The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of July 27, 2020:
In this Edition
- ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Resolution and Commitment to the Deconstruction of Systemic Racism within the 4-H Program
- WCC Health Action Plans
- Quarterly PI Call Friday, August 21, 2020
- PD Calendar
- Youth Voice and Leadership
- Just in Time Equity Dialogues for Youth
- 2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize
- From National 4-H Council
- News, Research, and Resources from the Field
ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Resolution and Commitment to the Deconstruction of Systemic Racism within the 4-H Program
- Please see the attached ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Resolution and Commitment to the Deconstruction of Systemic Racism within the 4-H Program letter that was affirmed by the ECOP Executive Committee last week and shared in today’s ECOP Monday Minute.
WCC Health Action Plans
- We are currently reviewing the Community Health Action Plans we have received thus far. If your community has not yet submitted one, please let us know ASAP how we can help and support you. The Community Health Action Plan is a grant deliverable and will also inform your budget so it is important each community works to complete and submit a plan. If you need coaching and/or technical assistance with your action plans, please reach out to Shay (smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu) to schedule a time to meet.
Quarterly PI Call Friday, August 21, 2020
- Quarterly PI Calls are an opportunity to disseminate information and updates related to the WCC grant. The next Quarterly PI Call will be Friday, August 21, 2020 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM ET. We will be meeting via Zoom. PIs should refer to the Outlook Calendar invite from Shay McNeil for the link and password to connect to the meeting. An agenda for the meeting will be provided closer to the next call.
Quarterly PI Call Schedule:
- August 21, 2020
- November 20, 2020
- February 19, 2021
- May 21, 2021
- August 20, 2021
PD Calendar
- Community Health Needs Assessment Webinar
August 6, 2020, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET
This webinar will provide participants with an overview of the community health needs assessment process, demonstrate the WCC CHNA tool, and learn about best practices, youth engagement, and common pitfalls. This webinar is open to all communities. Those communities who do not have a CHNA or are in the early stages of the process are strongly encouraged to attend.
Webinar Outline:
- Introductions & Housekeeping
- Overview of the CHNA Process
- WCC CHNA Tool Demonstration
- Discussion of Best Practices, Youth Engagement, and Common Pitfalls
- Q&A/Closing
- Food Security Webinar
August 20, 2020, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET
Presenter: Rich Pirog
Mr. Pirog is the Director for Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University (MSU). Pirog has more than 25 years of experience in sustainable food systems research and outreach. His research and collaborative work on food value chains, food hubs, economic impacts of local foods, food networks and communities of practice has been cited in magazines and media outlets across the globe, used by local food practitioners and are often referenced in books and college courses.
Communities around the country are working every day to see that no child, elder, or family goes hungry. This webinar on food security will:
- Offer an overview of equity and food systems along with data metrics to build and monitor food access and security.
- Point to programs and policies being adapted to meet the changing needs.
- Share community and youth led solutions to bring the programs/policies to life.
- Look forward, identify opportunities to leverage the disruption to the status quo to strengthen food systems and reduce food insecurity.
Youth Voice and Leadership
- Youth LGU Introductions
On Wednesday, August 26. 2020 at 7:00 PM ET, there will be a WCC-wide ZOOM meeting for youth to introduce themselves and their communities to each other. The meeting will last no more than 90 minutes depending on how many LGUs are represented and how much the youth want to share.
Several WCC PI’s have indicated that they would like to see the youth connect across communities and LGUs especially in light of the COVID effects on our program. It may help youth to feel more connected by chatting and sharing about their communities and their issues. There have also been requests for youth professional development since so many communities are working on similar topics (food insecurity and nutrition, and mental health are major ones), so we are looking at additional bi-weekly dates throughout September and October where youth and their adult community mentors can participate depending on the issues of their communities.
For the 26th, the youth from your LGU will be asked to prepare 1-2 slides about their communities to share with everyone. I thought that may be better than asking for a slide per community as not all communities have youth engaged yet due to COVID and it could take a lot more time with 30+ communities than 17 LGUs. The slide(s) should reflect their answers to the questions:
- What excites you about your community?
- What are your health concerns affecting your peers and families?
- What can youth do about those health issues?
Slides are due to Hayat Essa (hessa@fourhcouncil.edu) by August 19, 2020.
The registration link to attend this session is: https://extension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEldOGvqzMiGNdCS7GfnfHII9AQuBvuLVcj. The registration is organized by LGU so one adult will register youth and adults (so we will ask that this registration person also share back the ZOOM link closer to time.) This information will be in next Monday’s e-newsletter to PI’s and others.
