400 Years of Inequity: A Call to Action

This year marks 400 years since Africans in bondage were sold into chattel slavery here in British North America. After slavery ended, mistreatment of African Americans was codified in local, state, and federal laws, policies, and practices designed to accommodate Jim Crow, which spread this ideology throughout the entire country. Today, circumstances in America remain unfair for African Americans, as seen in racial disparities in health, economic security, housing, the justice system, and beyond.

The YWCA Greater Cleveland and First Year Cleveland believe the inequities in social conditions that were forced upon slaves and their descendants have led to the racial disparities we see today. 

To that end, we are hosting a national summit this fall in Cleveland, Ohio, that will commemorate the 400-year anniversary, enhance understanding of the relationship between past and present, and spark action toward an equitable future.

Join YWCA President & CEO Margaret Mitchell, First Year Cleveland Executive Director Bernadette Kerrigan, and national maternal and infant health expert Dr. Arthur James and hundreds of others for two days of dynamic speakers, skills-building and educational breakout sessions, powerful performances and exhibits, and a unique opportunity to connect with people near and far who share a commitment to equity and justice.

Note:  Exhibitor registration options are coming soon!

Click here to register

EVENT Brave Spaces: Practicing Authentic Leadership

Brave Spaces: Practicing Authentic Leadership

You are invited to participate in a transformative 3-day experience that will change how you think about leading and interacting in your communities and your work. See the attached invitation for additional information. We share a vision of all children being valued, healthy, and thriving. We also believe this vision requires a radical re-imagining of our systems, approaches, and solutions. Imagine harnessing the wisdom and intelligence in our field to inspire others, a culture of shared leadership, and an environment full of empowered and passionate individuals. Brave Spaces: Practicing Authentic Leadership is a place where child development, family support, and health practitioners come together to learn about, apply, and experience new ways of leading, designing, and delivering “the work”. This customized program builds on the global practices of the Art of Hosting. Here are a couple 3 minute videos to give you an overview of the Art of Hosting. What you can expect: Collaboratively identifying new challenges in the field and co-create ideas to address them together Harvest collective knowledge, experiences, and reflections that will allow us to create the context for a new future Experience and support courage in yourself and others to have tough conversations, design meaningful action around equity, and create deep connections Experience and practice new skills, facilitation tools, and approaches to engaging groups How: Applications to attend are due on September 2nd. Online Application When: September 25, 26, 27 (must commit to attending all 3 days) Where: Colorado Housing and Finance Authority 1981 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202 Cost: Thanks to support from the Buell Foundation, the registration fee is $250 (valued at $1,000). However, there is a limited number of partial scholarships and travel stipends available. Principles that ground our work and that we hold: There is a place for you here - it doesn't matter your role or position in your organization. If you feel called to lead, change and support change – join in! Be strategic - we will make sure the content and process is meaningful and relevant in the context of your work in early childhood Be open - Everyone brings something unique and valuable to a process like this. Openness will improve our collective listening and wisdom to solve daunting and challenging problems Co-create - each of us have things to share and things to learn. Art of Hosting is an iterative experience where we learn, experience, reflect and learn again from the collective and ourselves Courage - these times call for us to speak up when it might feel uncomfortable and know there is a space for us all to call out what we see, to be heard and to share It is incredibly important to develop leaders (like YOU!) with strong and inclusive voices so we can effectively tackle the complex social issues that face us today. We sincerely hope you're able to join us in September!

Healthy Students, Promising Futures Learning Collaborative

The Healthy Students, Promising Futures (HSPF) Learning Collaborative brings together state teams committed to increasing access to Medicaid services in schools and promoting safe and supportive school environments. State teams currently include representatives from the state education agency, state Medicaid agency, and two local school districts. Some teams also have other agencies, advocates and public health officials participating.  

HSPF is led by Healthy Schools Campaign and Trust for America’s Health. Participating state teams receive support through strategic advice, training and technical assistance, opportunities for peer learning and regular communications.  HSPF also hosts two symposiums per year to provide key content and policy updates and to facilitate cross-state learning and sharing. State teams also benefit from the robust participation of dozens of national partner organizations.

