Healthy Generations eNewsletter

#UMNMCH student Alexis Chavez (she/her) (MPH 2022) wrote this reflection on how her role as one of the co-editors of the National MCH Trainee Blog has contributed to her Maternal and Child Health (MCH) knowledgebase. In this piece, Alexis shares how her work with MCH students as a blog editor incorporates skills presented in MCH Competencies and the L.I.F.E Framework Model.

Ruth Enkuselasse Berhanu is the author of the newest blog post featuring Competency 2: Self-Reflection. Ruth is an MPH student from Boston University concentrating in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Maternal and Child Health. In Fall 2020, she was a practice fellow partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Health, where she focused on promoting a healing-centered work environment, an initiative under the Title V Priority 5-Year State Action Plan. In her post, Ruth describes the importance of healing-centered approaches: “When healing-centered approaches are not implemented in our work environments, public health workers are distant and disconnected, leaving no room for full collaboration and creativity when designing interventions for vulnerable populations they work with.” Read about Ruth’s experience here.

February 15, 2022 | 1:00 PM - 3:45 PM CDT

The Women's Health Research Conference is a half-day event that features plenary panel presentations, panel discussion, and a poster session on women’s health research. It draws interdisciplinary women’s health researchers, health care providers, students, and community public health professionals for a day of learning, networking, and research dissemination. Cost of attendance is free.

Speakers include Candice Norcott, Michelle Sperlich, and Helen Kim. Breakout discussions cover: behavioral and mental health, obstetrics and gynecology, sexual and reproductive health, oncology, pediatrics, quality of life (including violence prevention), community-based research, neuroscience and brain health, sexual violence, health disparities, patient-centered care/shared decision-making, nutrition, cardiovascular health, disease prevention and health promotion, and women's health providers.

-Register

February 18, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT

In this workshop, originally commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Professor Johnny Saldaña provides a brief literature review of rapid research in health care by some of the field's premier writers (James Beebe, Cecilia Vindrola-Padros, etc.). Key principles and methods of rapid qualitative assessment will be addressed, along with summary and synthesis techniques. Participants will simulate exercises in thematic analysis.

-Register

March 25, 2022 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM CDT

Participants will learn how ripple effect mapping, as an evaluation tool, can be used to tell a story behind quantitative data and discover how projects have impacted communities. For more information, visit the website: z.umn.edu/minilab.

-Register

Italicized=Center faculty, staff, or student

Over-Policing Linked to Preterm Births | JAMA Network

Recent research from Dr. Rachel Hardeman, associate professor and founding director of the Center For Antiracism Research For Health Equity, shows that the stress of living in an over-policed neighborhood is linked to higher odds of preterm birth. Compared to people living in police low-contact areas, white mothers experienced a 90% higher chance of preterm birth and U.S.-born Black mothers experienced a 100% higher chance of preterm birth. However, Black mothers born in other countries had a 10% higher chance for preterm birth. “Our results show that over-policing is bad for everyone, but that the burden is not shared equally,” says Hardeman. “The difference between U.S.-born and non-U.S.-born Black birthing people also reveals that racism — and not race — creates health inequities.”

A Call to Transform Maternal and Child Health Mentorship to Build Inclusivity, Honor Diversity of Experiences, and Tackle the Root of Health Disparities | Springer Maternal and Child Health Journal

Mentorship is a critical practice for MCH professionals that facilitates knowledge sharing and builds the leadership capacity of both mentors and mentees. In spite of this, the MCH field is facing a workforce crisis and continues to grapple with how best to center equity in and across programs.

Learning from Graduate and Undergraduate Public Health Virtual Internship Experiences with State Title V Agencies During COVID-19, Summer 2020 | Springer Maternal and Child Health Journal

The COVID-19 Pandemic was both a disruption and a catalyst for change in higher education. While there were clearly some challenges and missed opportunities with the virtual internship program, preceptors and students in the Title V MCH Internship Program appeared resilient and adaptable and were able to participate in meaningful internship experiences.

February 18, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT

Join this live webinar, which is part of the Winter 2022 Training Series hosted by the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health. This session will cover the basics of belonging, its relation to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work, and its biological impact on the brain. Addressed for teachers, social workers, therapists, and caregivers for ages addressed of 6 to 18 years old. Cost to attend live webinar: $45

-Register

February 22, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT

High-quality language and literacy practices are critical components to support the development of children who are dual language learners (DLLs) with disabilities or suspected delays. Discover ways to create culturally and linguistically responsive environments. Explore what research says about strategies that support language and literacy development for children who are DLLs and also have a disability. This webinar is hosted by the Office of Head Start and will have English and Spanish captioning.

-Register

Deadline: March 1, 2022

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and CityMatCH will again offer a Training Course in Statistics and Epidemiological Methods as part of their ongoing effort to enhance the analytic capacity of state and local health agencies. The training course is an intensive program that combines lectures, discussion, hands-on exercises, and opportunities for individualized technical assistance and will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico from June 27-July 1, 2022.

-Learn more and apply

Deadline: March 1, 2022

The 2022 National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Annual Conference will be held November 16-19, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Light and shadow can also define families; how educators, researchers, theorists, practitioners, and policymakers describe, make sense out of, study, and work with families determines which facets are in light and which are in shadow (or not the focus).

Family scholars and practitioners from across all disciplines and career levels are invited to submit proposals for papers, posters, symposia, lightning papers, collaborative workshops, and more.

-Submit a proposal

The Minnesota Department of Health Injury and Violence Prevention Section has released a new fact sheet on fentanyl test strips. It is designed for public health workers and people who use drugs and provide further information on the benefits of fentanyl test strips as a harm reduction strategy and overdose prevention tool. For more information, contact the MDH Drug Overdose Prevention Team at health.drugodprev@state.mn.us.

-View factsheet

Black History Month
Tuesday, February 1st marked the beginning of Black History Month, a time to honor Black historical figures who confronted the white supremacy upon which the U.S. was built to create a brighter and more equitable future. It's also a time to celebrate Black history-makers who live and work in the present. The Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity (CARHE's) February newsletter focuses on engaging with equity during Black History Month 2022. This issue celebrates Black changemakers, provides events, and shares job opportunities that advance equity work. Follow CARHE on Twitter at @CARHEumn and sign up for CARHE's newsletter here.

National Cancer Prevention Month

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. According to the World Health Organization, at least one third of common cancers are preventable through a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active. January was Cervical Health Awareness Month. In young adults aged 13-17 in Minnesota, 89.4% have had at least one Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and 62.2% are up-to-date on their vaccinations. The HPV vaccine can prevent 90% of cervical cancer strains, along with regular pap smears and treatment.

Screening guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health:

-Women ages 21 through 29 should be screened with a Pap test every 3 years

-Women ages 30 through 65 should be screened with any of three tests:

1. every 5 years with high-risk HPV testing alone

2. every 5 years with Pap and high-risk HPV co-testing

3. every 3 years with a Pap test alone

-Learn more

You received this message because you have subscribed to the Healthy Generations listserv. This newsletter is produced monthly by the Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Email mch@umn.edu to have your event, resource, or publication included in our eNewsletter.

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