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Category: Events and Webinars

IPHI Regional Virtual CHW Core Skills Training: Fall Session: September- October 2021

Posted on by iphiadmin

IPHI CHW Virtual Core Skills Competency Training (Fall Session: September – October 2021)

IPHI offers a 100hr. Core Skills Competency for CHWs in a variety of formats that are adaptable to agency and program needs including:

  • Human Rights, Equity & Perspective Transformation
  • Communication
  • Public Health Knowledge
  • Introduction to The CHW Role: CHW History, Roles, Skills, Tasks
  • CHW Legal and Ethical Issues
  • Data Collection and Medical Records
  • Teaching and Capacity Building Skills & Clinical Practice
  • Health Education and Prevention
  • Outreach and Advocacy
  • Resource Identification and Organization
  • Disease Management including Chronic Disease, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, HIV, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Trauma Informed Care, Asthma, Cancer and Reproductive Health

Dates and Time of Training:

  • Training Dates: September 13-October 21, 2021
  • Training Days: Monday thru Thursday, No Training on Fridays
  • Training Time: 10 am-3 pm with a 30min. Break

Cost:

Training Fee is $1,650.00 per attendee to be paid by September 13th. Once you are registered you or your agency will be invoiced. Payment can be split and both submitted no later than October 1st. You are very welcome to send the full payment in advance. All payments must be received by October 5th.

Attendance:

If you would like to attend, you must register by September 6, 2021. The fall session will hold 15 participants. Please register soon. YOU MUST ATTEND THE ENTIRE TRAINING in order to receive a certificate of completion and a letter verifying your training competencies.

Technology Recommendations:

You must have an up-to-date laptop or desktop with a working camera and microphone to participate in the training. We do not recommend completing this training on a cellphone or tablet

To register, click: HERE.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Program Coordinator Dwyan Monroe at [email protected].

Webinar: 4/16/21 – “Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis in Virginia”

Posted on by Julia Groenfeldt

In February of this year, Virginia became the first southern state to declare racism a public health crisis. This resolution, sponsored by Delegate Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg), is a significant step for a state built on the legacy of the Confederacy and segregationist policy. Virginia joins 181 cities and counties and 7 states in declaring racism a public health crisis.

The Institute for Public Health Innovation is proud to partner with Voices for Virginia’s Children and the Virginia Public Health Association to present a webinar series that will explore the background, context, and future for this resolution.

Please join us for part 1 “Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis in Virginia” of our webinar series “Racism is a Public Health Crisis.” More details will come soon for future webinars.

Event Details – “Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis in Virginia”

When: April 16, 2021, 12 – 1:30 PM

To register, click HERE.

Key Speakers: Delegate Lashrecse Aird ,VA House of Delegates; Cynthia Hudson, Chair of the Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law; Tina Stevens, Councilwoman for Stephens City, VA; and Chloe Edwards, Policy Analyst, Voices for Virginia’s Children.

The event flyer can be found: HERE.

Upcoming Webinars:

  • June: “The National Landscape and Next Steps for Virginia”
  • August: “Community Perspectives on Racism as a Public Health Crisis”
  • October: “From Declaration to Action”

The flyer for these events can be found HERE. Please feel free to share it widely within your network!

For additional questions, please contact Senior Program Manager Rebecca Epstein at [email protected].

The Prince George’s County Food Equity Council Launches New Food Recovery Platform to Fight Hunger and Reduce Food Waste

Posted on by Julia Groenfeldt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– January 25, 2021

Media Contacts:
Julia Groenfeldt, [email protected]

The Prince George’s County Food Equity Council Launches New Food Recovery Platform to Fight Hunger and Reduce Food Waste

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD — The Prince George’s Food Equity Council (FEC), an initiative of the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) has joined the Food Rescue US network to launch the Food Rescue US platform in Prince George’s County. The county’s food recovery efforts will be coordinated by FEC staff and funding from the Greater Washington Community Foundation and Philip L. Graham Fund. 

Food Rescue US, a national nonprofit organization, is a leader in food rescue operations. Since 2011, Food Rescue US has helped launch food recovery communities in 39 locations across the country, providing more than 56 million meals and keeping over 75 million pounds of food out of landfills. Through the use of its proprietary software, Food Rescue US provides the platform for volunteer food rescuers to directly transfer excess food from businesses to local social service agencies that feed the food insecure. Using the technology platform, the FEC will help coordinate food rescue donors, volunteer rescuers, and food assistance service providers to support hunger relief efforts and reduce food waste in Prince George’s County.  

“We’re excited to expand our reach into Prince George’s County and work with the Food Equity Council,” said Carol Shattuck, CEO, Food Rescue US. “Working directly with community organizations doing critical work for their residents, Food Rescue US is able to provide our innovative technology and institutional knowledge to empower their food recovery work.” 

Since 2013, the FEC has collaborated with residents, local businesses, organizations, and county government to create systemic change to the local food system, promote health, economic opportunity, food security, and well-being in Prince George’s County. This past year, the FEC’s work has taken on a new urgency as the COVID-19 pandemic caused skyrocketing rates of food insecurity and high demand for food among food assistance providers and social service organizations. According to the Capital Area Food Bank, over 104,760 county residents were food insecure in 2020, the highest in the Metro DC Region. By developing a robust food waste and recovery network, IPHI, FEC, and Food Rescue US hope to create a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system that can support the growing number of food-insecure residents. 

“Through the use of Food Rescue US platform we are able to create infrastructure changes to ensure that we don’t miss opportunities to connect food donors and services providers,” said Evelyn Kelly, Program Director at IPHI. “We will not only help families in need but also reduce our environmental footprint and food waste in our landfills.” 

Over the next few months, FEC staff will conduct outreach among businesses, organizations, volunteers, and providers to expand the Food Rescue US network in the county and bring partners onto the platform. The easy to use platform is free and available for desktop use. Food donors are invited to sign up to provide available food. Residents interested in volunteering can sign up to pick up and deliver food. Food providers can sign up to receive food to support food assistance and donation efforts. Everything is coordinated directly via the platform, and FEC staff are available to provide additional support and assistance to coordinate donations and delivery throughout Prince George’s County. 

About the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council: 

The Prince George’s County Food Equity Council (FEC) is a local food policy council that works to help residents grow, sell, and choose healthy foods. Since 2013, FEC has been a voice for county residents at the policymaking table. The FEC focuses on systematic and sustainable changes to promote health, economic opportunity, food security, and well-being in Prince George’s by advocating for policy that creates a more equitable local food system. The FEC is housed within the Institute for Public Health Innovation. For more information on FEC, visit www.pgcfec.org and follow FEC on social media @pgcfec. 

About the Institute for Public Health Innovation:

IPHI develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public’s health and well-being across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  Our work strengthens health systems and policy, enhances conditions that promote health, and builds community capacity to ensure equitable health opportunities for all.  IPHI is one of over 40 public health institutes across the country and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes.  For more information on IPHI, see www.institutephi.org, and follow IPHI on Facebook and Twitter @InstitutePHI.

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Montgomery County Anti-Vaping Campaign Announces Finalists From PSA Contest

Posted on by Julia Groenfeldt

The Campaign Called on Youth to Create Content Aimed at Educating and Preventing Their Peers From Using E-Cigarettes

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Public Schools, and the Healthy Montgomery Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) are excited to share the finalists from their anti-vaping PSA video contest for students.

This contest, part of TCI’s goal to promote tobacco-free living, challenged students from 6th to 12th-grade living in Montgomery County to submit creative PSA-style videos for other young people, warning about the dangers of e-cigarettes. Ninety-two individual and group submissions were entered by 263 students and reviewed by a panel of judges for the chance to win a cash prize.

“My Story So Far”, submitted by a Damascus High School student, was awarded first place and followed by entries from the French International School, Northwood High School, Silver Creek Middle School, and Sherwood High School. Special acknowledgment was also given to Silver Creek Middle School and Mario A. Loiederman Middle School for submitting the most videos.

A logo for the campaign, inspired by the submissions of students, has been developed. The official campaign including social media graphics and messaging as well as bus ads will be launched in the coming month.

To view all the finalists’ videos or for more information and resources on the anti-vaping campaign, visit the website here.

About the Transforming Communities Initiative

The Healthy Montgomery Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) is a partnership between the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), Trinity Health affiliate Holy Cross Health, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and numerous other government and community partners.  Montgomery County, Maryland is one of eight locations selected by Trinity Health for investment through their national TCI grant program.

TCI is an innovative, collaborative funding initiative established by Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Grant recipients, in collaboration with a community coalition(s), implement and support evidence-based and innovative policy, systems and environmental change strategies to reduce obesity, promote tobacco-free living and address social influencers of health. TCI leverages health system funding, community partnerships, local match dollars, capital loan dollars, and national technical assistance resources to improve community health.

IPHI Launches Weekly COVID-19 Video Conference Series for Community Health Workers

Posted on by MichaelRhein

During the growing community spread of COVID-19 nationally and in our region, there has rightfully been discussion of the roles of community health workers (CHWs) in responding to the pandemic. CHWs are vital members of the health workforce and can contribute greatly during health emergencies and the recovery that follows. We believe there needs to be even more attention on this topic.

In response to the changing environment and requests from CHWs for information and support, the Institute for Public Innovation, through its Center for the Community Health Workforce, will launch a video conference series to have open discussions and presentations and provide tips, tools, and resources for CHWs and persons working with CHWs as they help individuals to navigate this COVID-19 crisis. We invite all DC, MD, and VA Community Health Workers, Outreach Workers, Community Health Advocates, Community Health Advisors, or anyone who provides community outreach, health education, healthcare navigation, peer-based social support, or similar roles to participate in this series.

Sessions will run every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. throughout April 2020, with the potential for continuation in subsequent months.  Recordings will be posted to IPHI’s YouTube channel.

For more information, please contact Program Coordinator Dwyan Monroe at [email protected].

IPHI and the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council host Focus Groups to Address Food and Beverage Marketing

Posted on by Kady Pecorella

The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) and the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council (FEC) are working in partnership with the National Collaborative for Health Equity and Drexel University to host focus groups in Prince George’s County, MD.The overarching objective of this study is to stimulate community action to address the targeted marketing of unhealthy foods. To view the flyer, click: HERE.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants can participate in the focus groups if they are:

  • Males or females between the ages of 18 to 25
  • Males or females between the ages 26 to 55 who have children ages 3 to 17 in their household
  • Self-identified as African American or Black American
  • Willing and available to participate in the two rounds of focus groups, held approximately 1 week apart at designated dates and times
  • Able to give informed consent
  • Able to speak, read, and understand English
  • Currently living in Prince George’s County, MD

Times and Dates of Focus Groups

  • 18-25 year old adult focus group: December 4th & 9th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
  • 26-55 year old adult focus group: December 3rd & 10th, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Drexel University received funding for this study from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, and the study is sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

To sign up or for more information, please contact Lauren Nixon at (240) 252-2016 or [email protected].

ELEVATE: 2019 Regional Outreach Workers’ Conference

Posted on by Kady Pecorella

On August 1-2, 2019, IPHI hosted ELEVATE, the 2019 Regional Outreach Workers’ Conference, with support from partners DC Health, the DC Department of Behavioral Health, the Effi Barry Training Institute, HealthHIV, the Virginia CHW Association, and the Virginia Department of Health.

Almost 300 community health workers (CHWs) and other health outreach workers from across the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region came together to network, receive continuing education, and promote a cooperative approach to the community health outreach worker industry. This two-day meeting was packed with workshops, panels, and discussions that addressed the challenges community health and outreach workers encounter daily in their work and presented information on workforce and industry developments such as association work and certification.

Topics included:

  • National & regional CHW association work
  • State-based certification policy status
  • Working with clients with comorbidities
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Mental health crisis intervention
  • Substance abuse and dependency
  • Immigration and health
  • Food insecurity
  • Housing and homelessness
  • Maternal mortality
  • Region-specific breakout sessions

Presentations and materials from the conference:

We were also able to get some really great pictures from the day! To view the photos, click: HERE.

IPHI to be Featured in National Workshop on the Workforce for Population Health Improvement

Posted on by MichaelRhein

On March 21, 2019, the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, will convene a one-day public workshop to explore the broad and multidisciplinary nature of the population health workforce.  Michael Rhein and Dwyan Monroe from the Institute for Public Health Innovation will talk about community health workers in a segment of the workshop. The program will also include several community health workers from the DC, MD, and VA regions. The workshop will be webcast from the Roundtable’s webpage, and the proceedings of the presentations and discussion will be prepared following the event. Those interested in attending the event live may register: HERE.

Visit the CHW area of this website for more information on IPHI’s community health worker initiatives.

IPHI Hosts Webinar on Decreasing Life Expectancy

Posted on by Kady Pecorella

America’s Public Health Crisis: Declining Life Expectancy & its Systemic Causes

On February 25, 2019, the Institute for Public Health Innovation hosted a webinar examining declining life expectancy trends in the U.S.

In 2018, the CDC released data revealing that U.S. life expectancy declined for the third consecutive year. This is an unprecedented trend in modern society that cuts across demographics and multiple causes. This webinar provided a nuanced and in-depth look at the data on declining life expectancy across racial-ethnic groups from a wide range of conditions and provided recommendations for policymakers in addressing some of the systemic causes.

Dr. Steven H. Woolf provided insight from his recently published study that revealed midlife mortality rates in the U.S. have increased across all racial-ethnic populations from multiple causes, including organ diseases and “deaths of despair.” His discussion included an analysis of this historical progression that indicates midlife mortality rates among non-white populations equaled or even exceeded rates of white populations, offsetting years of progress in lowering mortality rates. He also provided policy levers to reverse this trend.

Dr. Brian D. Smedley spoke to the systemic factors contributing to these racial and ethnic inequities in mortality. His discussion focused on a prominent root cause, racial residential segregation and housing disparities. Dr. Smedley discussed the history of residential segregation, demonstrated its link to racial health inequities, and recommended potential place- and people-based policy interventions.

Access the audio recording of the webinar below: 

Life Expectancy Webinar Audio – m4A format

Life Expectancy Webinar Audio – WMA format

Click below to access the slides used in the webinar: