THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY NEWSLETTER
November 2018
Statewide Conference Sowed the Seeds of Health Equity in Richmond
The Office of Health Equity successfully organized its first health equity conference and think tank in Richmond on October 17-18.

The theme for the conference was, "Sowing the Seeds of Health Equity: Growing Healthy, Connected Communities."

Led by director, Dr. Lauren Powell, the office embarked on the mission this past summer to invite a variety of public health workers in public and private business sectors across the Commonwealth to learn about the importance of health equity in Virginia.

Dr. Daniel Carey, Virginia secretary of Health and Human Resources gave a report about the state of health in Virginia and Marvin Figueroa, deputy secretary of Health and Human Resources presented on medicaid expansion. Figueroa also answered questions from those attending during the session.

Keynotes for the conference were delivered by: Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins and Shavon Arline-Bradley, respectively, for each day.

The two-day conference featured a variety of important speeches, moderated panel discussions, research abstract presentations and optimal networking opportunities.

Conference registrants also participated in a think tank workshop on the second day that asked groups to identify health inequities caused by persisting community problems.
Virginia State Office of Rural Health is Recipient of $200,000 Grant for Opioid Use Disorder
The Virginia State Office of Rural Health (VA-SORH) is a recipient of the Rural Communities Opioid Response (RCORP) initiative grant. Each awardee received a maximum of $200,000 for one year to develop plans to implement opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery interventions designed to reduce opioid overdoses among rural populations.   This initiative is part of a multi-year Rural Communities Opioid Response initiative by HRSA aimed at supporting treatment for and prevention of substance use disorder.

The  Virginia State Office of Rural Health is collaborating with the Appalachian Substance Abuse Coalition (ASAC), Ballad Health, Stone Mountain Health Systems, WiseCounty Sherriff Office, Healthy Appalachia Institute at UVA Wise, Lenowisco and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts, and Cumberland Mountain Community Services Board. 
Henrietta Lacks Legacy Week Educated the State on her Life and Contributions to Public Health
The Office of Health Equity at the Virginia Department of Health hosted Henrietta Lacks Legacy Week during September 23-29, 2018.

The seven day celebration, included eight events, to mark the occasion of the inaugural meeting of the Henrietta Lacks Commission.

The commission is tasked with establishing a biomedical cancer research center in the name of Henrietta Lacks in Halifax, Virginia.

Lacks was an African-American woman from Clover, Virginia whose cells posthumously, continue to benefit science and public health. Until the discovery of her cells' rare ability to replicate, it took scientists longer to learn about disease and test medical treatments.

The week long celebration, hosted by the Office of Health Equity gave the state an education on ethics in public health for internal staff, as well as, the statewide Virginia community about her life and importance. Events included: movie screenings, panel discussions, and a closing reception to celebrate the commission. All of the events for the week's celebration were free and open to the public.
Dr. Lauren Powell Named a 2018 Culture of Health Leader by Robert Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Dr. Lauren Powell, who currently serves as the director of the Office of Health Equity was named as a fellow in the 2018 Culture of Health Leaders cohort.

Powell was named in October to be among 40 leaders from across the country with a variety of professions and industries, dedicated to building a healthier society.

The fellowship requires a three year commitment and is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Fellows must attend four annual meetings and receive high-touch executive coaching.

The fellows will also create an individual leadership plan that includes: self-assessment, leadership development goals, and goals for sustainable growth impact, once completed.
Danville Youth Health Leadership Institute (YHELI) Kicks Off its Third Year
The student cohort at George Washington High School in Danville recently kicked off its third year with after-school sessions and a parent meeting. 

“The Danville YHELI encourages us and shows us students to be leaders, not followers,” YHELI student said.

This year, students will engage in a rigorous curriculum designed to enhance critical thinking, leadership, and educational attainment. Students will explore career paths, higher educational opportunities, serve as youth leaders, advocates and mentors and participate in field trips (college visits, museum, etc.). 
 
