OHE Newsletter
April / 12 / 2017
April is Minority Health Month

 

National Minority Health Month is a time to raise awareness on issues impacting health disparities and health equity in America.  The theme for 2017, Bridging Health Equity Across Communities, emphasizes the collaborative, community-level work being done across the nation to help achieve health equity.
  
Governor McAuliffe signed a proclamation officially recognizing April 2017 as Virginia Minority Health Month.  

In This Issue
National Public Health Week  with VCU and Dr. Brian Smedley

 
Members of the OHE team attended a presentation by Dr. Brian Smedley, Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity. Dr. Smedley presented on the topic of "Place, Race and Chronic Disease: Addressing the Roots of Inequities." Dr. Smedley was a special guest of the  VCU Center on Society and Health as part of VCU's national public health week celebration.
  
Prior to the presentation, the OHE team met with Dr. Smedley to discuss several of OHE's key partnerships and projects including the Virginia Health Opportunity Index (HOI).



Health Equity Staff Recognized by Liberty University
 
 
The Liberty University Public  & Community Health program and Liberty University Public Health Student Association (LUPHSA) recognized Augustine Doe and Veronica Cosby for their collaboration, dedication and work with LUPHSA at their Global Fete Gala 2017 closing ceremony in Lynchburg, VA.  During the ceremony two VDH Office of Health Equity programs (Virginia Partners In Prayer and Virginia Congregations for a Million Hearts) were highlighted for ongoing efforts in the community and amongst faith and inter-faith congregations.

Health Disparities Roundtable


Friday, April 14 from 12-1pm

 

VCU Larrick Student Center

(Jackson Ward Conference Room)

900 Turpin Street, Richmond, VA  

 
The VCU Center on Health Disparities will  hold its last Health Disparities Roundtable for the Spring Semester.  Dr. Stephanie Crewe of the Children's Hospital of Richmond will be discussing 
Adolescents, Tweens and Teens.


Please RSVP to alisa.brewer@vcuhealth.org  


#Bridge2Health  Twitter Town Hall
  
The theme for National Minority Health Month is Bridging Health Equity Across Communities, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health is hosting a National Minority Health Month #NMHM17 virtual event. 
 
The #Bridge2Health Twitter Town Hall will take place at 1:00 PM EDT on April 12, 2017, and the live broadcast will be viewable through the OMH Twitter handle, @MinorityHealth.
 
During the #Bridge2Health Town Hall, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health will feature stories from the around the country of community-based efforts to help address social determinants of health and achieve health equity.

Free SBIRT Training at Norfolk State University
 
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a comprehensive public health approach for delivering prevention, early intervention and referral to treatment services to adolescents or adults using substances in a harmful or risky way. The National SBIRT/Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Norfolk State University will be providing the free opportunity for SBIRT training.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 9:00am-4:00pm

Norfolk State University
Student Center, Room 370
        700 Park Avenue,
Norfolk, Virginia
 
More information about the training can be found  here.  
Please contact Jess Samuel, jessicam@ireta.org or 412-258-8569 with questions.
Updated Shortage Area Designations (April 2017)

The VDH Office of Health Equity functions as the Virginia State Primary Care Office (PCO).  The PCO in all states is charged with submitting applications on behalf of facilities, populations or geographic areas to the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for designation as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).  HRSA makes final determinations on the HPSA status of an application.  The following list contains the latest approved applications for HPSA designation.
 


News
Virginia SORH Taking aim at Opioid Overdose   Read more!

Race Ranks Higher than Pounds in Diabetes, Heart-Health Risks Read more!

What Happens at Home When People Can't Depend on Stable Work Read more!


More Latino Youth Are Disconnected, Not in School, Not Working Read more!

Adoption of Telehealth Can Generate Cost Savings for Rural Communities, Hospitals Read more!
Funding Opportunities
Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High Risk for HIV/AIDS - Apply by May 3

Refugee Health Promotion - Apply by May 15