Mayor’s Healthy Richmond Campaign

The Official Kickoff for the Healthy Richmond Campaign 

Expo opens at 10 a.m., Kickoff begins at 10:30 a.m.Presented by: Mayor Dwight C. Jones

Join us and our very own Dr. Remley the Commissioner of The Virginia Department of Health at the  Get Healthy-Stay Healthy Health Expo.,  and Chick-fil-a cow walk, part of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy!

The Mayor established a Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy as a direct result of his concerns about disparity in health outcomes across the Richmond community. The Commission -- which is made up of health experts including physicians, hospital executives, mental health and clinical providers, and members of the community -- worked together to identify critical health issues facing the City of Richmond. Focus areas to improve Richmond’s health:

The Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy identified numerous factors that contribute to disparity and poor health, but they were able to prioritize and agreed on five recommendations to forward to the Mayor that they believed would make the most impact on improving the health and well-being of Richmond residents:

•      Healthy Richmond Campaign - promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and participating in various initiatives to improve the health of Richmond’s residents,
•      Health and Social Equity - impacting policy by creating an infrastructure that promotes healthy living,
•      Behavioral Health - addressing prevention and intervention for at-risk youth and families,
•      Medical Homes for the Uninsured - eliminating barriers that impact access to health care,
•      Support for Healthcare Providers - encouraging health care providers to practice in underserved areas of  the community.

Cow Walk:  April 28, 2012 starts at 8:30 a.m  Click here and learn more

Expo Information:

Date and Time:                    April 28, 2012, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location:                              Greater Richmond Convention Center

                                             403 N. Third Street, Exhibit Hall A

         Richmond, VA 23219


(Click Below to Learn More)

Making the Most of NOSORH Resources

NOSORH is pleased to invite you to attend the following webinar –Making the Most of NOSORH Resources – on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 2:00 EDT.

Pre-registration is required. Please see the attached flyer for registration information.
By the end of the webinar, participants will:

• Learn how you can make the most of your NOSORH membership resources


• Review NOSORH website and Wikispace


• Discuss available resources, including the education exchange program, grant writing, and leadership institute
  
  The webinar will be recorded and posted on the NOSORH website after the call.
  
  Stephanie Hansen
  Education Coordinator
  National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
  steph@nosorh.org
  www.nosorh.org
  

Health Care Disparities Grant Program Applications Being Accepted

Health Care Disparities Grant Program

Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.Grants to improve the quality of health care delivered to low-income and minority Americans, and to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.

The goal of The Commonwealth Fund's Program on Health Care Disparities is to improve the quality of health care delivered to low-income and minority Americans, and to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. The program builds on efforts to improve quality of care overall in the United States, by focusing on hospitals and ambulatory care providers serving large numbers of low-income and minority patients (minority-serving, safety-net institutions). The strategies it pursues include:

• Identifying opportunities for improving performance of safety-net providers


• Enhancing the capacity of safety-net providers to improve performance


• Fostering incentives and policies that promote better performance of safety-net providers

Website: Link to program website
Sponsor: Commonwealth Fund
Deadlines: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Contact: Phone: 212.606.3800 Fax: 212.606.3500 Email: cmwf@cmwf.org

Surgeon General's Video Contest on Tobacco

For the Surgeon General's Video Contest on Tobacco, teens and young adults are invited to submit original videos in which they speak up about tobacco and tell us why they aren't using it. Videos will be accepted in four categories:
ages 13-17 (English)
ages 13-17 (Spanish)
ages 18-25 (English)
ages 18-25 (Spanish)
Review the contest rules before submitting videos. The deadline for submissions is 11pm EDT April 20, 2012. There will be a $1,000 grand prize winner in each category (four total prizes), and three $500 runner-up winners in each category (12 total prizes). This contest is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with the Surgeon General's 2012 report on tobacco use.

2010 U.S. CENSUS MAP

Remember about a year & a half ago you filled out a census form? Well here are the result of this process. What you will see is a Map of the US - not just the 48 states but all of the 50 states. Territories are not in the census - but they did provide information during this process. So let us say you are in Virginia, you can go by county & as you zoom in by city to see the increase or decrease & then you can see the changes of the various races within these cities. Look at places you know & also look at the map at the darker brown location.

You can zoom in & out to get the information on the places you know. Use your cursor can move map around & you can zoom in on specific counties to get current stats. It is very interesting!

