Applications for the Fall 2025 Region 6 Public Health Leadership Institute (R6-PHLI) are open! Applications will be accepted until June 1, 2025 or until the cohort is filled.

• The R6-PHLI aims to develop the next generation of public health leaders. The R6-PHLI provides an opportunity for strategic professional growth for emerging leaders who seek to gain leadership skills for career advancement.

• The R6-PHLI is designed for mid-management professionals that live or work in Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) with a minimum of 5 years experience in public health or healthcare.

• The R6-PHLI uses a community learning approach for networking and interactive discussions with leaders and experts. Hands-on activities are designed for skill building. There are no specific degree requirements.

• The R6-PHLI covers timely, practice-oriented topics developed from focus groups and key informant interviews with professionals across the five states of Region 6.

For more information (including an overview of the R6-PHLI, eligibility criteria and list of topics), please visit the Region 6 Public Health Leadership Institute page.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month - an important time to prioritize well-being, raise awareness and help break the stigma surrounding mental health. At the Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center, we’re committed to supporting healthier communities through education, open dialogue, and access to mental health resources. This month, we invite you to join us in sparking conversations, promoting mental wellness and building a stronger, more supportive Region 6.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to individuals in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories. With a network of over 200 local crisis centers, the 988 Lifeline offers a combination of local care and national best practices. Whether you’re facing mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use concerns, or simply need someone to talk to, compassionate counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Additionally, HRSA’s National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) is a free and confidential 24/7 service offering call or text support to new and expecting moms and their loved ones. The Hotline’s trained counselors provide critical emotional support to women and families during and after pregnancy.

Click on the resources below for additional information about

Mental Health Awareness Month.

A team at the East Tennessee State University is completing a project supported by CDC and HRSA to learn about collaborations between local public health and local health care delivery organizations in rural settings across the US.

As part of this work, we are recruiting individuals from these local agencies/organizations to participate in a 1-hour, virtual interview to share their experiences and perspectives. If you are from one of these types of organizations in a rural area and are interested in participating, please email Benjamin Pelton at peltonb@etsu.edu with subject line: “Rural Collaboration Interest” and we will follow up with additional information.

The Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center and Tulane University will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025 in observance of Memorial Day. During this time, technical support for the Tulane PACE Learning Management System will be extremely limited. If you require assistance, please email us.

"For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue." — James A. Garfield

UTMB Celebrates National Public Health Week

with Community-Focused Events

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) marked National Public Health Week 2025 with a series of dynamic events that showcased its commitment to education, service, and community engagement. The week began with the powerful Community Voices panel, where individuals who experienced housing insecurity shared their stories and perspectives. The Public Health Symposium featured engaging presentations on current challenges and innovations in public health practice. UTMB also hosted a hands-on CV/Resume Workshop, offering students and early-career professionals personalized guidance from faculty leaders. The week concluded with a Day of Service, as students volunteered with local organizations to support ongoing community health efforts. These events reflected UTMB’s dedication to strengthening public health through learning, collaboration, and action.

Course Spotlight:

Advanced Leadership and Practice

Course Description:

This training equips public health practitioners and healthcare professionals with essential leadership skills to navigate and drive change at the community, state, or regional level. Participants will develop the tools needed to lead effectively in dynamic public health environments, design impactful programs, and advocate for policies that promote lasting health improvements.

Learning Objectives:

• The nature and role of leadership

• The difference between leadership and management

• The relationship of leadership and personality

• The importance of and how leaders use systems thinking

• How to organize and assess qualitative decisions

• The importance of and how to set direction for an organization

• The importance of and how to create an organizational culture

• Your personal leadership philosophy



For more info about this training,

please click here.

Featured Course Bundle:

Louisiana Hurricane Response Hub (LaHRH)

Course Bundle Description:

The Louisiana Hurricane Response Hub (LaHRH) curriculum was developed by the Louisiana Office of Public Health to provide general guidance and training to the public health workforce, response workers, volunteers, and community members who face hazards that arise after hurricanes and floods occur in Louisiana. The courses will increase awareness, understanding, and preparedness of events and hazards associated with hurricanes and floods in Louisiana communities. 

The 4 courses in this curriculum cover topics related to general safety and health considerations, heat-related illness, private water wells, and mold exposure. Local resources related to Louisiana hurricane preparedness and recovery are provided to strengthen community awareness and resilience.

Trainings in the LaHRH course

bundle include:

• LaHRH101: After the Hurricane: Potential Hazards and Disaster Recovery

• LaHRH102: Mold Exposure and Health Effects

• LaHRH103: Heat-Related Illness - Risk Factors, Types & Prevention

• LaHRH104: Protecting Your Private Well Water

For more info about LaHRH

course bundle, please click here.

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