Happy New Year!

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of January 4, 2021:

In this Edition

• Youth Voice and Leadership
• Professional Development
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

Youth Voice and Leadership

• Second Youth Introductory Session, January 19, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET

On January 19, 2021, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET, there will be another virtual Youth Introductory Session where the youth teams from our WCC communities can introduce themselves and their health issues to their peers. We had a very successful first session on August 26, 2020 with 49 participants. Youth from that session are invited to return to cheer on and learn about their peers. This repeat session is for those communities that did not have youth on the August call and to introduce WCC youth to each other prior to the National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living. Each youth team is asked to prepare 1-2 slides to tell about their communities and their activities. PI’s are asked to register their youth and adult participants using this link.  Slides should be sent to Hayat Essa (hessa@fourhcouncil.edu) by January 11, 2021. 

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will open soon and will close January 22, 2021.  Once your team is registered, you will have the opportunity to select a track for your team from these 6: Food Insecurity, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Health Equity.  The selection will need to be made by January 29, 2021.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans to see the impact on communities.

Professional Development

• Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours

Office hours will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET to entertain questions about Youth-Adult Partnerships or Master Volunteers.  The specific sub-topic we will focus on sharing what each WCC grantee is doing with their LGUs WCC program – training, internship in light of the pandemic, etc.  For example, New Hampshire will be using the training track they sign up for at the HL Summit as part of their MV training which will be at least 4 hours.

Register Here

Additional Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours will be held:

• April 19, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
• July 19, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
• October 18, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

• Cooperative Extension and its Role in Public Health

January 28, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Speaker: Roger Rennekamp, PhD

Roger Rennekamp, National Director for Extension will lead the conversation on our collective effort to foster systems change while implementing policies, systems and environment (PSE) change across our Well Connected Communities. This interactive session will focus on:

1. Cooperative Extension System and its role in public health and health equity.
2. Driving PSE and systems change through cross-unit collaboration at university and community levels.
3. Strengthening equity work across communities, urban, tribal and rural.
4. Creating and disseminating tools and stories for peer-to-peer learning and evaluation.
5. What to expect in 2021 for professional development sessions, youth-adult partnerships and Master Volunteer Programs.

Register

News, Research, and Resources from the Field:

• NEW Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP)

The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) fights food insecurity through developing community food projects that help promote the self-sufficiency of low-income communities.

NIFA’s Community Food Projects (CFP) intends to solicit applications and fund two types of grants. The types are:

1. Community Food Projects (CFP)
2. Planning Projects (PP)

CFP supports the development of projects with a one-time infusion of federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining. CFPs are designed to create community-based food projects with objectives, activities and outcomes that are in alignment with Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) primary goals. Planning Projects complete a plan toward the improvement of community food security in keeping with the primary goals of the CFPCGP. Planning Projects focus on a defined community and describe in detail the activities and outcomes of the project. For more information, read the full CFP funding opportunity

• NEW Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation (RCORP-Implementation)—March 12. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) will be making approximately 78 awards of $1 million each to rural communities to enhance substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), service delivery.  Over the course of a three-year period of performance, grant recipients will implement a set of core prevention, treatment, and recovery activities that align with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Five-Point Strategy to Combat the Opioid Crisis.  Award recipients are strongly encouraged to leverage workforce recruitment and retention programs like the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).  All domestic public and private entities, nonprofit and for-profit, are eligible to apply and all services must be provided in HRSA-designated rural areas (as defined by the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer).  The applicant organization must be part of an established network or consortium that includes at least three other separately-owned entities.  A majority, or at least 50 percent, of members in each consortium must be located within HRSA-designated rural areas.  Applicants are encouraged to include populations that have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes, health disparities, and other inequities, as compared to the rest of the target population, when addressing SUD/OUD in the proposed service area.  FORHP will hold an hour-long webinar for applicants on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 1-2 p.m., ET.  A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend.  Please reference page ii in the NOFO for the dial-in information for the webinar and contact ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov with programmatic questions and bmirindi@hrsa.gov with fiscal/budget-related questions.

