Submit Your Proposals and Registration Open! 2019 Culture of Data

Submit your Proposal to Speak at the Culture of Data Conference on May 3, 2019! The 2019 theme is Data Connections Between Behavioral Health and Public Health: Creating a Culture of Equity. This year, the Culture of Data is seeking submissions related to the data collection, analysis, dissemination, utilization and integration of behavioral health data to achieve health equity. Abstracts should focus on the areas of promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery in substance use and mental health, paying close attention to the social determinants of health.

Submit Proposal

Keeping with the conference theme, the conference committee invites you to submit proposals that offer thought-provoking critical thinking, clinical judgement, or ethical considerations, and/or support provider- or client-centered solutions. And in keeping with the typical participant make-up, develop a proposal with content geared toward the entry-level, intermediate, or master-level audience. The conference offers a variety of breakouts, workshops and skill-building sessions for every data user level to apply data towards achieving health equity in diverse communities.  The intended audience for this conference includes, but is not limited to:  Community service providers Community members and organizations Local non-profits Epidemiologists Health educators Legislators Physicians Clinical health providers Program coordinators and administrators Nurses Environmental health professionals Community health workers Patient navigators Public health officers Researchers and faculty Mental health professionals Policy professionals Students Related health specialists   Please submit your proposal by February 28, 2019 for consideration. The committee will convene and have acceptance letters out in the middle of March 2019. Registration Now Open! 2019 Culture of Data Conference May 3, 2019 CU South Denver, Denver, CO For the third year in a row, the Colorado Public Health Association hosts the Culture of Data conference as the primary fiduciary and project organizer. CPHA continues to stay true to the values and objectives of the conference as it remains community led and focused. This year, the CoD theme is: DATA CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH: CREATING A CULTURE OF EQUITY Visit our conference website here for more information! A schedule of events will be posted soon. Note: Limited onsite registrations will be available.  Online registration closes at 9:59 pm MST on Friday, April 26, 2019 Click Here to Register!

FDA warns about teething necklaces, bracelets after death of 18-month-old

The Food and Drug Administration is warning parents and caregivers about using teething necklaces or bracelets after the death of an 18-month-old child.

The agency discourages the use of teething products to relieve pain in kids or to offer sensory stimulation to kids with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The warning follows a report an 18-month-old child died after the child was strangled by an amber teething necklace while taking a nap. In another report, a 7-month-old was hospitalized after choking on the beads of a wooden teething bracelet.

"We’re concerned about the risks we’ve observed with these products and want parents to be aware that teething jewelry puts children, including those with special needs, at risk of serious injury and death," said FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, in a statement released Thursday.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents ease teething pain by using teething rings made of firm rubber or gently rubbing or massaging gums with one of your fingers.

In May, the FDA warned about the use of over-the-counter teething products containing benzocaine, such as Orajel or Anbesol, saying there is evidence of links to a dangerous and potentially fatal blood condition.

Research shows the risk of misgendering transgender youth By Deborah Temkin and Claudia Vega All youth require the support and acceptance of their family, peers, and communities to thrive. Transgender and gender-nonconforming youth are no exception; their health and well-being is heavily influenced by the institutions and communities that surround them. Although youth who identify as a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth have among the highest rates of suicide, depression, and self-harm, a supportive and safe environment can significantly reduce these risks. Ensuring that transgender youth are referred to according to their identified genders, and with their chosen names, is a critical factor in establishing this type of environment. A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health demonstrates the power of affirming transgender youth’s identities: For each additional context (i.e., at home, school, work, or with friends) in which a transgender youth’s chosen name is used, their risk of suicidal behavior is reduced by more than half. Another study, published in the journal Pediatrics, finds that transgender youth who have fully socially transitioned to their identified gender, and have been supported in doing so, do not have elevated depressive symptoms compared to the broader population. And in an era in which overall youth suicide rates have significantly increased over the last decade, it is critical to take steps to reduce risk for suicide. Transgender individuals make up approximately 0.7 percent of the populationof youth ages 13–17 and 18–24. Because the transgender community is small, much of the research on transgender youth is either based on qualitative data or correlational in nature; collecting causal data requires a large sample. Even so, the emerging literature paints a clear and consistent message: Acceptance of transgender youth’s identities is associated with better outcomes. The corollary is also true: Denial, misgendering, and misnaming transgender youth can make things worse.

Improving the lives and prospects of children and youth through high-quality research

GRANT Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program

OUR THEORY OF CHANGE                                       

People most affected by a problem are in the best position to determine the solutions. Therefore, leadership development is an essential component of social change work.

True change occurs only when underlying, systemic forces are understood and addressed.