The Healthy Students, Promising Futures (HSPF) Learning Collaborative currently has 15 participating teams, some of which have been part of HSFP since 2016, and others that joined since then. New teams are accepted in HSPF on a rolling basis.  Click here to learn more about the Colorado team.

WEBINAR Building Protective Factors for the Future “Meet Them Where They Are”

The Dibble Institute is hosting the webinar "Meet Them Where They Are: Building Protective Factors for the Future" on September 11th. The webinar will discuss how different agencies are using funding streams to utilize relationship education to help youth build protective factors.

1. Wed, Sep 11, 2019 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM MDT

Click here to register

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Hear how three agencies that use different funding streams utilize relationship education to meet youth where they are in order to help them to prepare for healthy lives and futures. These organizations use Dibble’s programs to build protective factors so the youth can communicate effectively in jobs, set safe boundaries in relationships, make healthy decisions about their love lives. These agencies serve young people in schools, transitional living homes, and community-based settings. Objectives: Attendees will: ~Understand the needs of vulnerable youth ~Demonstrate how relationship education meets vulnerable youth where they are ~Learn about best practices used in diverse settings Presenters – Panel Mina Koplin – Salt Lake County, SLC, UT (SLC) - TLP Funded Emily Spruill – Advocates for Children/Flowering Branch, Cartersville, GA – ILP through VOCA funding Reta Johnson – Family Center, Little Rock, AR – PREP Funded Who should attend: TLP grantees, ILP grantees, PREP and other Teen pregnancy prevention grantees, those who work with high-needs, vulnerable youth, those who seek to help youth build healthy lives and futures. When: Wednesday, Sept 11, 2019, 4:00 pm Eastern/1:00 pm Pacific Duration: 60 minutes Cost: Free!

Job Opening: Learning & Evaluation Officer Apply today and join our team! The Foundation is pleased to announce a job opening for a Learning & Evaluation Officer. The Learning & Evaluation Officer will play an integral role in helping assess the Foundation's progress and impact, while supporting staff in using evaluative thinking, evidence and learning practices to accelerate progress towards the organization's mission. This position is a key member of the Foundation with responsibility for supporting teams around the development and refinement of strategy, designing and managing a portfolio of evaluation projects to assess strategy, and facilitating learning across time. Ideal candidates will connect with our mission and cornerstones and proactively identify opportunities to advance our mission while remaining grounded in the day-to-day responsibilities. They will have expertise in leading the design and implementation of a broad portfolio of evaluation projects intended to inform strategy, a strong background in engaging with staff who have varying levels of experience with evaluation and learning, put equity at the heart of the work we do as a team, and have the ability to thrive in a rapidly changing work environment. They will be able to integrate concepts around strategy formation, systems thinking, complexity and adaptive/emergent strategy. Creative problem solving, critical thinking and effective communication are also a must. Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree and demonstrate exceptional skills in evaluative and strategic thinking. A minimum of five years’ experience leading the design and oversight of a portfolio of evaluation projects is required. If you or someone you know is a evaluation professional seeking a unique opportunity to engage with learning, evaluation and organizational strategy, please visit our website to learn more and apply. All applications require a resume and cover letter. The application for this position closes on Sunday, Sept. 8. The Foundation is committed to and intentional about diversity, equity and inclusion. As an Equal Opportunity Employer we invite qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Follow on Twitter   Like us on Facebook   Forward to Friend  © 2006-2019 Colorado Health Foundation. For more information, please visit us at www.coloradohealth.org. The Colorado Health Foundation is bringing health in reach for all Coloradans by engaging closely with communities across the state through investing, policy advocacy, learning and capacity building. Our mailing address is: Colorado Health Foundation 1780 Pennsylvania Street Denver, CO 80203

GRANT School Mental Health Capacity-Building

GRANT APPLICATION

Mental Health Colorado developed the School Mental Health Toolkit to increase support and resources in planning for school mental health. The Toolkit is a comprehensive framework, based on 10 best practices to help community advocates, schools, and local leaders work together to assess, identify, prioritize and fund school-based mental health services. It will show you how to promote school-based mental health and wellness programs that work. Using our Toolkit as a framework, Mental Health Colorado is committed to supporting district leaders and advocates as they implement mental health strategies in schools across the state.

