Community Advancement and Resources
Recovery Equity Videos: Video Series by Hazelden Berry Ford Foundation
Welcome to the Recovery Equity video series, a space for us to reflect on hard truths, consider promising initiatives and imagine new possibilities. We hope you will join our conversations and our commitment to learn together, listen openly, appreciate diversity, amplify unheard voices, think differently, challenge the status quo and take action to effect change.
Asthma Podcast: Health Chatter
Health Chatter podcast hosts Stan Shanedling and Clarence Jones chat with Dr. Gail Brottman about asthma. Dr. Brottman is the Director of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Brottman has been involved in pediatric asthma since 1992, as a clinician, researcher and program facilitator at Hennepin Healthcare. In addition to these roles, she has been a member of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Asthma Advisory Committee since 2018, and serves on the Camp Superkids Medical Board, and the American Lung Association in Minnesota. Dr. Brottman is a physician champion and is committed to Patient-Centered Care. “I work with patients and families to help them understand what is happening with their lungs and feel confident in controlling their asthma.”
Professional Development
Advocacy Training for CHWs
The course is intended for CHWs and CHW Supervisors. Learners will have the ability to access and download videos, reading materials, and reflection exercises on the following topics:
- The history and background of CHW programs.
- How to advocate for improved health care and working conditions.
- How to tell personal stories to advocate for change.
- How to use technology tools to participate in global conversations.
Click here to access the course.
Minnesota Department of Health Education Center
The learning center is designed to support local public health agencies, hospitals, clinics, communities, institutions, and others by providing access to both in-person and online educational opportunities on a broad array of topics.
If you don’t already have a free account, click here.
Certificate Programs
About CHW Certificate Programs
Community Health Worker (Fully ONLINE)
As a community health worker, you will provide the first line of support for people in need of assistance with health care and social services. NTC’s Community Health Worker program will prepare you to serve in a variety of health care organizations. You will gain the knowledge and skills needed to help your community increase and improve access to health care, improve access to health care for racial and ethnic minorities, improve quality of care for the chronically ill, promote healthy communities and educate families about access to and use of health care coverage. Community health workers perform a broad range of health-related functions and play an important role in bridging the gap between cultures and health care systems.
Gerontology & Aging Care Program (Fully ONLINE)
Beginning in spring 2021, Northwest Technical College will address unprecedented growth in life expectancy and aging populations with a new online Gerontology & Aging Care program. Students who complete the program will be well-trained eldercare specialists with knowledge and expertise in the field of aging and associated issues. Graduates of the program will possess the knowledge and skills needed to provide seamless quality service to the aging population and their families. Career pathways include a wide variety of service and leadership opportunities related to psychology, economics, health and wellness, public policy and advocacy and service.
Northwest Technical College is now offering an 18 credit, 2-semester Certificate program in Gerontology. Click here to learn more.
Health Sciences Field Associate of Science (Fully ONLINE)
The Health Sciences Broad Field Associate of Science (AS) degree may be the perfect place to start if you’re planning to pursue a four-year degree or double major in Northwest Technical College programs such as nursing, dental assisting or medical office technology. The program, which is offered online or on campus, provides a flexible path of study for you to explore career options in health and human services. Graduates who want or need to work can use the AS degree to be qualified for employment as a nursing assistant before deciding whether to further their studies. Most graduates eventually advance their studies with another NTC degree or transfer to a baccalaureate program within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Students completing the Health Sciences Broad Field will work closely with advisers to plan their academic and career path in the high-demand health and human services fields.
Grants Management
Training and Other Resources
7/8-7/17: Healthy Minnesota Partnership Community Conversations
Sponsored by: Healthy Minnesota Partnership
In 2024, The Healthy Minnesota Partnership is developing the next statewide health improvement framework, which is a multi-year action plan to address prioritized issues elevated in the recently released statewide health assessment. Attend a virtual community conversation in July to share your input and help the Partnership decide what to prioritize and work on over the next four years. For dates and registration, and to learn more about the improvement framework, visit the link above.
Audience: All dates and times are open for anyone to attend; however, there are some focused times for specific groups, including local public health, community-based organizations, and community members from Greater Minnesota.
7/10: Addressing Food Insecurity & Social Needs of Low-income Pregnant Individuals
Sponsored by: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
11:00 AM Mountain. This RWJF Systems for Action study evaluates the effectiveness of an aligned service delivery and financing model designed to improve maternal and infant health by helping Medicaid-eligible persons receive access to healthy foods during pregnancy. The Nourishing Beginnings program uses integrated data, screening and referral systems combined with community health worker support to link people in need with healthy food delivery from a local food bank or with direct cash assistance for food purchases.
7/16: Trends in Mental Health & Levels of Care
Sponsored by: Minnesota Department of Health – Health Care Homes; PrairieCare/PAL
12:00 PM Central. This one-hour webinar explores the need for a transformation in our mental health care systems. Led by Dr. Joshua Stein, MD, a Board Certified Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist at PrairieCare/Psychiatric Assistance Line (PAL) in Brooklyn Park, MN, this session will explore the critical elements necessary to revolutionize how we approach mental health care. We need to normalize conversations around mental health, invest in education, identification, and prevention, create better ways to access care and be better prepared for crisis. Reviewing current trends in mental health in youth and different levels of care as potential access points will provide attendees with a better understanding to offer comprehensive care. Multiple resources will be reviewed as well as access to free psychiatric consultations for prescribing providers. For more information about Health Care Homes Learning Collaborative Webinars, visit: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/hchomes/collaborative/webinars.html
7/16: Enhancing the Understanding of Environmental Exposures in Cancer by Strengthening Clinical, Government, and Community Partnerships
Sponsored by: CDC National Center for Environmental Health; US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
1:00 PM Eastern. As part of the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, NCEH/ATSDR is hosting this virtual conversation. During this event, panelists will discuss approaches that can be taken to support connections between health officials, healthcare providers, patients & families, and their advocates to better understand and address concerns around cancer and the environment across communities in the United States. Discussion topics will include trainings for healthcare providers, establishing patient information and referral centers, broadening approaches to examine cancer and environmental concerns in communities, resources and support from academic and non-governmental organization partners, and community perspectives and needs.
