LAST CHANCE! Apply to Share Your Work at the Catalyst Annual Summit |
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You can present your research, program, or initiative to other public health and health care advocates from across sectors and regions of Virginia at the Catalyst Annual Summit on October 7! Apply to share your work during a breakout session, 50 minutes focused on highlighting the important work happening in your community. Applications are due Friday, May 20. Learn more here, and apply online today!
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Advancing Health and Racial Equity in Richmond |
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Catalyst is pleased to be a partner on a project through the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation to engage communities in Richmond in policy and advocacy efforts to improve health and advance racial equity.
The project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, supports Catalyst, The Commonwealth Institute (TCI), Voices for Virginia’s Children, and the YMCA of Greater Richmond. Together, these community partnerships will convene grassroots organizations in the Richmond area to support their advocacy efforts, shifting power to the community members so that they have the tools to advocate for the change they want to see in their communities. The project will also improve care coordination through social needs navigation services to address critical social determinants of health and wellbeing, including housing, employment, and child care.
Click here to learn more about the project, its partners, and its goals which are deeply rooted in a commitment to health and racial equity, and to lifting up the voices of those most impacted by public policy changes.
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Erica Ponder joined the Catalyst team in April as the new Community Engagement Manager. She will support Catalyst’s community-facing initiatives focused on equity, policy change, and public awareness, such as the Advancing Health and Racial Equity project. Erica comes to Catalyst with several years of experience as a community health worker, improving health outcomes through individual and community advocacy efforts, and has a background in public health. Her work with communities across Virginia will help align Catalyst’s priorities with those in the community by identifying needs and crafting policy solutions to break down barriers to care. Help us welcome Erica to Catalyst!
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Internet & Technologies through the Affordable Connectivity Program |
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With the increase in remote work, virtual learning, and telehealth services, access to reliable internet is crucial for functioning in today’s society. Part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal aims to connect all Americans to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet. One tool to get us there is the new Affordable Connectivity Program. This program provides access to high-speed internet or devices like computers to connect to the internet at a discounted price to households at or below the 200% Federal Poverty Line. There are additional benefits available for those living on Tribal lands.
If your patients or clients lack reliable internet access, they may qualify for this program! Click here to see what the program offers, eligibility criteria, and how to apply.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month |
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Working in health care is incredibly rewarding, but the nature of the work can also lead to stress, anxiety, burnout, depression or more – especially after the intensity, uncertainty and turnover we've seen over the last few years. Just as we take measures to keep our mouths or bodies healthy, we must also work on our mental wellness. The good thing is, we don’t have to do it alone. Find some helpful resources to support our collective mental health below:
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Data Bytes: Mental Health Challenges
and Solutions in America
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The National Institute of Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation released an infographic with the latest data depicting the national state of mental health. It tells a story of mental health that mirrors oral health: mental health is a commonly reported unmet health need, almost half of the American population lives in mental health professional shortage areas, and many adults are worried about the cost of care or treatment. The solutions may also sound familiar: integration, prevention, and expanding the workforce.
See more data visualizations about mental health in America here, or watch the webinar that discusses solutions to the mental health challenges in the US.
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Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF): Clinical and Community Integration Opportunities |
This three-part educational webinar series aims to increase awareness and acceptance of SDF while enabling a minimally invasive dentistry focus. Dental professionals can earn up to 2 FREE CEUs. See the flyer for more information, or click below to register for each webinar:
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Special Needs Dentistry – You Can Do It! In this FREE two-day, in-person training with 11.5 CEUs, dental professionals can update their knowledge on delivering safe and effective dental care for individuals with special health care needs. Learn more about the agenda and locations here. Registration is open for the following trainings:
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Research: Impact of the Expanded Child Tax Credit on Food Security and Sugar Consumption
From July-December 2021, families received monthly, unconditional cash allotments under the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), a part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Researchers at VCU, including Catalyst Board member Dr. Tegwyn Brickhouse, set out to understand how this unrestricted extra income affected food security and children’s dietary intake.
Over the first three months of the expansion of the CTC, food security increased and children’s consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages decreased. Most parents in this study spent the extra funds on basic needs, like food, housing, and utilities. While the expanded CTC ended in January 2022, these findings may help inform policies regarding its future.
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