Grassroots, constituent-led organizing is among the most effective means to create social change. We define organizing as collective action from the bottom up that challenges the status quo, demands changes in policy and practice, educates communities about root causes, and advocates and agitates for systemic and just solutions.

Lasting change occurs when Social Justice Movements are built from the ground up and grassroots groups come together across sectors and constituencies to work for the common principles of Human Rights and Justice for All.

The Grassroots Organizing for Social Change program supports organizations that share and embody this theory of change.

GUIDELINES & PRIORITIES

The Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program offers general or project support to non-profit organizations throughout the United States and is our most competitive grant program. 

We make one-year grants for up to $25,000, to organizations with budgets under $500,000. Only organizations with 501(c)3 status, or who have a fiscal agent with this status are eligible to apply.

While our broad goals are to further social and environmental justice and support sustainable and just food systems, we focus on the types of activities and strategies an organization uses for creating social change rather than on the specific issues the organization is addressing.

Applications are to be submitted through our online grant management system. To learn more about our online system, please click here for a tutorial.

YOUTH OPPORTUNITY Youth Health Equity Model of Practice Summer 2019 Fellowship

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH) is excited to announce that the Youth Health Equity Model of Practice(YHEMOP) Summer 2019 Health Equity Fellow application is now available! Through its YHEMOP program, OMH places students enrolled in higher education studies into short-term health equity fellowships to help meet the needs of diverse organizations. 

YHEMOP Health Equity Fellows must be:

1. Currently enrolled at an accredited college or university as an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student; OR graduated from an accredited college or university within the past year.
2. An emerging health professional with 1-5 years of relevant experience.
3. A student in good standing with the college or university in which the student is enrolled.
4. Available to work 40 hours a week during normal business hours, or for the time required by the Placement Site.
5. Available to work at the Placement Site, unless a telework agreement has been established prior to accepting the fellowship.

For more information about the program, please contact us at OMHYHEMOP@atlasresearch.us.

Deadline is February 22. Learn more.

CO Children's Campaign: 10 Trends in Child Well-being

Check out Colorado Children's Campaign's 10 Trends in Child Well-being in 2019.

A sneak peak is below, but to view the rest, please click here!

OPPORTUNITY Interviews About Child Care Experiences

Today's families face new challenges and often must find creative solutions to make sure their children are cared for every day. Teach for America Colorado is seeking input from families on their experiences with finding child care. 45-minute interviews will be scheduled through the end of January and input will be used to help organizations committed to children and families better serve the needs of the community. 

National Day of Racial Healing January 22

On January 22, 2019, gather your family, friends, colleagues and community for the National Day of Racial Healing. Join thousands across the country in celebrating our common humanity and taking collective action toward a more just and equitable world.

The National Day of Racial Healing is a part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation effort – a national, community-based process of transformative, sustainable change, addressing the historic and contemporary effects of racism.

Conceived in 2016 through a collaborative effort of more than 550 U.S. leaders, the National Day of Racial Healing is a time to:

1. 1Reinforce and honor our common humanity, while celebrating the distinct differences that make our communities vibrant.
2. 2Acknowledge the deep racial divisions that exist in America and must be overcome and healed.
3. 3Commit to engaging people from all racial and ethnic groups in genuine efforts to increase understanding, communication, caring and respect for one another.

Please join us by planning or participating in activities in your own community. Be sure to tag your social media posts with #HowWeHeal.

EVENT 2020Mom Annual Forum

Space is still available for the upcoming livestream of the 2020Mom Annual Forum!

Registration for the in-person event ends on
January 31, 2019 

There is no cost to attend the forum but please let us know if you need to cancel in order to help us plan for lunch!

 

Flyer and Agenda

Special Colorado Panel

Supporting Mothers in the Workplace - Stories from Colorado Employers (1:30-2:30 pm)

Employers, including human resources personnel, benefits administrators, and managers, have a unique opportunity to support the health and well-being of employees, particularly pregnant and new mothers who experience maternal mental health issues such as postpartum depression. “A lot of women want to work, but they need the infrastructure that will allow them to take care of themselves, their family and do the work they need to do,” says Dr. Kimberly Yonkers, a professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Public Health (Postpartum Depression and Anxiety - Tools and Strategies to Combat Peripartum and Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in Working Mothers). Four Colorado panelists representing the public and private sectors will share about their efforts and initiatives to support employees who are pregnant or new mothers within the context of their workplace policies and practices that are family-friendly.

• Joi Simpson, Director of Human Resources, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
• Janeen Haller-Abernethy, Program Manager, Colorado State Employees Assistance Program
• Kristin Holthus, Chief Financial Officer, Anton Collins Mitchell LLP
• Jessica Weatherly, Associate Engagement Specialist, Oakwood Homes
• Susanna Snyder (moderator) - Policy Specialist with the Health Programs Office at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing.

