The de Beaumont Foundation, in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) launched the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) on Monday, September 9, 2024. PH WINS is a great way to identify opportunities for improvement in the public health workforce. Previous PH WINS survey results have been used as a roadmap for action by state and local health agencies to improve workplace culture and recruitment and retention. Results have also informed federal workforce investments and priorities. PH WINS has even been approved for use in the accreditation process. 

This is an excellent opportunity to capture individual-level perspectives on workforce engagement and morale, training needs, and emerging trends in public health from the government public health. PH WINS has been used to institute changes to increase employee engagement and satisfaction, foster a culture of continuous quality improvement and inform succession planning at participating agencies. 

Participating departments will receive a customized report that details the findings from PH WINS. Eligibility for a customized department report is based on staff size and a sufficient response rate. For more information about PH WINS 2024, contact phwins@debeaumont.org or visit www.phwins.org.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, foster open conversations and promote mental health resources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "suicide is a leading cause of death across all age groups", but it is preventable with the right support and intervention.

The Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center is committed to equipping public health professionals with the tools and knowledge to address this public health crisis. This month and beyond, help break the stigma surrounding mental health and ensure everyone has access to the help they need. Listed below are several mental health and suicide prevention resources.

If you or a loved one is struggling, 988 provides emotional support for people in distress in the U.S. 24/7/365 via text, call, & chat services.

As we mark the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center pauses to honor the lives lost and the countless heroes who responded with courage and compassion. This day is a solemn reminder of the enduring impact on our nation and the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. We encourage everyone in our public health community to reflect on the values of unity, service, and dedication that have shaped our response to challenges then and now.

"Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11." - President Barack Obama

Hello! I am Navya Jeldi and I am excited to be joining the Oklahoma Public Health Training Center team as the new Graduate Research Assistant. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Health Promotion Science at the University of Oklahoma Health Science’s Hudson College of Public Health. I hold a bachelor’s degree in dental surgery from India and a master’s degree in public health from Oklahoma State University.

With two and a half years of clinical experience at a dental hospital in India, I gained practical skills in preventive and curative dental care, including routine procedures and assisting in oral surgeries. My diverse experience in clinical and public health settings, including work in mobile dental clinics, deepened my passion for public health by providing essential care and education in rural areas.

At Oklahoma State University, I contributed to BIPOC women in STEM programs and OK-LSAMP Native American student initiatives, which helped me refine my skills in data analysis and communication. My current research interests focus on human behavior, children’s and women’s health, health disparity & equity, and mental health awareness.

In my recent internship with the Oklahoma Community Health Worker (CHW) Coalition Evaluation Project, I was involved in designing surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings to enhance community health initiatives, under the guidance of Dr. Reinschmidt and Dr. Marick. 

I look forward to contributing to the team and enriching myself with more insights into public health. Thank you!

Daniel Sledge, PhD

Join OPHA in welcoming Daniel Sledge, PhD as incoming President! Dr. Sledge is a scholar of public health and health policy. He received his PhD from Cornell University and is an Associate Professor in the Hudson College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. His research examines the opioid epidemic, public policy and communicable disease, disaster response and recovery, and the development of public health institutions. He is passionate about improving public health and about understanding the ways in which public policies impact the day-to-day lives of individuals and communities.

McKenzie Cowlbeck, MPH, CPH 

Ms. McKenzie Cowlbeck, MPH, CPH who is the OPHA Policy Director and APHA Affiliate Representative to Governing Council, will receive APHA's 2024 Giorgio A. Piccagli Leadership Award for elevating the Oklahoma Affiliate’s profile through policy, advocacy and workforce development.

Course Spotlight:

DSHS Foundations of Public Health: Public Health Disciplines

Course Description:

The DSHS Foundations of Public Health: Public Health Disciplines course examines five disciplines of public health individually and explores how they work together to improve public health. 

Learning Objectives:

• Define five disciplines of public health 

• Describe basic terminology and concepts for each discipline 

• Understand how all five disciplines work together for the better of public health 

For more info about the  DSHS Foundations of Public Health: Public Health Disciplines training, click here.

Featured Course Bundle: Data into Action for Tribes

Course Bundle Description:

The Data into Action for Tribes curriculum is designed to provide general guidance and understanding to increase the knowledge among tribal health departments of how to access available data from federal, state, and local resources for program planning surveillance, and data use.

The courses included in this curriculum will cover several topics related to data, including an overview of epidemiology, sources of publicly-available data, conducting assessments and writing reports. 

Trainings in this bundle include:

• Weaving the Threads of Culture: Working Effectively with American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN)
• Data into Action for Tribes: Introduction to Epidemiology
• Data into Action for Tribes: Publicly-Available Data Sources
• Data into Action for Tribes: Conducting a Community Health Assessment

For more information about the

Data into Action for Tribes course bundle, click here.

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