RVPHTC Blog
Welcome to our blog! Covering classic and topical public health themes, we hope you find new and interesting information through our blog posts, published weekly to keep you in the know on all things public health!
Interested in contributing or have a topic you’d like to see? Email us at [email protected].
The Academic Health Department as a Tool for Case-Based Learning
The Ohio State University College of Public Health and Columbus Public Health have been partnering as an Academic Health Department since 2019, focusing on event co-planning, traditional student placements, and training and workshop co-development. For the past five years, our two organizations have developed a strong and reliable relationship, but more than anything, it has provided a space for brainstorming and ongoing discussions to do more.
Opioid Crisis and Communities of Color
As COVID-19 deaths decline, overdose deaths continue to rise, with death rates spiking in communities of color (AMA, 2023), where fentanyl has entered the drug supply of stimulants as well as heroin.
Fostering Skills and Building Connections Through Student Experiences
Student experiences in field placements and collaborative projects offer valuable connections for both students and organizations. These experiences provide both groups with the power to impact communities and strengthen the future of the public health workforce.
Health Literacy in ColumbUS starts with US
As we draw our second health literacy conference to a close, we will work with attendees on the action items they developed during our conference in the following months to assist public health-focused organizations in becoming more health literate while improving community engagement and access to care. Striving to provide educational opportunities resulting in calls to action is key to reducing barriers and creating more health literate organizations.
Building Leadership Capacity to Advance Health Equity – By and For Black Women
Investments in community-led initiatives, strategies, and solutions are crucial to build the power and capacity of populations most impacted by health and social inequities. The Well Black Woman® Institute (WBWI) is an innovative leadership development program for Black women in Wisconsin. WBWI builds the knowledge, skills, and capacity of Black women to become health equity advocates, leaders, and change agents within their communities and across the state.
Maternal and Infant Mortality: Barriers to Prenatal Care
By identifying barriers to prenatal care, we can decrease maternal and infant mortality rates.
Bridging the Gap: Telehealth, Broadband, and Equity in Healthcare Access
The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted telehealth’s potential, but revealed a stark reality: 14.5 million Americans lack broadband access, disproportionately affecting rural and tribal communities. Telehealth offers hope, but its promise is hindered by access inequities. Recognizing broadband as a crucial determinant of health, policymakers are acting, ranging from state-level initiatives to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. However, broadband expansion is just the beginning. Achieving healthcare equity demands policy reforms, workforce training, and collaboration. The pandemic taught us that telehealth is transformative, but its benefits must reach every corner of our nation, leaving no one behind in the pursuit of health and equity.
But First, Health First Indiana
Health First Indiana is an initiative created by Senate Enrolled Act 4, legislation passed by the 2023 Indiana General Assembly that will transform Indiana’s public health infrastructure. The legislation provides funding so local health departments (LHDs) can determine the health needs of their community and implement evidence-based programs focused on prevention. Health First Indiana establishes a public health infrastructure through a state and local partnership where services are delivered at the county level. Counties decide whether to opt-in to the new funding to provide and/or expand upon the core public health services, including trauma and injury prevention, chronic disease prevention, maternal and child health, and more.
Public Health Boot Camps for Local Health Officers and Administrators
In April 2023, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 4, which included a requirement for new health officers to complete a foundational public health training. The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) contracted with the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health (FSPH) to manage the logistics and development of this training.
The Public Health Leadership Institute for System Change: Pilot Approach to Address Complex Problems
Through the Public Health Leadership Institute for Systems Change, Illinois health departments work to uncover root causes for complex issues and create meaningful change.