Fascinating!!! Just glide your cursor over the map & it displays every county. Can't imagine how long it took to create this map!!
Amazing!!!
Click the "2010 US Census" Map Below.
2010 U.S. CENSUS MAP
http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

Getting a doctor's appointment tougher on Medicaid

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Americans on Medicaid have a harder time getting a prompt doctor's appointment, which may help explain why some end up going to the ER, a new study finds.
The problem is likely to grow, researchers say, as more people go on Medicaid as part of national healthcare reform. So simply expanding coverage may not be enough to improve low-income Americans' access to primary care.

"Insurance coverage does not necessarily mean better access," said senior researcher Dr. Adit A. Ginde, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

The study found that of more than 230,000 Americans surveyed over a decade, Medicaid recipients had more problems getting an appointment with a primary care doctor.

Just over 16 percent reported at least one "barrier" -- like having to wait too long for an appointment, limited health clinic hours, or even being unable to get someone on the phone at the doctor's office. That compared with 9 percent of survey respondents who had private insurance. To learn more click here.

University of Virginia- Hospital Education Program

Special events offered through the HEP benefit from the time, talents, and other resources contributed by members of the University community and local residents. Those interested in volunteering at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital should contact the Office of Volunteer Services at (434) 924-5251. All HEP services are free to children and their families. For additional information, contact (434) 924-2658.

National Women's Health Week

National Women's Health Week - Be the Brightest GEM - Health Fair and Community Fun Day featuring the InterActive Walk-through AmeriHeart on May 19, 2012 from Noon to 4 PM at George Wythe HS . Please help us spread the word and collect a host of vendors our visitors can interact with as they learn to lead healthier lives. See attached Flyer and Brochure.

Mid-Atlantic Integrated Care Conference

33rd Annual UNC Minority Health Conference Keynote Presentation

Please Save the Date to join the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity in viewing the 33rd Annual UNC Minority Health Conference Keynote Presentation by Ana V. Diez-Roux, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and director of the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan. The webcast will be broadcast on February 24, 2012 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Madison Building, 109 Governor Street, Room 1218. Don’t forget to get supervisory approval, as necessary. You will receive TRAIN course number notification at a later date.

To join the video conference via polycom, contact Rich Watson at richard.watson@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-864-7179.

If you prefer to join us at the Madison Building site, please contact Susan Triggs at susan.triggs@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-864-7429.Thank you. We look forward to sharing this event with you.

Request for Proposals - Regional Health Workforce Development Planning and Implementation Grants

The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. Established as a public-private partnership by Virginia’s General Assembly and its Joint Commission on Health Care in 1992, VHCF receives an annual state appropriation, which it is expected to supplement with funding from the private sector.

VHCF is entering a period of expanded vision and planned growth. The Fund Development and Communications Coordinator, working with the Director of Fund Development and Communications, will play an integral role in this phase of the Foundation’s evolution.

Click here to learn more about this opportunity

Health Workforce Position

Working Title: Health Workforce Program Manager (MH)
Role Title: Prog Admin Specialist II - 19212
Job Open Date: 12-28-2011
Job Close Date: Jobs close at 5pm EST. 01-13-2012

Job Type Detail
Definition: Full-Time Salaried - Non-Faculty- FTS-1
Is this position funded in whole or in part by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Package)? No
Hiring Range: negotiable up to $50,000

Agency: Dept of Health (601)
Agency Website: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov


Job Description:

Located in the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE), provides the day-to-day oversight and coordination of OMHHE health workforce pipeline development initiatives and programs, while promoting health equity and social justice. Plans, develops and implements activities that support the recruitment and retention of the health care workforce (including the administration of incentive programs) in rural and other medically underserved areas of Virginia. Assists to address challenges and advance goals identified through health workforce pipeline development strategic planning processes. Helps to assure a diverse and culturally and linguistically competent health care workforce. Provides technical assistance to communities and practice sites with information regarding best practices and resource development pertaining to the health workforce. Assesses the efficacy of health workforce pipeline development initiatives and programs in meeting their stated goals and objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:

