A Note from the Executive Director
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Dear Partners and Friends,
This is a sobering time in our state, nation, and world. So many are suffering, struggling and anxious because of COVID-19 and its broad impact. We at NMASBHC know that the school-based health centers, and all of the personnel that work with them, are struggling on a daily basis to find the best ways to be of service during this health crisis. Please know that we stand with you and are inspired daily by your courage. While this is a unique time, we are doing our best as an organization to keep the routines that still serve us, including this newsletter, while shifting focus away from activities that are no longer appropriate. We hope this newsletter, while much different from our usual offering, provides information that will be useful in these extraordinary days. Should any of you need support from us, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Yours in service,
Nancy Rodriguez
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As our state’s public health response to the pandemic of COVID-19 continues to unfold, the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care and the school-based health centers we support are all in the process of discerning how to respond appropriately. This is a time for us to work together for the common good, and we stand ready to take whatever actions are necessary. The following are updates regarding both our organization and the state’s SBHCs.
NMASBHC:
In order to follow public health recommendations and keep our families and communities safe, NMASBHC offices will be closed until further notice. Staff and Board will be working remotely and electronically. You can reach
Staff
via email. All outside meetings, business travel and events will be postponed or held telephonically or virtually.
SBHCs:
Each medical entity that operates an SBHC and their host school must determine separately whether or not they can and will stay open during school closures. The Department of Health is working on a spreadsheet of open and closed SBHCs, and it is posted on our homepage and updates are made as soon as they become available. We send our best wishes to all of the SBHCs as they work to adapt to this pandemic.
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In April, we feature Robertson High SBHC.
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Thank you to all the SBHCs who contributed photographs for the 2020 SBHC Calendar.
And a special note of gratitude to this year's sponsor: Presbyterian Health Plan Inc.
Thank you to El Centro Family Health and the Robertson High SBHC team for their service!
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2020 SBHA National Convention
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As of publication of this newsletter, SBHA has NOT cancelled their 2020 SBHC National Convention. The convention is slated to take place on
June 23-25
at the Sheraton Denver Downtown in Denver, Colorado.
SBHA has promised to consult public health experts about moving forward as the pandemic evolves. They are encouraging the field to continue registering for the event with the full confidence that should the convention be cancelled, your registration fees will be fully refunded. For updates, please see the SBHA National
Convention Information Page. Additionally, NMASBHC encourages everyone to book hotel and flight travel that would be similarly refundable.
For those selected for a NMASBHC scholarship, please check your emails and let us know your preference.
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New NMASBHC Board Members Needed
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NMASBHC can not do this work alone.
NMASBHC is looking for passionate advocates for the field of school-based health care.
Are you interested in joining a committee or the NMASBHC Board of Directors?
Applications for Board Members are due
April 15, 2020.
Please go to the NMASBHC website for more information and to access the
Board Application.
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Dear Head to Toe attendees,
With the announcement of the closing of schools for the remainder of the year, we revisited our strategies and pivoted our plans for the conference. First, we will be issuing full refunds to all paid registrants. These will begin flowing out of our office in the next 30 – 45 days, beginning with individuals who paid by personal check, then credit card payments and finally payments by check.
So what does the future hold?
1) We are excited to announce a new product, H2T365, officially launching in the fall. We are working with our presenters to offer online presentations which will be recorded and housed in a web-based library for you to access 365 days of the year! Sessions will be approved for continuing education for nurses, counselors, social workers and more.
You will be invited to attend the remote presentations via the email you provided when you registered for H2T 2020 and through our Facebook page. Please remember to provide us with an alternate email address if you are not checking your work address, as the live presentations will begin in the next few weeks and continue through the fall. Email your address to
[email protected]
.
2) We are planning to host a mini-H2T on September 29, 2020 in conjunction with the American School Health Association Conference (ASHA) coming to Albuquerque on September 30 – October 1, 2020. This will be an opportunity to network and learn face-to-face with your Head to Toe family and, if you chose to stay a day or two longer, attend a national school health conference.
While we are all very disappointed that Head to Toe in its original form will not be happening, we are very excited about the new opportunities ahead of us. It is important to the Office of School and Adolescent Health that we continue to nurture our school health community and be a valuable resource to help you continue to improve the health and academic success of our students.
Stay healthy!
Laura Kesselman, CMM
President
Kesselman-Jones, Inc.
O: (505) 266-3451 | (866) 219-4582 | F: (505) 266-3461
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New Medicaid Regulatory Changes & Updates
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The New Mexico Human Services Department (NMHSD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are loosening and changing a number of regulations in light of the current pandemic.
Please visit the
NMASBHC COVID-19 website
for copies of the guidance documents listed below. Please also visit the
NM HSD Website
for ongoing updates related to Medicaid, Income Support and other HSD services.
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Clinic Resources, Training Opportunities, and Community Announcements
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Upcoming LARC Virtual Trainings
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Trainings for the
LARC Mentoring Program
scheduled for April 13th and 14th will still occur using a virtual training option.
There is still space to register for the training. CME credit will be available for those who need it.
To register, please click the following:
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Upcoming Asthma Opportunity
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NMASBHC would like to offer a mini-grant for SBHCs to complete a project that addresses ways to reduce environmental asthma triggers. With schools closed and measures in place to follow social distancing, it is an opportunity to be creative in your efforts to connect with your communities. Please look out for an email from NMASBHC related to this opportunity.
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Bernalillo County SBHC Behavioral Health Funding Opportunity & Deadline
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If you operate an SBHC in Bernalillo County, you may wish to respond to Bernalillo County's Behavioral Health Initiative Multi-Award for Behavioral Health Program Initiatives RFP,
due April 16th
.
This pre-qualifying process will set up clinics to respond to a future, SBHC-specific RFP later in 2020. General information can be found on the Bernalillo County website at:
Responders will then need to register as a vendor to download and complete the application. Any SBHCs wishing to respond that may need technical assistance are invited to reach out to NMASBHC staff. This is the first time such a funding opportunity has become available - both in size and from a county agency; we encourage all SBHCs to consider applying.
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April 1st is Census Day.
Have you talked to your patients and families about Census 2020?
The Census is conducted every 10 years. The results of the census are used to delegate federal funding for healthcare, schools, roads, education and other funding.
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There are a few opportunities to complete webinars for information and resources about vaccines:
The Indiana Immunization Coalition will be hosting two webinars in April:
Making the HPV Recommendation
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm MST
The webinar speaker will be Greg Zimet, PhD. Dr. Zimet is an expert on how healthcare providers should make the HPV recommendation to patients, and he has spoken at several of the IIC's HPV Summits. CME, CNE and Pharmacy Credits will be awarded.
HPV Infection and Head and Neck Cancers
Thursday, April 30, 2020 from 6:00am to 7:00am MST
The webinar speaker will be Jessica Yesensky, MD, IU Health Physicians Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Yesensky will discuss HPV infection and its association with head and neck cancers. CME, CNE and SW Credits will be awarded.
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American Lung Association Trainings
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If you serve patients with asthma, please consider the ALA trainings for your staff.
There is an Asthma Educator Institute training scheduled for
April 22-23, 2020.
Trainings will be conducted by virtual webinar.
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April Youth Health Awareness Activities
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April 10
is
National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day &
April 12-18
is
STD Awareness Week
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SBHCs are often a respected resource for youth in regards to STI/HIV information, prevention and testing.
for ideas and resources.
Other resources include
There is also a list of youth-friendly
resources published by
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