• NEW Amid Uncertainty, Using Community and City Types to Improve Health and Equity

American Communities Project

by Becky Ofrane October 21, 2020

Inspired in part by the American Communities Project’s county-level health analysis by Community Type, City Health Dashboard recently released an analysis and typology of America’s small and midsize cities, categorizing cities of population between 50,000 to 500,000 into 10 distinct City Types.

• NEW Covid-19 Dashboard for Rural America

From The Daily Yonder

We’re tracking the spread and impact of Covid-19 across rural America. The numbers and maps on this dashboard are updated weekly. View the Covid-19 Dashboard.

• NEW Why Getting COVID-19 Vaccines to Rural Americans Is Harder than It Looks, and How to Lift the Barriers
  Dec 28, 2020 — Discusses barriers to distributing the COVID-19 vaccines in rural areas, such as the vaccines’ cold storage requirements and shipping rules which make it difficult for rural hospitals to serve as distribution hubs. Describes how geographic isolation, hospital closures, and lack of public transportation increases the difficulty of vaccinating rural Americans.
• Sesame Street Offers Support to Families Coping with Pandemic Stress

RWJF Culture of Health Blog, Nov 16, 2020, Posted by Jeanette Betancourt, Katie Wehr

The lovable Muppets of Sesame Street have a history of tackling tough topics with a compassionate, evidence-based, and age-appropriate approach. Helping us with the struggles of 2020 is no exception.

This year was full of change, loss, and challenges for kids who are learning how to manage big feelings. That’s why RWJF is proud to support Sesame Street in Communities. They are an important and needed resource to help families cope with the stress and uncertainty of the holidays amid a pandemic—and beyond.

Learn more >

• Take the Blue Marble Quiz

12 QUESTIONS – TO SEE WHERE IN THE WORLD YOUR IDEAS COME FROM

From RWJF

How does the world inspire you? Take this quiz to discover how the rest of the world may shape what you do and how you think. The results might surprise you. The quiz is composed of two sets of questions. The first will ask you about how you’ve experienced the rest of the world, while the second will ask you about how you think about other countries.

• From eXtension

• Impact Collaborative Innovation Skill-Building Experience. Registration Open for eXtension Members! January 19th & 26th, February 2nd & 9th, 2021. Do you have a project idea that needs incubation, innovation, and ways to get to implementation and impact faster? Are you looking to learn about design thinking and lean experimentation combined with Cooperative Extension’s best practices for solving important community issues? Are you interested in becoming an Innovation Facilitator/Coach for future Impact Collaborative events and to support your institution’s teams and teams across the nation? If you answered yes, to any of these questions then join us to explore the Impact Collaborative’s Innovation Skill-building experience in a whole new way. Learn More
• Federal Trade Commission Warns of Vaccine Scams
  Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director

Now that COVID-19 vaccinations have been approved for emergency use, scammers will not be far behind warns the warns the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  In response, the FTC has developed a blog that include specific warnings and infographics that organizations like Cooperative Extension can use to inform their clients of these possible scams.  The blogs are available in English and Spanish…Learn More.

• Social Determinants of Health: What’s Happenin’ on the Hill?
  Erin Yelland, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Kansas State University
  I recently attended a Congressional Briefing on the Social Determinants of Health to learn more about what is happening at the national level regarding the social determinants (for a refresher course on the social determinants, see my last blog post here – federal policies are a big part of this equation). So, what’s happenin’? Turns out, quite a bit! And the future is expected to be bright as the 117th Congress begins next month…Learn More

• Episode 11: Getting Ready to Tell Consumers About MyPlate & the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

This episode is the audio from a webinar hosted by the eXtension Foundation on December 2nd, 2020, featuring individuals from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. The description of the webinar is available below:

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be released soon, and anticipation is building around this important roadmap for healthy eating. As a Cooperative Extension nutrition communicator, you play an important role in helping us disseminate key Dietary Guidelines consumer messages to your unique audiences in your local communities throughout the country. While the content of the latest Dietary Guidelines is being finalized, during the webinar we will share key consumer messaging with you and offer suggestions for getting promotional materials ready.