Through grant funding, Mental Health Colorado is offering school mental health capacity-building grants designed to assist school districts with the ongoing implementation of the School Mental Health Toolkit’s 10 best practices. Eligible applicants are school districts, local education agencies (LEA), boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) and community partners. Community partners must be a registered entity with the State of Colorado. Districts must have completed an initial Toolkit review and planning meeting with Mental Health Colorado and must include a completed copy of the Toolkit’s Needs Assessment. 

Please contact Sarah Younggren at syounggren@mentalhealthcolorado.org for questions or to schedule your initial Toolkit introduction and planning meeting.

Please download and email your completed application, attaching your budget and Toolkit Needs Assessment to toolkit@mentalhealthcolorado.org.

APPLICATION

Local Foods, Local Places 2019-2020 Application

Background

Webinar on Applying for Local Foods, Local Places Assistance

On September 4, 2019, from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time, we will host a webinar to provide an overview of the Local Foods, Local Places program and the selection criteria for the 2019-2020 application. Click here to register for the webinar.

Local Foods, Local Places helps communities revitalize neighborhoods through development of local food systems. In 2018, the program was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Northern Border Regional Commission.

Local Foods, Local Places aims to support projects that do all of the following:

• Create livable, walkable, economically vibrant main streets and mixed-use neighborhoods.
• Boost economic opportunities for local farmers and main street businesses.
• Improve access to healthy, local food, especially among disadvantaged populations.

See the main Local Foods, Local Places page to learn about past projects.

The Local Foods, Local Places program will provide selected communities planning assistance that centers around a two-day community workshop. At the workshop, a team of experts will help community members develop an implementable action plan that promotes local food and neighborhood revitalization. Click here to see examples of action plans from community workshops organized through this assistance.  This assistance is not a grant, and the program does not provide money directly to communities.

For more information about the program, eligibility and how to apply, click here

WEBINAR Changing Internal Practices to Advance Health Equity

LIVE WEBINAR WEDNESDAY, August 28, 2019 FROM 12:00-1:15 PM EST.
Sign in opens a few minutes before start time. A link will be available at that time.

Changing organizational practices to advance health equity is a difficult task. 

But through using the Human Impact Partners' definition of health equity and 

theory of change, we can begin to minimize the barriers of change management. 

This webinar will feature Megan Gaydos, Project Director at Human Impact 

Partners, and will focus on methods that health departments can use to address 

power imbalances and other factors in order to advance health equity.

Audience

Local health department staff, community organization leaders, and other public 

health professionals

Learning Objectives

*Describe the role of health departments in addressing power imbalances, racism 

and other forms of oppression at the root of health inequities.

*Name three barriers and three antidotes to changing organizational culture.

*Identify five internal actions that health departments can implement to advance 

health equity.

Continuing Education Credit
CE is not available for this training.

Sponsors

The Region V Public Health Training Center is supported by the Health Resources 

and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31684 Public Health Training Centers 

($924,899). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author 

and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any 

endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Contact us at mphtc@umich.edu with questions.

Sign up for this course today!

ENROLL

• Course Catalog
 
• Terms of Use
 

Assessment and Mapping of Community Connections in Home Visiting

Assessment and Mapping of Community Connections 

in Home VisitingShare pag

AUTHORS:

KRISTINA ROSINSKY,

REBECCA MADILL,

LAUREN SUPPLEE,

SARA SHAW,

WEILIN LI,

EMILY CANTRELL,

OTHERS

Home visiting programs provide information and support to parents of young children to address their individual needs. The families served by home visiting programs often have many needs, and home visitors cannot address all of them. Therefore, referrals to outside community services are vital for the success of the families that home visiting programs serve.

