New Podcast Series: All About Advocacy

Share Public Health has a new podcast series this month! Each Tuesday in November, we'll release an episode sharing stories, tips, and challenges with advocating for public health. Whether it's having a conversation with a neighbor or asking your legislator to sponsor a piece of legislation, advocacy is a key part of public health.

The Kansas Public Health Association celebrates its 100th Anniversary.

Happy 100th anniversary to the Kansas Public Health Association (KPHA). KPHA had grand plans for a 100th anniversary party in 2020, and like all things, plans changed. Instead of the usual 2-day conference, on November 19th, 2020, 270 public health practitioners gathered virtually. Dr. Lee Norman, the Kansas Secretary of Health and Environment provided a keynote lecture on COVID-19 response in Kansas. One key way we learn and share is through academic posters and this year there were 22 virtual posters, shared here. These submissions were evaluated, and the top two posters were presented to the full audience.

Each year, KPHA honors the work of our peers through a competitive nomination process for six to eight award categories. One of those awards recognizes the work of policy makers. This year, that was awarded as a shared honor for Secretary Norman and Governor Laura Kelly. She spoke to the audience about the history of public health in Kansas.

The Midwestern Public Health Training Center sponsors the Annual Meeting of KPHA. While the conference was like most things in 2020 – virtual and shorter – this conference lifted the professional spirts of the public health workforce in Kansas and shared vital information.

Student LinkedIn Page

We've created a Midwestern Public Health Training Center Student Network LinkedIn group. If you've served as a preceptor or field placement site for MPHTC students, invite them to join the group. We hope this will be a positive networking experience and space for students to stay engaged with our training center and one another.

Public Health Associates Program

The Public Health Associates Program is looking for host sites for 2021. Applications are open December 15-February 16, 2021. More information from the CDC:

PHAP places early-career public health professionals in state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies; nongovernmental organizations such as community-based organizations, public health institutes and associations, and academic institutions; and CDC quarantine stations to gain broad experience in public health program operations.

While PHAP offers tremendous benefits to associates through training and support, the host site also receives numerous benefits, including—

• CDC-funded field assignees who are well-rounded, energetic, flexible, career-minded individuals bringing valuable skills to host agencies
• A unique partnership with CDC to develop the nation’s next generation of public health professionals
• Online learning opportunities for host site supervisors and access to CDC resources and subject matter expertise
• Capacity-building and human resources to fill gaps in agencies affected by budget cuts and staffing shortages

Public Health Reaching Across Sectors

This new 30-minute online course from our partners at the Region IV Public Helath Training Center is an overview of Public Health Reaching Across Sectors or PHRASES. This compilation of communication strategies and tools for public health professionals to use to foster a better understanding of public health and the greater willingness of other sectors to engage in cross-sector partnerships. It will provide an introduction to how productive framing and messaging can improve partnerships and overall health outcomes, and an overview of the tools and strategies PHRASES provides to improve communication with other sectors. PHRASES is a joint project of the de Beaumont Foundation and the Aspen Institute’s Health, Medicine and Society Program.

Upcoming Events and Webinars

Take a look at our website for upcoming webinars and conferences. We update it regularly with webinars and events from across the national network of public health training centers. A few highlights are below:

• December 15, 2:00 pm Central: Vaccines, Public Health, and the Media from the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice
• December 16, 11:00 am Central: Vaccine Hesitancy among African American Communities from the Region IV Public Health Training Center
• The Center for Inclusive Design is kicking off a webinar series December 16 about COVID-19 and experiences of people with disabilities
• Rural Health podcast series coming to Share Public Health in January