7/17: Metro Region Gathering: MN Health Equity Networks
Sponsored by: Minnesota Department of Health
2:00 PM Central. The MN Health Equity Networks are hosting their quarterly regional gatherings. Regional gatherings are open to all! Please join the region in which you identify. To view agendas, visit: www.health.state.mn.us/equitynetworks
7/18: Disease Forecasting Learning Series – Communicating with Policy-Makers
Sponsored by: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
4:00 PM Eastern. As part of ASTHO’s Disease Forecasting Learning Series, this webinar will focus on communicating with policy-makers. While many epidemiology and informatics staff may not communicate directly with elected officials and other policy-makers, their reports, graphs, and talking points are used to brief and inform them. This session will provide an overview of key considerations when developing documents and talking points that will be used to brief health department leaders, policy-makers, and elected officials.
7/18-7/19: MN CHW Rural Health Conference
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday July 18 (3pm) – Friday July 19th
Event: MN 2024 Rural CHW Conference
Theme: Bridging Community Gaps in Rural Minnesota with CHW Workforce!
Location: Minnesota West Community & Technical College (Worthington)
More information and registration: flier is attached
Stakeholders Conference Sponsorship Opportunities: flier attached
Contact Roxanne Hayenga, roxanne.hyenga@mnwest.edu
Ending Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease
Minnesota Stakeholder Summit
- Virtual Summit
- Wednesday, July 24
- 9 – 11 a.m.
With the leadership of Penny Wheeler, University of Minnesota regent and past CEO of Allina Health, and Ann Zukoski, director of the Center for Health Promotion at the Minnesota Department of Health, the National Kidney Foundation Serving Minnesota invites you to attend the virtual Minnesota Ending Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease Leadership Summit on Wednesday, July 24 from 9 – 11 a.m.
Register for the Virtual Leadership Summit.
7/24: Ending Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease: Minnesota Stakeholder Summit
Sponsored by: National Kidney Foundation
With the leadership of Penny Wheeler, University of Minnesota Regent and past CEO of Allina Health and Ann Zukoski, Director of the Center for Health Promotion at the Minnesota Department of Health, the National Kidney Foundation serving Minnesota invites you to attend the virtual Minnesota Ending Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease Leadership Summit on Wednesday, July 24 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. CT. During the Summit, we will launch our roadmap to improve the early testing, diagnosis, and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care settings within the state. The roadmap is a collection of recommendations for change made by healthcare, public health leaders, quality improvement, and patients from across Minnesota. Join us to hear how we can leverage the Collective Impact model to make these recommendations a reality in our state. We hope you will participate in the final convening and share this opportunity within your network!
7/30: All About Health Trends Across Communities in Minnesota (HTAC): Using EHR Data to Advance Community Health
Sponsored by: Hennepin County Public Health; MNEHRC; Center for Community Health
12:00 PM Central. Hennepin County Public Health, in collaboration with the Minnesota EHR Consortium and the Center for Community Health invites you to All About HTAC: Using EHR Data to Advance Community Health. This event will include an informational presentation on the new Health Trends Across Communities in Minnesota (HTAC) project, a demonstration of the HTAC dashboard, and time at the end for discussion and Q&A. Presenters: o Dr. Tyler Winkelman, Co-Director, Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Lab, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute o Renee Van Siclen, Data Scientist, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute o Dave Johnson, Epidemiology, Informatics, and ImmuTrack Manager, Hennepin County Public Health o Amy Leite Bennett, Head of Analytics, Health Line of Business, Hennepin County Health and Human Services.
How Ageism Impacts Health and What You Can Do
Wednesday, Aug. 7
12–1 PM Eastern | 9–10 AM Pacific
Join us for an enlightening session that explores our perceptions about age and aging and their impact on health. Discover how ageism, often unrecognized, can detrimentally affect physical and mental health and overall lifespans. We’ll delve into implications for healthcare and highlight the importance of age advocacy.
8/13: It’s Not a Health Care Home Without Oral Health
Sponsored by: Minnesota Department of Health – Health Care Homes; Minnesota Oral Health Coalition
12:00 PM Central. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2000 report declared that “oral health is integral to the general health and well-being of all Americans” and “must be included in the provision of health care and design of community programs.” The bad news: many Minnesotans continue to suffer barriers to care resulting in persistent oral health disparities. The good news: innovation makes integration possible. Panelists will provide information, practical tools, and describe partnerships to integrate oral health into whole-person health homes that are equitable, accessible, and accountable. Presented by Deborah Jacobi, RDH, MA, Policy Director, Apple Tree Dental; Jane Neubauer, Special Project Coordinator, Early Childhood Dental Network; Nancy Franke Wilson, Executive Director, Minnesota Oral Health Coalition. Register on WebEx: https://minnesota.webex.com/weblink/register/r5903d0fb8557912e9dbca56ba266344c