Recognizing the importance of these referrals, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), both of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), contracted with Child Trends and Trilogy Interactive to design a prototype for a tool to enhance home visiting stakeholders’ understanding of community connections in the home visiting context. Stakeholders of interest included federal staff, state administrators, tribal and non-tribal local implementing agencies, state-level early childhood coordinators, technical assistance providers, home visiting model and tool developers, and researchers. Community connections refers to relationships between home visiting programs and other community services providers, such as those offering mental health services, child care, and more. This report provides a summary of the work the project team completed to understand the needs of relevant stakeholders and to propose a tool that would meet their needs.

Methodology

To create a prototype of the tool, the project used a human-centered design approach. The project team relied heavily on input from stakeholders to deeply understand their needs. By engaging a stakeholder group that included potential end users of the tool (i.e., federal staff, state administrators, and local implementing agencies) throughout the project, the team learned that stakeholders were interested in the availability of community service providers, gaps between family needs and availability of services, the accessibility of providers (in terms of location, language, and more), quality of services, and much more. Based on this information from stakeholders, as well as findings from other project activities, the team developed several iterations of the prototype. The result was a final prototype of a tool that would help stakeholders better understand community connections between home visiting programs and other community service providers.

Key findings and highlights

This report shares several reflections on what the team learned through the project activities. The key reflections are:

• Making referrals from home visiting to other community services is a complex process. Home visitors must understand (1) the availability, accessibility, and relationships between home visiting programs and community resources, (2) the families’ needs, and (3) appropriate ways to connect families to resources that align with their needs within the unique local context. This information informed the development of the prototype by highlighting the key information programs need that a tool could provide.
• Stakeholders want a great deal of information about community connections in the home visiting context, including the supply of and demand for community services and the accessibility of these services at the LIA, state, and national levels. However, due to data limitations, the prototype of the tool does not address several identified needs.
• Basic analyses, as opposed to complex analyses, were more appropriate for this project. One of HHS’s original goals for the project was to better understand the strength of connections between home visiting programs and various community resources. The project team considered addressing this goal through complex analytic techniques such as social network analysis. However, stakeholders showed a preference for information that could be derived from basic descriptive analyses.

Suggested citation: Rosinsky, K., Madill, R., Bashara, S., Supplee, L., Shaw, S., Stearns, R., Li, W., Gutowski, T., Cantrell, E.  (2019). Assessment and Mapping of Community Connections in Home Visiting: Final Report. OPRE Report Number 2019-68. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Other Authors: Randy Stearns, Stacey Bashara, Tim Gutowski

An accompanying brief, titled “Promoting Understanding of Community Connections in Home Visiting: State of Available Data and Future Opportunities” will be published soon.

Download Publication

The Colorado Office of Early Childhood wants to hear from families!

The Colorado Office of Early Childhood (OEC) wants to hear from families of children 0-5 across Colorado to learn about the programs and services they want or need to give their child a strong start! This information will inform the statewide needs assessment and strategic plan under the state's Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5). We need your help to reach as many families as possible between now and August 30, 2019. Tools to communicate with families are available below. Please share the following link with families in your professional and personal networks: colo.health/parentsurvey The families you engage with will provide valuable input to inform the statewide strategic plan to strengthen Colorado's early childhood system. We also want to hear from families that are not connected to formal early childhood programs to learn about their preferences or barriers to participation. Please direct any questions to CDHS_PDG@state.co.us. Click here for more information on the Colorado Shines Brighter PDG B-5 initiative. Thank you for your support! Colorado Shines Brighter Team Share on Facebook now! (English) Share on Facebook now! (Spanish) Communications Tools The following tools were created to help you share the survey with families. Sample Newsletter and Social Media Posts - English Sample Social Media Posts and Images - Spanish English 3x5 Notecard Spanish 3x5 Notecard The project described above is made possible by Grant Number 90TP0009-01-00 from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.