• Episode 12: Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit

Susan Harris and Soni Cochran from Nebraska Extension about their project – Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit – that focuses on rural Nebraska communities impacted by disaster(s) with limited resources for recovery. This team’s journey working with the eXtension Foundation began in 2019 as a brand new project working through the Impact Collaborative program. Since then, they have received funding to support their work. At present, they are one of eight teams selected by the eXtension Foundation to have their project accelerated through our New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program.

In this Edition

• National 4-H Council Closed December 25, 2020 – January 3, 2021
• Past Due Q4 Reporting
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• Professional Development
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

National 4-H Council Closed December 25, 2020 – January 3, 2021

• National 4-H Council will close beginning December 25, 2020 and will re-open January 4, 2021. There will not be a WCC Weekly Bulletin for the week of December 28, 2020.

Past Due Q4 Reporting

• The Q4 report was due December 15, 2020. If you have not submitted the following, please submit as soon as possible.

The reporting period is September 1 – November 30, 2020.

• The reporting will consist of each community submitting a community report – submitted via the WCC community portal
• one LGU Financial Status Report – an excel spreadsheet submitted to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu
• one Tobacco Separation Protocol validation letter – emailed to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.

Youth Voice and Leadership

• Second Youth Introductory Session, January 19, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET

On January 19, 2021, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET, there will be another virtual Youth Introductory Session where the youth teams from our WCC communities can introduce themselves and their health issues to their peers. We had a very successful first session on August 26, 2020 with 49 participants. Youth from that session are invited to return to cheer on and learn about their peers. This repeat session is for those communities that did not have youth on the August call and to introduce WCC youth to each other prior to the National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living. Each youth team is asked to prepare 1-2 slides to tell about their communities and their activities. PI’s are asked to register their youth and adult participants using this link.  Slides should be sent to Hayat Essa (hessa@fourhcouncil.edu) by January 11, 2021. 

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will open Christmas Week and close January 22, 2021.  Once your team is registered, you will have the opportunity to select a track for your team from these 6: Food Insecurity, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Health Equity.  The selection will need to be made by January 29, 2021.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans to see the impact on communities.

Professional Development

• DATE CHANGE Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours

Office hours will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET to entertain questions about Youth-Adult Partnerships or Master Volunteers.  The specific sub-topic we will focus on sharing what each WCC grantee is doing with their LGUs WCC program – training, internship in light of the pandemic, etc.  For example, New Hampshire will be using the training track they sign up for at the HL Summit as part of their MV training which will be at least 4 hours.

Register Here

Additional Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours will be held:

• April 19, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
• July 19, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
• October 18, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

• Cooperative Extension and its Role in Public Health

January 28, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Speaker: Roger Rennekamp, PhD

Roger Rennekamp, National Director for Extension will lead the conversation on our collective effort to foster systems change while implementing policies, systems and environment (PSE) change across our Well Connected Communities. This interactive session will focus on:

1. Cooperative Extension System and its role in public health and health equity.
2. Driving PSE and systems change through cross-unit collaboration at university and community levels.
3. Strengthening equity work across communities, urban, tribal and rural.
4. Creating and disseminating tools and stories for peer-to-peer learning and evaluation.
5. What to expect in 2021 for professional development sessions, youth-adult partnerships and Master Volunteer Programs.

Register

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW The Science Behind Your Traditional Holiday Meal

Holidays are traditionally a time to focus on family, friends and food. This year, as Americans navigate this unprecedented holiday season, many are turning to the kitchen to cook up expressions of love and care. Throughout the year, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funds research across the nation that puts safe, affordable, nutritious food on your table. Here are some examples of NIFA-funded projects that make up an all-American feast:

The United States leads the world in turkey production. In 2019, the U.S. produced 5.82 billion pounds of turkey meat, per USDA’s Economic Research Service. NIFA-supported researchers at West Virginia University are working to improve meat quality through better nutrition and management. The Hatch Act provides funds to support agricultural research at U.S. land-grant universities. Michigan State University researchers have a grant from NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to address thermal challenge and meat quality. For more information, read the NIFA blog.

• NEW Sesame Street Offers Support to Families Coping with Pandemic Stress

RWJF Culture of Health Blog, Nov 16, 2020, Posted by Jeanette Betancourt, Katie Wehr

The lovable Muppets of Sesame Street have a history of tackling tough topics with a compassionate, evidence-based, and age-appropriate approach. Helping us with the struggles of 2020 is no exception.