IMPORTANT NOTE to individuals wishing to obtain CEs: 

• By February 1, please use PayPal or a credit card for your CEs payment. Late payments will not be accepted. 
• You must check in with the Colorado event coordinator at the beginning and end of the event on February 8 to sign in and out.
• CE fees are $35 and are non-refundable per 2020Mom. 
• Following the event, you will receive an email with a survey via 2020Mom that must be completed in order for you to access your completion certificate. It is your responsibility to print the certificate which cannot be saved. Duplicate certificates or certificates not accessed via the survey are available for an additional $25 fee.
• For questions about CE such as eligibility, please contact Gerald Stone (geralds@ivatcenters.org) or visit 2020Mom (https://www.2020mom.org/2019-annual-forum/).

Top 10 Car Seat Safety Mistakes to Avoid

  

New Year, New Parent? Top 10 Car Seat Safety Mistakes to Avoid 

Car Seats Colorado Shares Tips for New Parents

STATEWIDE — More than 64,000 babies were born in Colorado in 2017. The numbers for 2018 aren’t out yet, but in all likelihood, plenty of new parents across the state have questions about how to best care for their newborn. Car Seats Colorado, a joint effort between the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), would like to help new parents avoid some common mistakes when buying, installing or securing their child in a car seat. These common pitfalls include:

1.   Accepting a used car seat without knowing its entire history.
Even if it’s not visible, car seats that have been in a crash can have structural damage. And most car seats expire after six years — partly because summer heat, winter cold and year-round sunshine break down and weaken seat materials over time. Never use a second-hand car seat unless you know its ENTIRE history and it hasn’t yet reached its expiration date.

2.   Straining the budget by thinking the most expensive car seat is the best.
All new car seats have to pass the same stringent crash safety standards set by the federal government. Infant car seats can cost as little as $40 and are just as safe as those that will run you $400 or more.

3.   Failing to check for recalls.
There are hundreds of car seat models under recall by manufacturers. Last year alone, recalls affected 755,000 individual car seats. Take the time to see if yours is on the list every few months to make sure a new recall hasn’t been issued. You can also register for recall alerts at CarSeatsColorado.com to ensure you get timely recall information from the manufacturer.

4.   Strapping in a baby wearing bulky winter clothes.
Car seat straps need to be snug to protect a child in the event of a crash. Bulky winter coats or snowsuits create room between the straps and the child, increasing the force of an impact.

5.   Attaching toys or after-market add-ons to the car seat.
Toys, cup holders, rear-seat mirrors or anything else not originally included with the car seat can act as a projectile during a crash. Keep the seat and surrounding area free from clutter.

6.   Moving your child to the next car seat before they’re ready.
A child’s age, height, weight and physical development, as well as the car seat manufacturer’s recommendations, should all be considered before you move your child to the next type of car seat — NOT just their age. If you’re unsure of when to move to the next seat, visit a car seat inspection station to have your seat checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. Visit CarSeatsColorado.com for a list of inspection stations throughout Colorado.

7.   Not attaching the car seat base to the seat of the car.
It may sound obvious, but some new parents who buy two-piece infant car seats with a carrier and a base will sometimes click the carrier into the base — but forget to secure the base to the seat of the car.

8.   Using car seat anchor attachments and a seat belt at the same time.
While this may seem like added protection, the two systems can interfere with each other and actually make the car seat less secure. Please follow installation instructions from the manufacturer.

9.   Putting baby in front of an air bag.
Unless you’re driving a two-seat pickup truck, your infant should never be in the front seat. However, if you must, make sure the air bag is turned off — the force of the bag deployment can cause serious injury.

10. Throwing away an old car seat
Expired or damaged car seats can be recycled through Car Seats Colorado. Visit CarSeatsColorado.com for a list of drop-off locations. You can also call your local waste management company to find out if they have a car seat recycling program. If not, you can render the seat unusable by cutting and removing the harness, and breaking the plastic shell, or writing "UNSAFE - DO NOT USE" on the plastic shell in permanent marker. The seat can then be disposed of normally.

Parents and caregivers can watch installation and safety videos, download the latest educational materials, find links to recall lists and learn more about car seat recycling programs at CarSeatsColorado.com.

About Car Seats Colorado

Car Seats Colorado provides education and resources to help parents ensure their children are riding safely, as well as recycling programs for used car seats and training courses for safety technicians. Car Seats Colorado is comprised of the CSP, CDOT, local car seat technicians, law enforcement, emergency services and other professionals who are dedicated to implementing child passenger safety programs. Learn more at CarSeatsColorado.com.