Indiana Department of Health’s Post

Celebrating National Minority Health Month: The Vital Role of Community Health Centers 📆 April marks National Minority Health Month, a time to reflect on and address the persistent health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority groups across the United States. While these challenges are considerable, there is hope and progress is being made by Community Health Centers. ❓ Did you know that Community Health Centers serve 1 in 7 people of color? These centers are pillars of strength in our communities, especially in underserved areas like the California Central Valley. They offer culturally competent care, which is not just about speaking the same language but understanding the cultural context that influences health behaviors and perceptions. This approach has proven effective in improving patient health outcomes and reducing disparities. ❇ This week, I had the incredible opportunity to be part of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) video highlighting the indispensable work of Community Health Centers, a project of the Grassroots Advocacy Leadership Program I am a part of. As we observe National Minority Health Month, it's important to acknowledge the critical role that Community Health Centers play in advancing health equity. With your support, we can ensure they have the resources they need to continue their vital work, making a difference in reducing health disparities and building healthier communities for all. #NationalMinorityHealthMonth #HealthEquity #CommunityHealthCenters #CulturalCompetence #HealthDisparities #ValueCHCs

Thank you to Maranda C. Ward, Ed.D, MPH for introducing me to National Public Health Week. For those of who may not know, National Public Health week is every first full week of April and is intended to recognize contributions made to Public Health as well as bringing attention to issues that can improve our nation's health. Each day of National Public Health Week focuses on a specific theme, with today being civic engagement. When taking a look at civic engagement we can see that it is crucial for positive public health outcomes among the nation. Studies indicate that communities with higher levels of civic engagement tend to experience better public health outcomes. Whether advocating for pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, advocating for more green spaces, or ensuring adequate funding for schools, our participation allows us to influence decisions that directly impact the quality of life in our communities. Given the importance of civic engagement, here are some ways you can contribute: - VOTE! And encourage your friends, colleagues, neighbors, family to do the same - Encourage your workplace to give employees time off to vote - Educate yourself and others about voting policies in your state to raise awareness. Let's work together to foster a culture of civic engagement for healthier communities. #NationalPublicHealthWeek #CivicEngagement

National Public Health Week-Day 1 "Civic Engagement" Today is the first day of National Public Health Week which is crucial week as it raises awareness about public health issues and encourages individuals to take action to improve the health of their communities. Each day is a different topic, and today's topic is "Civic Engagement". Civic engagement plays a vital role in Public Health by empowering citizens to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote public health, such as access to healthcare, clean air and water, healthy food options, and disease prevention measures. Together, they foster a culture of wellness and social responsibility, ultimately leading to healthier and more resilient societies. Local civic engagement allows residents to voice their concerns and influence local policies and decision-making processes. This can lead to the implementation of initiatives that address community needs, such as improving infrastructure, enhancing public safety measures, and promoting environmental sustainability. By working together, community members can identify innovative approaches to tackle issues like homelessness, education disparities, and economic inequality Overall, civil engagement at the local level is essential for building resilient, inclusive, and thriving communities where every voice is heard and valued. #nationalpublichealthweek #publichealth #civilengagement #blackmeninpublichealth #community #advocacy

Healthy Black Families - Episode Two: Health Investments for Berkeley The possibilities for improving health justice and equity are vast when there is an authentic partnership and inclusive engagement of community based advocates and organizers. In a special CBPH mini-series, Praxis is featuring the community-led efforts to improve health that have been been funded in part through investments from Berkeley’s soda tax. This series presents the grounded stories of the impact that this funding is having at the community level. In this video we are featuring the work of Healthy Black Families. To learn more about their work visit: https://lnkd.in/giZDrmmS Visit our site to learn more about our featured mini-episode series, Health Investments for Berkeley: https://lnkd.in/gQXAVPmV This mini-episode series is part of our larger case-study collection, Communities Building Power for health. Learn more about it here: https://lnkd.in/gsWFT-4 #HealthJustice #EquityInHealth #CommunityEngagement #CommunityOrganizing #HealthEquity #SodaTaxImpact #CommunityLedInitiatives #PublicHealth #CommunityEmpowerment #SocialJustice #HealthcareAccess #CommunityHealth #SodaTaxFunding #CBPH #PraxisInitiative #BerkeleySodaTax #HealthImprovement #InclusivePartnerships #CommunityAdvocacy #HealthcareJustice

