December 2024

Message from the Director

Greetings,

Applications are currently open for our 2025 Cohort Recruitment and we have extended the application deadline to Friday, January 17, 2025 at 5:00 pm (PST). Visit our website to access the application and for more information on the application process. Please reach out with any questions.

As the year winds down and the holiday season surrounds us, I hope you find opportunities to rest, recharge, and welcome the New Year with renewed energy. We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead for Champions!

In Health and Solidarity,

Wagahta Semere, MD, MHS

Fellowship Director & Associate Professor

UCSF School of Medicine

Reminder: Find articles and resources related to your area(s) of interest by clicking on the icon(s) that correspond to our five focus areas, below:

Save The Date!

Blog

Partnering with Schools to Teach Children and Families about Dental Health and the Benefits of Choosing Water

By: Dr. Michelle To

Champion Provider Fellow (Cohort 5, Los Angeles County)

“Rethink Your Drink” sounds so catchy. I know it means choose water instead of sugary drinks, but I wonder if the children in my neighborhood know what it means. Do they know that we are trying to educate them to be more aware about the sugar in the drinks they are consuming? As a pediatric dentist, my strongest passion is educating parents and children on the importance of consuming tap water that contains fluoride which prevents dental decay. Read more.

Upcoming Events

Thurs. Feb. 13 | 12:10 - 12:45pm | Register

Works-in-Progress Call (Fellows Only)

Thurs. Feb. 20 | 12:15 - 1:15pm | Register

Quarterly Local Health Department Check-In

(LHDs Only)

Thurs. Apr. 10 | 12:15 - 1:15pm | Register

Webinar: Championing Park Equity

Fellow Activities

Dr. Roblen Nieblas (Cohort 5, Kings County)

Dr. Roblen Nieblas (Cohort 5, Kings County) presented to the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health division of the King’s County Public Health Department, addressing medical professionals and nurses on the topic of oral health for pregnant women and young children.

Dr. Clarisse Casilang (Cohort 5, Orange County)

Dr. Clarisse Casilang (Cohort 5, Orange County) served as a panelist at the CHOP Global Health Conference addressing, pediatric global health training and role of PSE advocacy.

Reminder! Brown·Miller Communications is here to help you!

Need help with message development, op-ed support, or preparing for an interview? Make sure to contact Mike Miller or Muriel Bañares of Brown·Miller Communications. They provide a multitude of media and communication services to Champion Provider Fellows and local health departments. Send them an email to find out how they can help you!

*Champion Provider Listserv*

Collaborate & communicate with Champion Provider

Fellows across the state about your community change efforts.

Post a message by emailing: champion-providers@googlegroups.com

NOTE: Please do not use the listserv to promote lobbying efforts or to discuss patient care.

Join Listserv

Policy

Biden-Harris Administration to End Online Junk Fees for Low-Income Families Paying for School Meals

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced students eligible for free and reduced-price school meals cannot be charged junk fees along with the cost of a meal served through the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. This policy will take effect in the 2027-2028 school year.

Shopping for Access: A New Tool for Improving Food Security in Every ZIP Code

State of Childhood Obesity.

The Grocery Gap Atlas is a collaboration between Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA) and the University of Chicago Data Science Institute. Advocates may apply the extensive data to better understand the relationships and factors of inequality and use the results to address structural problems that affect under-resourced areas

USDA-FDA Seek Information About Food Date Labeling, Aim is to Provide Further Clarity, Transparency and Cost Savings for U.S. Consumers

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are collaborating to seek a Request for Information (RFI) addressing food date labeling, including the use of terms such as ‘Sell By,’ ‘Use By’ and ‘Best By’.