Should have a strong knowledge-base of state and federal regulations, programs and research related to the healthcare workforce. Must have strategic planning and organizational skills and demonstrated ability with program, contract and grant management. Advanced skills with word processing, spreadsheet, email/Internet software and database management abilities is required. Strong oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated success with presentations for professionals/community leaders on a local, state and/or national level required. Should have strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with culturally diverse individuals and groups. Must be able to interpret laws, regulations and policies and possess sound decision-making skills. Must be able to write policies and procedures. Must be able to multi-task and be responsive and able to adapt to changing priorities and needs. Must be able and willing to travel periodically. Prefer College degree in public health, health, hospital, public or business administration, marketing, mass communications, public relations or related field and/or equivalent training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with using and/or managing websites, blogs and social media. Experience with writing regulations. Experience working with healthcare professionals, Area Health Education Centers, faculty, students and hospital administrators. Masters degree or equivalent work history.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested candidates must submit an on-line application through the Virginia jobs web site, http://jobs.virginia.gov/ for Position #OC055. Fax, e-mail or mail applications will not be accepted. Your on-line application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2012. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Optional Applicant Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Required Applicant Documents

Contact Information:

Shakema Sanders, MSA, VSO

Business Manager

Office of the Commissioner &

Office of Minority Health & Health Equity

804-864-7430

NHLBI Funding and Research Opportunities

The following funding opportunities from the NHLBI or other components of the National Institutes of Health, might be of interest:

Request for Applications (RFAs):
• RFA-RM-11-004: 2012 NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program (DP1)
• RFA-RM-11-005: 2012 NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2)
Please note that most links to RFAs, PAs, and Guide Notices will take you to the NIH Web site. RFPs will take you to FedBizOpps. Links to RFPs will not work past their proposal receipt date.

Support for Anti-Poverty Programs

Catholic Campaign for Human Development: Community Development Grants

The mission of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is to address the root causes of poverty in the United States through the support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education. CCHD's Community Development Grants support organizations that bring poor and vulnerable people together to change structures and policies that perpetuate the cycle of poverty. Priority is given to organizations that work with persons directly experiencing economic or social injustice, such as racial discrimination, long-term joblessness, or economic dislocation. Grants range from $25,000 to $75,000. The Pre-application Eligibility Quiz may be submitted between September 1 and November 1, 2011. (Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit their quiz prior to the November 1 deadline.) Online applications for new applicants are due December 31, 2011. Visit the CCHD website for more information about the Community Development Grants program.

Health Disparities Research LRP

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH IS HELPING TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF ALL PEOPLE

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Health Disparities Research LRP is to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals to research careers that focus on minority health or other health disparity issues. Funding for this LRP is provided through the NIH's National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), which ensures that at least 50 percent of the awards are made to health professionals who are members of identified health disparity populations.

Learn more at http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about_the_programs/health_disparities.aspx

“Helping Families Navigate the Human Service System”

We are pleased to announce that the Office of Child and Family Services within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) is sponsoring a 3 hour workshop for family members. The three hours include signing in, obtaining handouts, and the training session. This workshop entitled, “Helping Families Navigate the Human Service System” is designed to provide strategies for family members in obtaining appropriate services for a child in need of mental health services, and support for the caregiver.

Raising a child is always a balancing act of love and discipline, patience and guidance. When the child has challenging behaviors or a mental health diagnosis, it can feel like an overwhelming task. Addressing the behavioral health needs of children and their families is more important than ever. Many family members have problems with accessing services because of financial constraints and a lack of information about the system.

Persons attending this workshop will explore strategies on how to build on their own strengths and communication skills in obtaining the needed assistance. This informative workshop will provide family members with information on such topics as how to become an equal partner on the treatment team, how to help the treatment provider understand exactly what the problems are, and how parents can take care of themselves while their child is involved in treatment. They also will be able to hear what is working for other families that are in similar situations.

The training will be held on June 2nd from 5:30-8:30 at the Virginia Tech Richmond Center located at 2810 N. Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23294. Evening refreshments will be served.

It will be facilitated by Carol Obrochta who is a national family trainer with over 25 years of experience in developing child and family support programs and conducting training sessions.

This event is free of charge but space is limited and registration is required. It is open to the first 25 registrants. To register, obtain directions, or have other questions answered; please contact Malcolm King with DBHDS at 804-371-4604 or via email at malcolm.king@dbhds.virginia.gov. I invite you to forward this announcement to other persons that you feel would benefit from the workshop.

