Timely Information and Points (TIP) for public health community providers from the Center for Health Innovation, New Mexico's Public Health Institute. |
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Greetings from the Center for Health Innovation (CHI), New Mexico's Public Health Institute. You've been recognized as one of the leading public health professionals in our state, which is why you have been sent our newest publication TIPbits. Every month, we will be sending out timely information and points to aid your efforts to foster better public health in the state. Feel free to share them with your networks and community. Thanks for all you do for New Mexico, and let us lend you a helping hand with TIPbits!
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Social determinants, working upstream and health equity, are important drivers of our work. Two bills focused are social determinants have been introduced in Congress. The Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020 (H.R. 6561/S.4440), if passed, authorizes the CDC to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities by coordinating CDC SDOH activities, and enhance capacity of public health/community organizations (including awarding grants) to address SDOHs in target communities. The Social Determinants Accelerator Act (S.2986/H.R. 4004), if passed, directs HHS to convene an inter-agency technical advisory council to help states/communities devise social determinant accelerator plans that better leverage and coordinate existing programs to improve the health outcomes and well-being of those participating in Medicaid.
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In preparing for New Mexico’s 2021 Legislative Session, New Mexico Voices for Children has released its December 2020 report, “Tax Policy: A Powerful Tool to Advance Racial Equity in New Mexico." The report provides facts for public health practitioners/ advocates on how past discriminatory policies in the public and private sectors have produced the racial/ethnic inequities that exist today, as well as how tax policy can be improved and used as a tool so all New Mexicans gain the resources and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.
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Grant County and COVID-19: Through an extensive community engagement effort, Grant County opened its substantive website, Grant County Coronavirus Update, a clearinghouse of local, state and federal resources to help families and communities stay safe during the COVID pandemic and to get them through the economic fallout.
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Youth Mental Health: Young people can now connect directly with NM CYFD workers to get help, services, resources, and report abuse/neglect by texting Reach NM at 505-591-9444 any time, for free.
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Education/Professional Development |
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Register for the upcoming Public Health Data to Action Virtual Conference on January 14 -15, 2021. Learn how to access public data right down to neighborhood and census tract level to impact policies that effect your community. Free.
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Families USA's Health Action virtual Conference (January 26-28, 2021), will address persistent health inequities and health system failures laid bare by COVID-19. Network with advocates and build skills for securing profound policy change.
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If you work with Native American populations, note that in December 2020, the IHS awarded a $1 million cooperative agreement to the National Council of Urban Indian Health to be a COVID–19 public health support partner for 41 IHS-funded urban Indian organizations in 22 states. Support includes public policy education/services, research/data, training/technical assistance, marketing and more.
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Communication Tips/Resources for Public Health Professionals |
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Brand New: The nationally-known Ad Council and COVID Collaborative have a new, free toolkit to help public health professionals deal with questions about COVID-19 vaccination. The toolkit includes short videos/ads (featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci and other leading healthcare experts), a press release, talking points, social media posts and many customizable materials about safety, availability, cost, side effects, vaccine administration and more.
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Communities still ask public health practitioners for solid information on COVID-19 testing. The Rockefeller Foundation and Brown School of Public Health have a free, web-based COVID-19 Testing Communications Toolkit, with tutorials, handouts and an image library to help you provide motivating, clear messages for your audiences about why, when, and where to get tested.
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As you gain facts and knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, here are some suggestions you may find useful in messaging to overcome mistrust and skepticism in various communities.
· First, take the opportunity to listen to their concerns and gauge their feelings about the vaccine
· Acknowledge their feelings, then, assess if they're open to receiving information
· If so, provide them with the facts you know. This can be tricky because we don't know about some of the issues. CDC has information about side effects, benefits, distribution, and other facts.
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