Utah Department of Health Office of Health Disparities
The Connection: News about overcoming health disparities in Utah

Monday, November 25, 2013

2012 School Health Profiles Results Released by CDC

the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) released the 2012 School Health Profiles (Profiles) results on the Profiles web site at www.cdc.gov/schoolhealthprofiles.

The release includes:
  • a comprehensive report that includes results from surveys conducted in:
    • 45 states
    • 16 large urban school districts
    • 4 territories
    • 2 tribal governments
  • a fact sheet describing Profiles and highlighting key 2012 results
  • a fact sheet for each state, large urban school district, territory, and tribal government that reports results from the 2012 Profiles and the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey on:
    • HIV, other STD, and teen pregnancy prevention
    • the obesity epidemic
    • tobacco use
  • all questionnaires and item rationales
  • information on how to obtain Profiles datasets.

Crisis Line - Available 24/7 for Mental Health Crisis

University Neuropsychiatric Institute

University Neuropsychiatric Institute / UNI CrisisLine / Mobile Crisis Outreach Team

Mobile Crisis Outreach Team
The University Neuropsychiatric Institute Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (UNI MCOT) is a partnership with Salt Lake County Behavioral Health Services and Optum Health SLCo providing crisis services to county residents.  UNI MCOT is an interdisciplinary team of licensed professionals and certified peer specialists available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Services include: 
·         Crisis resolution services for anyone experiencing, or at risk of, a mental health crisis, and who requires mental health intervention
·         Rapid response - face to face assessment and crisis intervention anywhere in Salt Lake County
·         Consultation and support to individuals of any age, families and treatment providers
·         Follow-up services including information and referrals, linkage with appropriate community based mental health services for ongoing treatment 

Contact Information:

Thursday, November 21, 2013

OHD Accomplishments in 2013

The 2013 Annual Utah Office of Health Disparities Legislative Report is completed.  This one-page report shows exciting progress in combating infant mortality, establishing nationally recognized best practices, and conducting outreach in-person and via Youtube and website.

2013 Legislative Report


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Can we live longer? Integrated Heathcare's Promise

This is a nice infographic about the health advantages of treating mental illness.


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

OHD Mini Grant Funding Opportunity

The Office of Health Disparities is pleased to announce a request for proposal (RFP) to address birth outcomes/infant mortality among U.S. born Blacks/African Americans in Utah.

Due date for applications: November 18 @ 12 p.m (noon).

For a copy of the RFP go to: 
http://www.health.utah.gov/disparities/news/grants/AABirthOutcomesGrant%20Announcement.2.pdf

Contact Dulce Díez at ddiez@utah.gov or 801-273-4139 or Christine Espinel at cespinel@utah.gov or 801-273-4137 with further questions.

Funding Opportunity: SelectHealth Annual Select 25 Program

The Select 25 program supports those who encourage healthy behaviors or serve populations with special needs. Each year, we award $2,500 to 25 winners in Utah. These donations will help individuals and organizations make a healthy difference in our communities.

Applications for the 2014 award will be accepted through
January 19, 2014. Only the first 500 applications will be considered, so apply today! 

Thursday, November 7, 2013

HIT for Consumers in Communities of Color: Strategies to "Leapfrog" Disparities in Access, Adoption and Use

his webinar is the third in a 2013 series that highlights the impact of HIT on the underserved and health disparities. The National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved (NHIT) works in partnership with organizations and individuals to assure that providers and consumers, with a focus on communities of color, benefit from HIT advances and resources. The November 15th webinar is co-sponsored by NHIT and the following organizations: National Medical Association and National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians.

This event will focus on emerging trends within communities of color with respect to access to, as well as adoption and use of computer technologies and applications. These trends, which are described in a literature review/environmental scan prepared by NHIT, present new opportunities to close the digital divide, improve health and eliminate persistent disparities. Available data which document greater use of mobile technologies in communities of color portend prospects to "leapfrog" people of color toward the front of the line with respect to HIT adoption and use. Panelist will discuss these trends, identify barriers and recommend strategies to achieve "cutting edge" results.  

Objectives
  • Understand current patterns/trends for HIT access, adoption and use in COCs
  • Identify barriers to engagement among people of color
  • Discuss strategies/options to overcome these barriers
  • Learn about promising/best practices to engage consumers of color in HIT
  • Present and discuss recommendations to build on current trends and successes

Moderator: 
  • Danielle Brooks, Policy/Research Consultant, NHIT

Panelists:  
  • Ruth Perot, Managing Director, NHIT
  • Cynthia Solomon, President, Follow Me, Inc.
  • Thomas Maguire, Director, Public Policy, Verizon Communications
  • Ho Tran, MD, President/CEO, National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians; Member, NHIT National Advisory Council
  
Webinar Registration Information: 
Topic:
HIT for Consumers in Communities of Color: Strategies to "Leapfrog" Disparities in Access, Adoption and Use

Date: Friday, November 15th, 2013
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Eastern Standard Time 
  1. Register Now! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9081234124950168577
  2. During the registration process you will be requested to enter your name and email address.
  3. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The email will include both the link to join the Webinar, as well as the Call In number / Access Code.
  4. Please allow enough time to address any technical difficulties you may encounter.
  5. View System Requirements

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.


Luis Belen, Senior Consultant
 
1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006

Funding Opportunity from Salt Lake County for 5 Grant Programs

SLCo ANNOUNCES THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR FIVE GRANT PROGRAMS; IMPLIMENTS NEW PROCESS FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY

Salt Lake County
·         Public Facility Improvements (Hard Cost, CDBG) Available: Nov. 5, 2013
·         Housing Services (CDBG) Available: Nov. 5, 2013
·         Economic Development (CDBG) Available: Nov. 5, 2013
·         Social Services (Soft Cost) Combined Proposal (CDBG, ESG, SSBG) Available: Nov. 12, 2013
·         HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) Available: Nov. 19, 2013

 Salt Lake County announces five separate “Request for Proposals” for the fiscal year 2014-2015. A NEW PROCESS for the release of these funds has been implemented. Salt Lake County Community Resources and Development (CRD) has combined the Social Service Programs into one Unified Funding Process this year.

Salt Lake County Community Resources and Development (CRD) is providing proposal materials to Nonprofit Agencies, Community Organizations, Faith-based Organizations, and County Agencies for the: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing, Public Facility Improvements (Hard Costs), and Economic Development Funding; Social Service Programs including the Soft Costs for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and the Social Services Block Grant Funding (SSBG).

Proposal materials are available to Nonprofit Agencies, Community Housing Development Organizations, For Profit Developers, Faith-based Organizations, County Agencies and other Government Agencies for the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME).

The deadlines for submission of proposals for each program are as follows: Housing Services, Public Facility Improvements (Hard Cost), Economic Development Proposals are due Thursday, December 5, 2013, at 2:00 PM; Social Services (Soft Cost) Combined Proposals is due Thursday, December 12, 2013, at 2:00 pm; and the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) Proposals is due Thursday, December 19, 2013, 2:00 pm.

These are competitive proposal processes. All proposals will be reviewed by Citizen Review Panels for CDBG and Social Services and the Salt Lake County Consortium Board for HOME funds, who will prioritize and make funding recommendations to the County Mayor (or the Mayors and City Councils for the participating cities for CDBG Housing, Hard Costs and Economic Development) who will ultimately decide which proposals are funded and at what funding level. These funds should be available beginning July 1, 2013, subject to HUD’s approval of Salt Lake County’s 2014-15 Action Plan and Congress passing a budget for 2014.

The proposals, guidelines and instructions will be available on the County’s website at http://www.crd.slco.org/communityDev/PublicNoticesComment.html on the dates listed above. Proposal materials will also be available at the County Government Center located at 2001 South State Street, Room S2100. Accessible parking and entrances for disabled individuals are located on the east side of both the north and south buildings.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Funding Opportunity: Organizations working to make a difference in Salt Lake City communities.

The Community Improvement and Outreach Grant Program has been allocated $187,000 to fund grants for community non-profits, neighborhood groups and neighborhood business districts. Applications are now available!

Applications will be accepted from Nov. 1–Dec. 2at 3 p.m. from community non-profits, neighborhood groups (residents), neighborhood business groups and other qualifying organizations working to make a difference in Salt Lake City communities. 

This program is designed to quickly and efficiently improve the quality of Salt Lake City's communities and neighborhoods.  Residents and local organizations can utilize these grants for public safety projects, recreation and education projects, sustainability projects, neighborhood improvements, neighborhood-school partnerships, local project developments and more.


Grant information is available at www.slcgov.com/hand, click on “Community Improvement & Outreach Grant.”  For more information, please contactneighborhoodgrants@slcgov.com or call (801) 535-7712.

Two Upcoming Healthy People Webinars

Healthy People 2020 Spotlight on Health Webinar: Diabetes - November 13, 2013, 1:30–3:00 PM EST 

Nearly 26 million people in the United States already have diabetes and another 79 million are at high risk for type 2 diabetes. Join Healthy People 2020 and the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. ET for a Healthy People 2020 Spotlight on Health Webinar focusing on diabetes. This Webinar will explore what is being done to prevent type 2 diabetes, including how clinical care and public health communities are working together and how communities are implementing evidence-based interventions to address diabetes. Register today!  

Who’s Leading the Leading Health Indicators? Webinar on Tobacco- November 21, 2013, 12–12:45 PM EST Tobacco use is a major preventable cause of premature death and disease worldwide. In the United States, an estimated 45.3 million people – about one in five adults – currently smoke, and an estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from diseases caused by smoking or secondhand smoke exposure.1 

Join us on Thursday, November 21, at 12 PM EST, to learn about the California Tobacco Control Program’s efforts to improve the health of individuals by reducing illness and premature death attributable to the use of tobacco products. This 45-minute Webinar will be led by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, who will be joined by Dr. Tim McAfee, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health. The Webinar will include a roundtable discussion on the importance of tobacco prevention. Register Now!

ACA: Looking Beyond Technical Glitches

A Preliminary Analysis of Premiums and Cost Sharing in the New Health Insurance Marketplaces

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) insurance exchanges began this fall, however, systematic problems with healthcare.gov, the website for federally-facilitated exchanges, have largely overshadowed any discussion of the new plans. Experts are compiling data on plans offered through the exchanges--including cost-sharing data like deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, and copayment and coinsurance amounts for specific services.

This report provides an look at what young adults will pay out-of-pocket for insurance plans on the new health insurance exchanges. The report shows a snapshot of premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance amounts for primary care physician (PCP) and specialist vistis for silver-level plans in 96 rating areas across 15 state marketplaces.

Key Findings
  • Almost half of those predicted to buy insurance on the exchange will be eligible for tax credits that would reduce their premiums.  
  • Premiums alone do not give a complete picture of potential out-of-pocket health costs that consumers may face; for that picture consumers will also need to consider cost-sharing.

This series, prepared by Breakaway Policy Strategies with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will review all of the plans being offered in all 50 state marketplaces that goes well beyond an examination of premiums. 

Parent Seminars for At-Risk Behaviors sponsored by Granite School District

Granite School District is offering free parent seminars that will provide information on several at-risk behaviors, including substance abuse, bullying, mental health, and internet safety. These seminars are an opportunity for parents to meet with experts on these topics and learn about current prevention efforts in the district.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at 7 p.m. 
Olympus High School (4055 S. 2300 East)
Large instruction room (second floor, Room E-101)


Thursday, November 7, 2013, at 7 p.m.
Granger High School (3580 S. 3600 West)
Lecture hall (second floor, Room A-201)


We encourage your participation. If you have any questions, please call the Granite School District Communications Office at 385-646-4529 during business hours.

Friday, November 1, 2013

OHD announces new community partners to reduce health disparities

OHD has completed the selection process and is please to announce new community partners to address health disparities in Utah.  These partners will work with OHD from January 2014 to August 2015 to address birth outcomes among Pacific Islanders and access to health care among ethnic/racial minorities.  Join us in welcoming our new partners:


The Queen Center
Birth outcomes among Pacific Islanders in Utah
Amount: $9,000.00


Centro Hispano
Access to health care among Hispanics/Latinos in Utah County
Amount $5,400.00


Maliheh Free Clinic
Access to health care among uninsured, diverse communities in Salt Lake County
Amount $5,400.00


Hui Hawai’i O Utah Hawaiian Civic Club
Access to health care among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Salt Lake County
Amount $5,400.00


The People’s Health Clinic
Access to health care among Hispanics/Latinos in Summit and Wasatch counties
Amount $5,400.00


Somali Community Self Management Agency
Access to health care among Irianian, Iraqi, Myanmar and Somali refugees in Salt Lake County
Amount $5,400.00


We are excited about these new partnerships as we work toward eliminating health disparities in Utah.


For more information, contact OHD at disparities@utah.gov or 801.273.4140.


Utah schools find creative ways to promote healthy lunch

Woodrow Wilson Elementary is one of many that Granite and other districts are implementing to make nutritious school lunches more appealing to students.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires schools nationwide to offer meals that meet specific nutritional guidelines. This includes offering one fruit or vegetable per meal, serving food with whole grains and protein, and meeting minimum and maximum calorie guidelines.

Participation in school lunches dropped statewide since the act went into effect in fall 2012, according to Kim Loveland, assistant director of school lunch at the Utah State Office of Education.

That caused state and district education officials concern. "It's not nutrition if the kids don't eat it," Loveland said.

Officials in Jordan School District ran a campaign during the 2012-13 school year to help educate students and parents of the components of a balanced meal.

Initial observations showed that students had a good idea of healthy components, but also had some progress to make.

Desert News 10/31. Read entire article at http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865589598/Utah-schools-find-creative-ways-to-promote-healthy-lunch.html