Why Place and Race Matter – New Report Released Today

Where you live impacts how you live. But, too often, policy makers don’t recognize that your race affects your health, too. From heart disease to cancer to child mortality to asthma, people of color are more likely to face significant health challenges – and more likely to die from those challenges. A new report we are releasing today, Why Place and Race Matter, makes the undeniable case that race must be central to the decisions made by policymakers, advocates, and community leaders if we ever hope to close the racial health gap. Download Why Place and Race Matter

What’s New…? New CLAS Initiative Brings Community Together Through Medical Interpretation Network Partners

What’s new at the VDH, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE)? First, we are happy to report that we have a new CLAS Specialist, Valerie McAllister. Valerie joined our staff in January and she has been working on a number of initiatives to address providing cultural and linguistic appropriate services within the Commonwealth. One notable new initiative that Valerie is leading, that may be very helpful for your organization and community. At our 2009 Virginia Health Equity Conference, a significant number of attendees identified the need to enhance providing culturally competent healthcare services to rural and urban LEP (Limited English Proficiency) individuals in the Commonwealth. The attendees felt that there was a need to establish a Statewide Medical Interpreter Collaborative

Network. The Network would embark upon: • Identifying availability of medical interpreter services in communities • Identifying barriers and opportunities to serving the LEP population • Collaboration and sharing of existing resources • Developing opportunities to create new resources • Establish statewide priorities in field of medical interpretation. To begin to assess and address these needs, the OMHHE has hired two Medical Interpreter Network Coordinators who will canvass the state, reaching out to community partners to identify opportunities to bring resources together, setting up regional meetings to establish interest and build upon ideas, and define individual and community goals. Our Medical Interpreter Network Coordinators are: Mayra Creed of Newport News and Dr. Wendy Welch of Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

Click here to learn more about these key staffers

Office of Minority Health and Health Equity hires new Health Workforce Program Manager

Keisha L. Smith joined the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in January 2011 as the Health Workforce Program Manager in the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight and coordination of health workforce recruitment and retention initiatives and incentive programs, while promoting health equity and social justice. She brings over twelve years of experience in marketing, strategic planning and leadership that will continue to enable her to target untapped and underserved demographics across the state. This, along with passion, drive, and determination to impact vulnerable populations, will allow her to be in service in both legislative and grass roots level initiatives to improve access to quality healthcare and promote sustainable change.

Previous to her employment with VDH, Keisha accepted a fellowship with the National Urban Fellows program to cultivate her leadership capacity as she planned to transition into the public sector. Prior to that, she functioned as a Marketing Manager for Genworth Financial where she developed marketing communications strategies, materials and budgets to effectively promote products and services. She spent the previous five years with SunTrust Bank, functioning in various capacities. During which time she successfully completed the nationally-acclaimed Manager Trainee program and received numerous promotions within a two-year timeframe. She functioned as Branch Manager and soon advanced to Assistant Vice President and Marketing Manager of the Division of Marine and RV Finance.

Keisha received a B.S. in Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University and a Master’s of Public Administration from CUNY Baruch College through the National Urban Fellows program. This highly competitive fellowship is a rigorous leadership development program comprised of academic course work and a nine-month mentorship assignment. As a part of the program, she was selected to work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with a focus on health equity, community based participatory research approaches in partnership with faith based community organizations, and assisting with priority policy initiatives pertaining to nutrition, physical activity and obesity.

Keisha is an innovative and courageous leader who is determined to utilize her expertise to provide effective and efficient management of OMHHE health workforce recruitment and retention initiatives.

Working With LGBTQ Youth 1010

presented by
ROSMY-Institute for Equality

in partnership with

Virginia Home for Boys and Girls

and

Virginia Department of Behavioral Health
and Developmental Services

When: April 13, 2011

9am - 4pm

Where: VHBG

8716 W. Broad St.

Richmond, VA 23294

804.270.6566

$30 per person

To Register click http://tinyurl.com/47dk79k

• Learn the basics such as accurate and respectful terminology and the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Get practical experience navigating difficult dialogues such as how to ask "The question," the importance of asking, and how to determine when it is appropriate.
• Additionally, you will receive 10 easy tips for being an advocate for LGVTQ youth.

ROSMY's training has won the Fitz-Turner Award from the Virginia Education Association for outstanding leadership in promoting positive inter group relations.