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Message from the Director
Greetings,
Amid recent federal changes that have eliminated SNAP-Ed programming, the Champion Provider Fellowship is pleased to share that the program will continue through this fellowship year. We recognize this is a challenging time for local health departments navigating funding transitions, and we remain committed to finding opportunities to support the important community health efforts that they have engaged in with Fellows. While operating at a smaller capacity, we are proud to continue advancing the policy, systems, and environmental change efforts of our new cohort and alumni. Thanks to support through our ongoing collaboration with the State Office of Oral Health and transition assistance from SNAP-Ed, we remain dedicated to promoting community health and equity.
| | This Health Literacy Month, we highlight the importance of making health information clear and the healthcare system easier to navigate for all. Health literacy is a key focus of Healthy People 2030, which emphasizes both personal and organizational health literacy, acknowledging the role organizations play in helping individuals access, understand, and effectively use health information. Improving health literacy empowers communities and strengthens understanding of what it means to live in a healthy society. We encourage you to explore resources from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, including the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy and the "5 Things to Know About Health Literacy" video. | | Last month, we hosted an exciting Media Training with Brown Miller Communications! Fellows learned the differences between various types of media outlets and how to craft a compelling story. Additionally, they were able to put what they learned into practice with live on-camera mock interviews. | | |
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: | |
“When Good Ideas Aren't Enough: Oral Health Challenges in Rural Public Health"
By: Roblen Nieblas, DDS
Champion Provider Fellow (Cohort 5, Kings County)
As a general dentist working at an FQHC in rural Central California, I see firsthand how systemic barriers prevent people, especially kids, from getting even the most basic oral health care. Working in public health in a rural area has taught me that having a good idea isn’t enough. Read more.
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Dr. Kristen Hughes (Cohort 4, Santa Barbara County)
Dr. Hughes (Cohort 4, Santa Barbara) was named the 2025 Santa Barbara County Physician of the Year by the Central Coast Medical Association on September 18, 2025.
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Dr. David Thai (Cohort 5, Sonoma County)
Delta Dental Community Care Foundation (DDCCF) - Access to Care Grant awarded to Dr. David Thai (Cohort 5, Sonoma) and West County Health Centers $250,000 to expand access to dental care in Guerneville, CA.
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*Champion Provider Listserv*
Collaborate & communicate with Champion Provider
Fellows across the state about your community change efforts.
NOTE: Please do not use the listserv to promote lobbying efforts or to discuss patient care.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture Terminates Household Food Security Reports
On September 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the termination of future Household Food Security Reports. The Household Food Security Report is an annual, national survey that monitors the severity of food insecurity in U.S. households. The report provides data on the lack of access to adequate nutrition for low-income Americans and helps shape policy on how to combat food insecurity and hunger.
Read the press release here.
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Note: Materials included in this section are for reference and information purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the federal government, California Department of Public Health, or the University of California, San Francisco.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Early Childhood Nutrition Report 2025
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2025)
The CDC’s 2025 Early Childhood Nutrition Report gives us a big-picture look at how young children in the U.S. are eating and growing. It focuses on kids from birth to age 5 and shares important facts about breastfeeding, starting solid foods, eating healthy, and how states support good nutrition. The report shows where we’re doing well—and where we need to do better—to help all children grow up healthy and strong.
Read the report here.
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Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care: A Resource Guide
Barzel R, Holt K (eds). 2025. Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care: A Resource Guide (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center.
This guide features resources to help health professionals, program administrators, and others implement oral health care integration in materials, programs, and systems of care. It includes descriptions of and links to materials on policy, practice guidance, practice tools, professional education and training, and program development. It also offers descriptions of organizations that can provide additional support for activities to promote the integration of oral health care into primary care.
Access the guide here.
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NOPREN Webinar: Findings from CDC's 2025 Early Childhood Nutrition Report
October 20, 2025, 9-10am (PST)
Virtual
This webinar is hosted by the Nutrition & Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN) will go over key findings from the CDC's 2025 Early Childhood Nutrition Report. The presenter will be Lauren O'Connor, MPH, CLC - CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO).
To join, click here.
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1st Annual Food and Agriculture Policy Summit
October 28, 2025
Washington, D.C.
Join Food Tank, the Global Food Institute at GW, and José Andrés for the inaugural Food and Agriculture Policy Summit on October 28, 2025, at Jack Morton Auditorium in Washington, D.C. This full-day, in-person event will feature dynamic conversations on how to nourish a growing population while advancing sustainability, equity, and resilience across food systems.
Read more and register here.
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Safe Routes to School Summit 2025
October 28-30, 2025
Virtual
The 2025 Safe Routes to School Virtual Summit will be three days of engaging presentations, hands-on trainings, and educational conversations focused on topics that matter most to Safe Routes practitioners.
Register here.
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American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo
November 2-5, 2025
Washington, D.C.
APHA’s Annual Meeting and Expo is one of the largest and most influential public health meetings in the world. More than 12,000 public health experts are expected to participate in the 2025 Annual Meeting, virtually or in-person. Journalists covering this event have access to more than 4,000 scientific papers and thousands of oral presentations that foster discussions about the larger picture of public health. It is a remarkable opportunity to meet sources, chart trends and uncover story ideas.
Register here.
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National Oral Health Conference (NOHC)
April 13-15, 2026
Oklahoma City, OK
The National Oral Health Conference (NOHC) is "the premier meeting" for those interested in continuing education and networking opportunities within the discipline of Dental Public Health. This will be the 27th joint meeting of the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD).
Register here.
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