Gladys- a devoted mother, aspiring healthcare professional, and community volunteer- is inspired to better herself and her community after witnessing the opportunities CI provided for her family. Her journey is a heartwarming story of resilience and compassion! 💜 What inspires you to give back to your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #VolunteerMonth

☀️ Celebrating 25 Years of Caring ☀️ From the beginning, our board and staff prioritized connecting with people throughout the state, spending a year learning about the most pressing health needs of Coloradans. They saw and heard first-hand about the challenges people face, and considered what was needed to work together with communities to address those challenges purposefully and productively over time. Through town hall meetings, open surveys, and in-depth dialogue with community leaders, a clear picture emerged: significant gaps existed in Colorado’s health care infrastructure, especially for people who were uninsured, living on low income, living with a disability, living in rural or frontier communities, or for whom English was not their primary language. In every community visited across Colorado, the largest unmet needs were access to: • Oral health care. • Mental health care. • Primary health care in rural and frontier communities. • Specialty mental health care, including acute treatment services and substance misuse treatment. • General financial barriers to care, which were exacerbated by high uninsured rates. At the time, several counties did not have a single primary care physician providing care in the county, and nearly two dozen rural counties had two or fewer dentists. Of the 20 rural counties that lacked a hospital, 14 were in rural communities. The result from this listening and engagement was Caring for Colorado's initial grantmaking program, which emphasized expanding access to health care for underserved populations. Pictured here founding board members at a listening session in Pueblo in 2000. Follow along over the next several months as we share our history and celebrate 25 years of caring. #ColoradoHistory #ColoradoNonprofit #ColoradoHealth #25YearsofCaring

Doulas deserve to be supported and recognized for the critical work that they do — but right now, there’s not a formal count of the doula workforce in California. Help us advocate for more equitable resource allocation by filling out this 15-min survey: https://lnkd.in/e3zd3gaz

July is Disability Pride Month: an opportunity to learn about the history, achievements, and lived experiences of people with disabilities while raising awareness and evaluating our actions toward creating more inclusive environments. In #PublicHealth, accessible health information is essential for #HealthEquity, and it's never too late to begin incorporating accessibility best practices in your communications. 💡In addition to listening to the ideas and needs of people in your community with disabilities, here are three resources you can use to make your public health communications more accessible: 1. "Creating Accessible Public Health Communications" (webinar) - https://lnkd.in/ex7-kwXa 2. "The Public Health Communicators Guide to Creating Accessible Social Media" (guide created in partnership with @DPC) - https://lnkd.in/eJd2jBqw 3. "Plain Language for Public Health Checklist" (one-pager) - https://lnkd.in/etpZSGGP

Wishing everyone a joyous Mother's Day! As we take this day to celebrate Mothers and Mother figures in our lives, let's remember the importance of women's health and safety. Without a foundation to live and thrive, Mothers struggle to be the superheroes we need them to be every day. To learn more about how you can assist MEDLIFE in empowering women to access healthcare, education, and housing, go to the link in bio!

🌟 Ensuring Public Health is Upholding Children's Human Rights 🌟 As we strive to build healthier communities, it is crucial to recognize the inherent connection between public health and children's human rights. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and healthy environment where their well-being is prioritized and protected. Public health interventions play a vital role in safeguarding these fundamental rights by promoting access to quality healthcare, nutritious food, clean water, education, and a supportive community. Investing in preventive measures, early interventions, and equitable healthcare systems can create a brighter future for our children and empower them to reach their full potential. Let's work together to advocate for policies and initiatives prioritizing children's human rights within public health. By championing these efforts, we can build a healthier, more just society where every child can thrive and flourish. #PublicHealth #ChildrensRights #HealthEquity #communitywellness