This year was full of change, loss, and challenges for kids who are learning how to manage big feelings. That’s why RWJF is proud to support Sesame Street in Communities. They are an important and needed resource to help families cope with the stress and uncertainty of the holidays amid a pandemic—and beyond.

Learn more >

• NEW Take the Blue Marble Quiz

12 QUESTIONS – TO SEE WHERE IN THE WORLD YOUR IDEAS COME FROM

From RWJF

How does the world inspire you? Take this quiz to discover how the rest of the world may shape what you do and how you think. The results might surprise you. The quiz is composed of two sets of questions. The first will ask you about how you’ve experienced the rest of the world, while the second will ask you about how you think about other countries.

• NEW From eXtension

• Impact Collaborative Innovation Skill-Building Experience. Registration Open for eXtension Members! January 19th & 26th, February 2nd & 9th, 2021. Do you have a project idea that needs incubation, innovation, and ways to get to implementation and impact faster? Are you looking to learn about design thinking and lean experimentation combined with Cooperative Extension’s best practices for solving important community issues? Are you interested in becoming an Innovation Facilitator/Coach for future Impact Collaborative events and to support your institution’s teams and teams across the nation? If you answered yes, to any of these questions then join us to explore the Impact Collaborative’s Innovation Skill-building experience in a whole new way. Learn More
• Federal Trade Commission Warns of Vaccine Scams
  Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director

Now that COVID-19 vaccinations have been approved for emergency use, scammers will not be far behind warns the warns the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  In response, the FTC has developed a blog that include specific warnings and infographics that organizations like Cooperative Extension can use to inform their clients of these possible scams.  The blogs are available in English and Spanish…Learn More.

• Social Determinants of Health: What’s Happenin’ on the Hill?
  Erin Yelland, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Kansas State University
  I recently attended a Congressional Briefing on the Social Determinants of Health to learn more about what is happening at the national level regarding the social determinants (for a refresher course on the social determinants, see my last blog post here – federal policies are a big part of this equation). So, what’s happenin’? Turns out, quite a bit! And the future is expected to be bright as the 117th Congress begins next month…Learn More

• Episode 11: Getting Ready to Tell Consumers About MyPlate & the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

This episode is the audio from a webinar hosted by the eXtension Foundation on December 2nd, 2020, featuring individuals from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. The description of the webinar is available below:

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be released soon, and anticipation is building around this important roadmap for healthy eating. As a Cooperative Extension nutrition communicator, you play an important role in helping us disseminate key Dietary Guidelines consumer messages to your unique audiences in your local communities throughout the country. While the content of the latest Dietary Guidelines is being finalized, during the webinar we will share key consumer messaging with you and offer suggestions for getting promotional materials ready.

• Episode 12: Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit

Susan Harris and Soni Cochran from Nebraska Extension about their project – Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit – that focuses on rural Nebraska communities impacted by disaster(s) with limited resources for recovery. This team’s journey working with the eXtension Foundation began in 2019 as a brand new project working through the Impact Collaborative program. Since then, they have received funding to support their work. At present, they are one of eight teams selected by the eXtension Foundation to have their project accelerated through our New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program.

• HHS Announces New Action Plan and Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health

HHS released a new comprehensive HHS Action Plan and the U.S. Surgeon General issued a complementary Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health to reduce maternal deaths and disparities that put women at risk before, during, and after pregnancy.

HHS also announced a public-private partnership with the March of Dimes to support these initiatives. 

• Register now! USDA Faith Fellowship and Food Security Virtual Convening

USDA will host a Faith and Opportunity Fellowship convening bringing together faith leaders, faith-based organizations, and houses of worship to engage with peers, discuss common challenges, and hear best practices related to food security and community food system resilience.  Register here. Reach out to alex.cordova@usda.gov with any questions. 

• Rural Health Research Gateway on SDOH

Tuesday, December 15 at 1:00 pm ET.  Building on work conducted by the FORHP-supported Rural and Minority Research Center, this hour-long presentation will review key elements of social determinants of health (SDOH) such as education, income, and health facility availability. 

