communities that need health care so badly."

The screening events begin this Thursday, June 13. Click here for a complete event schedule.

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National Survey to identify initiatives focused on improving outcomes for families

The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) is conducting a national search for comprehensive, integrated, multi-sector initiatives focused on improving outcomes for the population of young children and families who reside in a defined, local geographic area (i.e., neighborhood, city, or county). Of specific interest are initiatives that promote optimal health and well-being of families with children fromthe prenatal period through eight years of age.

The purpose of this search is twofold: (1) to identify and “map” the current landscape of exemplary and promising community-focused, early childhood initiatives; and (2) to begin to build learning and networking opportunities across interested initiatives and other key partners.

CSSP is particularly interested in identifying local community/neighborhood initiatives that:
• Are grounded in supporting the importance and role of families in raising healthy and resilient children.
• Are using intentional developmental activities that work to increase parental skills and capacities and build the full range of protective factors shown to improve outcomes for children.
• Are working to align and integrate multiple sectors and systems critical to early childhood development, i.e. parenting, health, mental health, early learning and development, and family leadership and support.
• Use shared results across multiple sectors to drive change and improve outcomes for young children and their families.
• Analyze data to inform continuous system, program, and practice improvements and innovations.
• Seek to strengthen social networks, a sense of community, and opportunities for leadership and collective action among residents.
• Wish to share lessons learned that could inform other community-level efforts to improve the health and well-being of young children and their families.

To participate in the survey, go to http://CSSPearlychildhoodcommunities.questionpro.com. This project is led by the Early Childhood – Learning Innovation Network for Communities (ECLINC) at CSSP.

For more information on EC-LINC or to provide contact information for exemplary, place-based early childhood initiatives that fit the above criteria, please contact: Rachel Schumacher at rachel.schumacher@cssp.org.

Salt Lake County Health Department Public Health Nurse


Requisition Number:
13-1491
Job Title:
Bilingual/Spanish Speaking Public Health Nurse
Salary:
$25.92 Hourly
$53,904 Annual
Salary Grade:
30
Opening Date:
06/20/2013
Closing Date:
06/30/2013
Position Type:
Full-Time
Work Hours:
40
Department:
Human Services
Division:
Salt Lake County Health Department-2150
Section:

Work Location:
South Main Clinic - 3690 South Main Street
Important Information:
  • Applicants are required to read, write, and speak English and Spanish fluently.
  • A valid Driver’s License, insurance, and access to a private vehicle is required.
  • It is mandatory all new hires receive the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) vaccine before beginning employment or provide a copy of their immunizations card prior to starting. The immunizations card must show the vaccine name and date received.
  • Successful completion of a criminal background check.
  • May be required to work in various environments with uncomfortable conditions, i.e. hot, cold, aromatic, or dirty.
  • Must have the ability to stand, bend, sit for extended periods of time, or perform repetitive motor tasks.
  • May be required to be respiratory fit tested.
  • Must adhere to OSHA blood-borne pathogens and respiratory precaution standards.
Learn more about the Salt Lake County Health Department.

The Health Care Law and You / O ‘Oe ma le Tūlāfono o Tausiga Fa’asoifua Mālōlōina


The Health Care Law and You is a presentation developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to educate community members about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. This resource has been translated by the Office of Public Engagement at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services into the following languages: Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Hindi, Bengali, Hmong, Khmer, Samoan and Tongan.  
Sponsored by the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare, this webinar will feature Dorothy Vaivao from the Samoan National Nurses Association, who will speak about how the Affordable Care Act will increase health care access and reduce health care disparities.  
Please sign up and share this unique opportunity with your friends and family and encourage all to join.

Title: The Health Care Law and You – [Samoan]
Date: Monday, July 1, 2013
Time: 4:00PM EST
***You can view all the in-language presentationshere.***
O ‘Oe ma le Tūlāfono o Tausiga Fa’asoifua Mālōlōina o se folasaga na ātīa’eina e le Matāgāluega o le Soifua Mālōlōina ma ‘Au’aunaga mo Tagata a ‘Amerika e a’oa’oina ai sui ‘ese’ese o so’o se vāega o le atunu’u e fa’atatau i tūlaga e lelei ai le Tūlāfono mo Tausiga e Gafatia e Tagata ‘Uma. O lēnei pepa na fa’aliliuina e le ‘Ofisa o Feso’ota’iga i Nofoaga Tūtotonu mo ‘Au’aunaga tau Medicare & Medicaid i gagana nei: fa’aSaina, fa’aKōrea, fa’aVietnam, fa’aTagalog, fa’aHindi, fa’aBengali, fa’aHmong, fa’aKhmer, fa’aLao, fa’aSāmoa ma le fa’aTonga.

O lo’o lagolagoina e le Fono o le Soifua Mālōlōina a Tagata ‘Āsia & Tagata Pasefika i totonu o ‘Amerika ma Nofoaga Tūtotonu mo ‘Au’aunaga tau Medicare & Medicaid, o lēnei webinar o le a tu’uina atu ai Dorothy Vaivao mai Samoan National Nurses Association, lea o le a talanoa e fa’atatau i le Tūlāfono mo Tausiga e Gafatia e Tagata ‘Uma ma pe fa’apēfea ona fa’atupula’ia ai o le maua e tagata o tausiga fa’asoifua mālōlōina ma fa’aitiitia ‘ese’esega tau tausiga fa’asoifua mālōlōina.

Fa’amolemole ‘auai mai ma fa’asoa atu lēnei avanoa lē ‘au maua ma isi tagata i le mea o lo’o e aumau ai ma ia ‘u’una’ia tagata uma ‘ina ia ‘auai.  


Igoa: O ‘Oe ma le Tūlāfono o Tausiga Fa’asoifua Mālōlōina
Aso: Aso Gafua, Iulai 1, 2013
Taimi: 4:00PM EST

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day!

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day!  
It is an annual observance to promote HIV testing.

Please find attached fliers with the locations in Utah who are providing Free or Low Cost HIV/STD testing and/or are holding special events.

Also, please refer to the following internet sites for additional information,articles and materials: