Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Training on Transgender Health

WEBINAR: Health Equity and the Built Environment

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 from 12:00 - 1:00pm MST

Colorado Public Health Association (CPHA) is hosting a webinar on the connection between the built environment and health equity. The webinar will explore how issues related to housing/urban growth/land development can contribute to economic and class segregation and in turn, shape our communities, cultures and other characteristics that influence inequities around chronic disease, mental health and social determinants of health. Adam Anderson, MPH, MURP, Population Health Epidemiologist at Tri-County Health Department will present on the connection as well as the role of public health professionals and how the connection should shape our interactions within our communities.

Find more information and register for the webinar


Friday, February 24, 2017

2017 Colorado Downtown Streets Workshops


Colorado communities are invited to attend one of three half-day workshops held this March to learn how to strike a balance among the many demands facing their downtown streets.

Workshop attendees will learn how to communicate and work with state and local agencies, identify problems, consider solutions, and get projects built to improve their downtown.

The workshops are designed for community residents, engineers, planners, advocates, and anyone else interested in making their downtowns better. Workshop attendance is limited so those that are interested are encouraged to sign up now. We are offering these workshops in partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation, Department of Local Affairs, and Department of Public Health and Environment.

The deadline for registration is Friday, March 17

Workshops in Woodland Park, CO: 3/22 | La Junta, CO: 3/23 | Brush, CO: 3/24

To be scheduled: At least two more workshops on the western slope.

Questions? Read the Community Builders Year in Review 2016 Report and contact Cate.Townley@state.co.us

Healing Our Youth: mental health education for schools, caregivers, and community members



Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Youth Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention: 2017 Resource Guide


The Youth Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention: 2017 Resources Guide, developed by the Children's Safety Network, addresses suicide and self-harm among youth including data and research, prevention resources including evidence-based practices and policy and legislation, and program planning and campaigns. The guide also includes topic-specific subsections on the following topics (1) Bullying; (2) Family; (3) Electronic, Social, and Mass Media; (4) Mental Health; (5) Schools; (6) Substance Use; (7) Self-Harm; (8) LGBTQ Youth; (9) American Indian/Alaska Native Youth; and (10) Rural Youth. Each topic-specific section contains organizations, webpages, evidence-based practices, workshops, toolkits, reports, fact sheets, archived webinars, and journal articles, which appear in that order.

Read the guide here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2pbCH96XGdTSmtUVU1BSTgtNUE/view?usp=sharing

Andy's Data Blog: Random musing from a data nerd

“You can handle the truth?!?” Best practice in records requesting.
Styles vary dramatically. Maybe you’re the kind of person who “weezes the juice”. Maybe not.  Maybe you’re uptight like Judge Smails. Maybe not. Whatever the case, you’re the kind of person who needs to get things done and the CFPS state support staff can help!
Kate and I have been road trippin’ across the state for the last several months in an effort to visit at least one of our local partners each month. (If you’d like us to visit you, all you need to do is say so! We’re pretty relentless when an opportunity presents itself, however, so be prepared!) Throughout the course of our travels, we’ve learned a lot about each other’s preferences. For instance, my colleague, Kate, has an unusual affinity for the powdered scrambled eggs that each hotel we’ve stayed in conspicuously seems to share and serve. I, on the other hand, have developed an inappropriate relationship with the sometimes raw, sometimes crispy sausages these same hotels also all seem to share!  Spending all this time together, however, we’ve also developed some routines, like getting coffee from a local shop each morning (admittedly though, Kate gets some kind of weird tea/milk mix! Blech!) (Shout out to Solar Roasters in Pueblo!). We know these patterns and differences develop through experience. Sometimes they can be good, e.g., the powdered eggs - these are 100% real, apparently. Sometimes, however, they may not be so good, witness the undercooked breakfast sausage.  Just like these habits, your review process can develop its own patterns, some good and some bad.

Here are a few items to keep in mind when requesting records. Our statute 25-20.5-408(1a) specifically calls out our access to records from departments of human/social services. The statute indicates that “…the state review team and the local or regional review teams shall have access to all records and information in the possession of the department of human services and the county departments of social services that are relevant to the review of a child fatality, including records and information related to previous reports and investigations of suspected child abuse or neglect.” This means that you should be requesting these records from the county of residence and receiving reports prior to the meeting to help complete sections related to history of victimization and perpetration for the decedent, caregiver, or supervisors as circumstances of the case dictate. While it is useful for DHS to share this information during the meeting, best practice would be to request and receive these records prior to the meeting to have the most complete available information at your fingertips.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Addressing the Cultural and Linguistic Needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and/or Caregivers

WHAT:  Addressing the Cultural and Linguistic Needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and/or Caregivers

It is easy to forget that certain disabilities and/or cultural affiliations may not be immediately recognized when you first meet people through your work. Challenging still when these identities are considered part of a low-incidence population. However, as you know, every family is important. Every parent, every child.

Families that have at least one Deaf or hard of hearing member are unique. You may face some challenges in communicating with the Deaf parent, or the hard of hearing child, for example. There may be some cultural norms you are unfamiliar with. Enroll in this training and learn:

• what it means to be Deaf or hard of hearing (yes, Deaf culture exists!)
• incidences of abuse within this population
• tips & tools for interacting with D/HH adults & children
• legal rights / communication accommodations for D/HH families in Colorado

..all straight from the hands of Deaf trainers. Don't worry, communication accommodations will be provided!

WHEN:  March 23, 2017 from 10:00am-12:30pm OR April 4, 2017 from 10:00am-12:30pm

WHERE:  Metro Regional Training Center

HOW:  Register at www.coloradocwts.com

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Upcoming Regional Public Health and Marijuana Workshop- Denver March 7th

Attend a Regional Public Health and Marijuana Workshop

The goal of the workshop is to provide public health and prevention professionals with retail marijuana resources and data tools in order to educate their communities about safe, legal and responsible marijuana use.

Our first workshop will take place on Tuesday, March 7th, 9:00am-4:00pm at the Lowry Conference Center in Denver with other regional dates to be confirmed soon.

The full-day workshop will include:

  • Information on marijuana use data across the lifespan, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, young adults and adults 21 years+
  • Marijuana health impact data, such as emergency department and poison control center calls
  • Marijuana education and prevention programs and resources for various populations

In addition, the workshop will include networking opportunities and round table discussions to create an action plan for your organization.

Continue to check back to our Community agency resources page for up-to-date training information.



NVDRS Special Report - Deaths from Suicide: A Look at 18 States


Deaths from Suicide: A Look at 18 States

This special report focuses on death by suicide using 2013 and 2014 data from 18 states participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). The report provides an overview of deaths from violence in the U.S., a detailed look at deaths by suicide nationally (see infographic) and among states — including circumstances surrounding suicide deaths in various demographic groups — and an exploration of similarities and differences in violent deaths among the 18 states.

The 18 states included in this report completed NVDRS data collection for 2013 and 2014 and submitted these data to CDC for compilation in the annual NVDRS Restricted Access Database (RAD), a de-identified, multi-state, case-level micro dataset prepared by the CDC for use by researchers and other investigators. These states are Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Youth Mental Health First Aid course for adults who work or interact with youth ages 12-18


Youth Mental Health First Aid course available at *no cost* for any adults who work or interact with youth ages 12-18

Project AWARE will be hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid course at the Colorado Department of Education (in the State Board Room) on Saturday, February 25th, 2017. This is the 8-hour certification course (not the instructor course). This training is open to the public as well.

Please see the flyer for more details about the funding and course information.

REGISTER HERE: http://www.cde.state.co.us/calendar/225cde

If you have any questions, please contact:

Omar Estrada
Youth Liaison
Health & Wellness
Phone: 303.866.6455
Email: Estrada_O@cde.state.co.us

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Rise Above Colorado Survey Results on Youth Substance Use, Protective and Risk Factors


Rise Above Colorado is a drug abuse prevention organization that measurably impacts youth perceptions and attitudes about the risks of substance abuse to help youth make empowered, healthy choices.

The organization recently released a report of the results of the Rise Above Colorado Youth Survey. Data cover many types of substances (alcohol, marijuana, meth, prescription drugs, etc.) and both risk and protective factors for substance use grouped by regions across the state.

Read the report here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2pbCH96XGdTMHRMZlpRN3Zsdkk

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Deadline February 15: Healthier Colorado, Partnerships in Local Advocacy

Local public policy has a big impact on health, and we want to empower locally generated ideas to improve health. That’s why we’ve launched the Partnerships in Local Advocacy (PiLA) program. Any interested individual or organization is invited to submit a letter of intent to request support for a local public policy campaign within the locality in which they reside or serve. PiLA is focused on campaigns to influence public policy decisions made by city councils, county commissions, and school or special district boards that require “lobbying activity” as defined under the IRS code (more can be found here).

The proposed campaign should be within our areas of interest, and you can see the process timeline below. This is not a grant program, at least not in the traditional sense. As you can see below, financial support is one of the types of resources that can be offered. That support can be provided in various forms as needed, such as a financial campaign contribution or in-kind support to procure materials or services. We are interested in campaign-ready public policy opportunities and approach projects in the spirit of partnership. Within PiLA, we work collaboratively with selected partners to provide needed resources, while also expecting that locals will power the campaign on the ground

Read more here: https://healthiercolorado.org/partnerships-local-advocacy/

Office of Suicide Prevention Community Grants RFA

The Office of Suicide Prevention has released a request for applications for the Community Grants program. Agencies and organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply.

See more information and download the RFA for community-based suicide prevention opportunities here: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/office-suicide-prevention-community-grants

Application deadline is Wednesday March 22, 2017

Questions? Please contact Office of Suicide Prevention Director Sarah Brummett at sarah.brummett@state.co.us.

Friday, February 10, 2017

Statewide Training and Technical Assistance Substance Abuse Prevention Project


The Statewide Training and Technical Assistance Substance Abuse Prevention Project, is a regionally based consulting project, funded by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Office of Behavioral Health (OBH).

The Project provides training, consultation, and technical assistance support to Colorado agencies, communities, and coalitions working with children, youth, and families around primary prevention for substance misuse and abuse.  This includes all OBH prevention funded grantees as well as community groups that contribute to substance abuse prevention efforts locally and statewide.

GOALS

  • Build the capacity of organizations and agencies in areas critical to their ability to provide high quality and successful substance misuse and abuse prevention programs.
  • Build the capacity of community coalitions addressing substance misuse and abuse prevention issues to implement the Strategic Prevention Framework and other best practices for increased effectiveness and improved outcomes.
  • Develop the professional skills of Colorado substance misuse and abuse prevention workforce through trainings and other workforce development activities offered by the project, as demonstrated by an  increase in substance misuse and abuse prevention knowledge.

WEBINAR: Applying ACEs to Fatality Review and Prevention

Our national partners at the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention are hosting an upcoming webinar:

"Applying Adverse Childhood Experiences to Fatality Review and Prevention"

March 8, 2017 from 12:00 - 1:00pm MST

Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, can have a significant impact on the lifelong health and opportunity of individuals and families. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study links risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life potential and early death to events occurring in childhood. ACEs are a public health issue that can be prevented. Applying the ACEs framework to fetal, infant and child death review helps to identify and target unique prevention opportunities.

Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3328687171210304003

2017 Colorado Healthy Schools Summit


Register now for the 2017 Colorado Healthy Schools Summit: Putting the Pieces Together

Friday, March 3
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sheraton Denver West Hotel
360 Union Blvd
Lakewood, CO 80228

To create healthy and engaging learning environments, we need to give students what they need to succeed. On Friday, March 3 we’ll shine a spotlight on comprehensive approaches to a healthy school culture that contributes to student success.

This premier school health and wellness professional learning event brings Colorado educators, students, parents, business leaders, and education partners together from across the state. Together we will:

CELEBRATE the 2017 Healthy School Champions - innovative schools who implement coordinated approaches to school health and wellness to support student learning.
DISCOVER educational strategies that promote student growth and educator success in breakout sessions.
COLLABORATE and network with your educator peers and experts in the field to better meet the needs of Colorado schools and students.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Suicide safeTALK Training & GLBTQ Information Session

Essentials for Childhood Policy Guide


ASTHO developed a policy guide to supplement CDC's Essentials for Childhood framework, focusing on strategies to:

  • increase economic support for working families, 
  • expand access to quality childcare and education, and 
  • promote flexible, family-friendly workplace policies.

This resource presents an overview of the health department's role in informing policy and lays out several options for states and other partners to incorporate in cross-cutting policy efforts to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for children and to ensure a foundation for health into the next generation.

For more information on how Colorado is implementing the framework, visit Colorado Essentials for Childhood.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Suicide Training near Gilpin, Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties

Funding Opportunity to Support the Medical Examiner-Coroner System

Funding Opportunity: Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program

Applications due: March 20, 2017

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications to strengthen the medical examiner-coroner system. This program furthers the Department’s mission by providing resources to improve medicolegal death investigations (MDI) in the United States.

Eligible applicants are agencies directly involved in medicolegal death investigations as part of their normal business, such as medical examiner offices and coroner offices.

States (including territories), units of local government, federally recognized Indian tribal governments (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) that perform law enforcement functions, non-profit and for-profit organizations (including tribal non-profit and for-profit organizations), institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education), and certain qualified individuals. For-profit organizations (as well as other recipients) must forgo any profit or management fee including tribal institutions of higher education).

See more information here: https://nij.gov/funding/Documents/solicitations/NIJ-2017-11566.pdf

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Cure Violence: Treating violence like a disease

Cure Violence is an organization using a public health approach to eliminate violence by treating violence as an infectious disease.

Cure Violence stops the spread of violence in communities by using the methods and strategies associated with disease control – detecting and interrupting conflicts, identifying and treating the highest risk individuals, and changing social norms – resulting reductions in violence of 40% to 70%.

Learn more by visiting the organization's website: http://cureviolence.org/

Monday, February 6, 2017


Investing in a strong workforce builds trust and supports economic development, and we can start with our own workplaces. Family-friendly workplaces allow parents and caregivers the flexibility to tend to their children’s physical and mental health needs and maintain strong familial relationships. You are invited to join fellow early childhood partners in a discussion on how we can enhance our own work supporting children and families by making changes in our own workplaces.

Connect with colleagues over breakfast and hear from a panel of partners who are thoughtfully approaching creating family friendly workplaces and have completed the Family Friendly Workplace Assessment developed by EPIC, CDPHE and HealthLinks. These partners will share their experiences from various lenses of the early childhood sphere. Agenda and panel participants forthcoming.

March 8 @ Daniels Fund, 8-9:30 AM

Breakfast and networking at 8, presentation begins promptly at 8:30 AM





Friday, February 3, 2017

CFPS Midpoint Evaluation Report


Beginning in 2013, the Child Fatality Prevention System transition from a centralized, state-level review process to reviews conducted across the state by local child fatality prevention review teams is considered a national best practice, but is also being evaluated by the State Support Team. The 5-year evaluation process is now past the mid-point and into Year 3.

You can catch up on the first half of that evaluation process here in the 2016 CFPS Midpoint Evaluation Report

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Promoting Safe Sleep in Hospitals


Denver Child Fatality Review Team created and distributed a letter to local hospitals about the importance of safe sleep promotion in the prevention of sleep-related deaths or sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs). The letter includes information about the prevalence of these deaths in Colorado as well as steps hospitals can take to prevent them, including modeling safe sleep, using sleep sacks instead of blankets, and using images that depict safe sleeping environments.

The team asks that you share this letter widely in your networks and communities. You can read and download the complete letter here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_oET7Y5iATZczlYcHpycndIMEk/view?usp=sharing        

Interested in Safe Sleep? Attend the Cribs for Kids Conference



Both Andy and Kate will be attending, and we'd love to see you there!
Early bird registration is before March 31, 2017.