Shani Gaylord , Danville YHELI Program Manager, oversees program implementation of this five-year grant initiative funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, through the State Partnership Initiative to Address Health Disparities.  
 
To learn more about the Danville YHELI, view the program on the web or by contacting  Shani Gaylord at (804) 489-6459.
National Rural Health Day set for November 15
Help us transform a single day into a positive movement. Celebrate the Power of Rural on National Rural Health Day by hosting a Walk with a Doc and encourage others to do the same!
Walk with a Doc  was founded in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir , a cardi­ologist from Columbus, Ohio, frustrated with his inability to affect behavior change in the clinical setting, so he invited his patients to go for a walk with him in a local park. To his surprise, over 100 people showed up, energized and ready to move.

Soon, Dr. Sabgir’s great idea spread, and today, there are currently 375 chapters across the United States, plus chapters in 20 countries, hosting weekly, biweekly, or monthly walks.   
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Meeting Hosted in Wyoming
Virginia State Office of Rural Health (VA-SORH) traveled to  Cheyenne, Wyoming, on October 17-18 for the 2018 NOSORH Annual Meeting. 

The meeting was held at the Little America Hotel and Resort. Staff members learned about  Engaging Health Departments & Partnerships in the Landscape for Rural Population Health, Rural Health Alignment with Age - Friendly Communities and Resources to Support and Strengthen Rural Health Programs. 

NOSORH thanked the Wyoming State Office of Rural Health for hosting the 2018 Annual Meeting this past month in Cheyenne.
SignUpNow Workshops Available for Medicaid
Virginia is expanding the eligibility criteria for medicaid!  Attend a SignUpNow workshop to learn how to help the newly eligible (and their family members) apply for this new state-sponsored health insurance!

SignUpNow  teaches the "ins and outs" of the eligibility requirements, application procedures, and post-enrollment information for Virginia's state-sponsored health insurance programs:
  • New adult coverage
  • Programs for children and pregnant women
  • Plan First
  • Low Income Families and Children (LIFC) program
  • 
Click here to find the workshop most convenient for you .  We'll be on the road a lot! Check backfrom time-to-time. We're continuing to add workshops for 2018. And, we'll have dates for 2019 soon.
 
Seating is LIMITED and first come, first served. So register early!
Education and Funding Opportunities
U.S Department of Justice (DOJ): Rural and Tribal Elder Justice Summit. (November 14-15)

Conference- Des Moines, IA

This summit will bring together a diverse group of experts and elder justice professionals. Learn more.
Virginia State Office of Rural Health Grant - (November 30)

Funding Opportunity

Information Resource Grants to Reduce Health Disparities (G08 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Funds projects that use computers, information technology and health sciences libraries to bring health-related information to consumers and their healthcare providers. Learn More.
HHS/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - (November 30)

Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response. Eligibility is limited to state, county, city and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribal governments (Federally recognized).
HHS/ Agency for Care Research and Quality (AHRQ)- (December 4)

Funding Opportunity

Screening and Management of Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Primary Care: Dissemination and Implementation of PCOR Evidence (R18) Grant.
HHS/National Institutes of Health (NIH)- (December 4)

Funding Opportunity

Collaborative Minority Health and Health Disparities Research with Tribal Epidemiology Centers (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Learn More.

HealthHIV, HealthHCV and the National Coalition for LGBT Health: SYNChronicity 2019 National Conference - (December 7)

Call for Abstracts

April 14-16, 2019 in Washington, DC.  Register .  

University of Michigan/National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID)- (December 17 )

Scholarship

This new initiative at NCID is available to mid-career and senior diversity scholars interested in spending an acadmic year at the University of Michigan. Learn more .
Rural Development Opportunity- United States of Department of Agriculture

Funding Opportunities

RCDI grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas to improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas.    Learn more.
This project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human (HHS) under grant number H95RHoo138