Please direct any questions to JoAnne Leather (jleatherman@fourhcouncil.edu)
Just in Time Equity Dialogues for Youth
- Thanks to leadership of National 4-H Council’s Equity Director, Dorothy Freeman, and the Program Leaders Work Group, we have two amazing resources to share with you to support equity dialogues, Just in Time Dialogues for Youth: A timely and relevant resource for youth development workers. Attached you will find a resource guide for youth development educators with lessons designed to foster honest conversations with youth about social justice issues, as well as a supplemental guide of resources, readings, and other relevant content.
2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is officially accepting applications for the 2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize. An annual award, the RWJF Culture of Health Prize elevates and honors communities that are at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity, and equity for all. Winners receive a $25,000 prize and the chance to share their accomplishments with the nation. The application deadline is October 15, 2020. Visit https://rwjf.ws/3gpC5G3 to learn more.
Prize communities continue to inspire the nation with real-life examples of local leaders and community members bringing partners together to transform neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and more so that better health flourishes for everyone.
From National 4-H Council
- Sharing of 4-H Resources
How is your 4-H program meeting the learning needs of children and families during COVID-19? National 4-H Council is curating a list of free 4-H resources offered by 4-H programs across the country. Explore and share these activities found at 4-H at Home and then submit your efforts for an opportunity to be featured.
- Collecting Youth Stories
Tell us how your 4-H’er(s) are doing amazing things to make the world a better place during this time of COVID-19. We’ll bring these incredible stories to the forefront, inspiring kids everywhere to make a difference too. As you come across the stories of young people doing something positive to help their communities, making a difference, or even just making people smile, tell us their story via this quick form. It can be completed by an Extension professional, parent or 4-H’er.
News, Research and Resources from the Field:
A new commentary in The Journal of Rural Health examines the relationship between substance use and coronavirus in the Southern Mountains region of Appalachia. Authors cite recent data showing greater and faster-increasing COVID-19 rates in Appalachia and the South and rural-specific challenges to programs for overdose prevention and infection control.
· From eXtension
- NEW ICYMI: Connect Extension Chat: Virtualizing and Social Distancing Horticulture & Master Gardener Volunteer Programs
Stephanie Mathias, State Master Gardener Coordinator, University of Maryland
In case you missed it: We had an excellent live chat with 58 participants discussing all the innovative ways to move horticulture and Master Gardener volunteer programs to a virtual platform!…Learn More
- NEW American Journal of Public Health Includes Commentary on Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension is the subject of an article in a forthcoming special issue of the American Journal of Public Health focused on rural health. The commentary, co-authored by David Buys and Roger Rennekamp, “advances the notion that Extension, by working hand-in-hand with public health professionals, has an important role to play in addressing the health needs of rural communities.” The article highlights five key steps that Extension can take with its public health partners to improve health and well-being across the nation. These include addressing the determinants of health through local coalitions, connecting communities to land grant resources, restoring public confidence in science, utilizing new technologies to support lifelong learning and collaboration, and capitalizing on youth voice and action. To read the abstract or obtain copies of the full text of the article visit https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305767
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law; this landmark civil rights law affirmed the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of disability. Learn more about this sweeping legislation that prohibits discrimination by local and state governments, provides standards for privately owned businesses and commercial facilities, against discrimination in the workplace, and ensures equal access to healthcare, social services, transportation, and telecommunications.
About 46 million Americans live in rural areas and are facing distinctive challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC updated its information on rural communities and their response to the crisis.
National Equity Atlas indicators track how communities are doing on key measures of inclusive prosperity. We define an equitable community as one where all residents — regardless of their race, nativity, gender, or zip code — are fully able to participate in the community’s economic vitality, contribute to its readiness for the future, and connect to its assets and resources. Our indicators track change over time, are comparable across geographies, and are disaggregated by race and other demographics as much as possible.
The Journal of Youth Development has just published its latest issue at http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd. We invite you to visit our website to review articles of interest. This special issue is dedicated to Volunteerism in Youth Development Programs serves as a companion to the special issue on the Youth Development Workforce that was published in March. Special thanks to JoLynn Miller and Kali Trzesniewski for their leadership as guest editors. Articles cover themes of understanding the impacts of volunteers, volunteer competencies and skill development, support and motivation of volunteers, and evaluation of programs. This special issue concludes with a book review and a thoughtful commentary by David DuBois.
Community-based organizations (CBOs) are well positioned to partner with emergency management and public health entities to meet the needs of at-risk individuals during future public health emergencies. HHS released an e-guide to support the integration of these cross-sector partnerships into emergency public health strategies.