• USDA Community Connect Grants – Deadline approaching – December 23, 2020

The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services, based on the criteria contained herein.

• New module of the “Increasing Cultural Awareness and Equity in Extension Programs” series available

1. Go to https://campus.extension.org
2. The login pane is on the left hand side of the screen. Enter existing login credentials or choose “Create New account”
3. Once logged in, search for the course “Increasing Cultural Awareness & Equity in Extension Programs”
4. To enroll in this course
5. Select the course
6. Enter the Enrollment Key (your state name, i.e. Maryland)
7. Select “Enroll Me”

• CDC PLACES data for every census tract in the nation

PLACES (Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates) includes 27 different measures of health— including mental and physical health, access to health insurance, and preventive screenings— at a hyper-local level. These data can be used to identify and understand health disparities, establish health goals, and target programs and policies where you live.

• Explore the new data! Go to https://www.cdc.gov/places to explore health data where you live— by county, city, or census tract!
• Save the date! On January 28 at 1:00pm (ET), the CDC will host a webinar with a live demonstration of the new PLACES data and their interactive capabilities. You’ll also hear how local leaders are planning to use this powerful new resource in their communities.  Registration details to follow.

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of December 14, 2020:

In this Edition

• Due this Week Q4 Reporting
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• Professional Development
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

Due this Week Q4 Reporting

• The Q4 report will be due December 15, 2020. The reporting period is September 1 – November 30, 2020.
  • The reporting will consist of each community submitting a community report – submitted via the WCC community portal
  • one LGU Financial Status Report – an excel spreadsheet submitted to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu
  • one Tobacco Separation Protocol validation letter – emailed to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.

Youth Voice and Leadership

• Second Youth Introductory Session, January 19, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET

On January 19, 2021, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET, there will be another virtual Youth Introductory Session where the youth teams from our WCC communities can introduce themselves and their health issues to their peers. We had a very successful first session on August 26, 2020 with 49 participants. Youth from that session are invited to return to cheer on and learn about their peers. This repeat session is for those communities that did not have youth on the August call and to introduce WCC youth to each other prior to the National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living. Each youth team is asked to prepare 1-2 slides to tell about their communities and their activities. PI’s are asked to register their youth and adult participants using this link.  Slides should be sent to Hayat Essa (hessa@fourhcouncil.edu) by January 11, 2021. 

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will open Christmas Week and close January 22, 2021.  Once your team is registered, you will have the opportunity to select a track for your team from these 6: Food Insecurity, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Health Equity.  The selection will need to be made by January 29, 2021.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans to see the impact on communities.

Professional Development

• Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours

Office hours will be held on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET to entertain questions about Youth-Adult Partnerships or Master Volunteers.  The specific sub-topic we will focus on sharing what each WCC grantee is doing with their LGUs WCC program – training, internship in light of the pandemic, etc.  For example, New Hampshire will be using the training track they sign up for at the HL Summit as part of their MV training which will be at least 4 hours.

Register Here

Additional Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours will be held:

• April 19, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
• July 19, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
• October 18, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

• Cooperative Extension and its Role in Public Health

January 28, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Speaker: Roger Rennekamp, PhD

Roger Rennekamp, National Director for Extension will lead the conversation on our collective effort to foster systems change while implementing policies, systems and environment (PSE) change across our Well Connected Communities. This interactive session will focus on:

1. Cooperative Extension System and its role in public health and health equity.
2. Driving PSE and systems change through cross-unit collaboration at university and community levels.
3. Strengthening equity work across communities, urban, tribal and rural.
4. Creating and disseminating tools and stories for peer-to-peer learning and evaluation.
5. What to expect in 2021 for professional development sessions, youth-adult partnerships and Master Volunteer Programs.

Register

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW HHS Announces New Action Plan and Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health

HHS released a new comprehensive HHS Action Plan and the U.S. Surgeon General issued a complementary Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health to reduce maternal deaths and disparities that put women at risk before, during, and after pregnancy.

HHS also announced a public-private partnership with the March of Dimes to support these initiatives. 

• NEW Register now! USDA Faith Fellowship and Food Security Virtual Convening

USDA will host a Faith and Opportunity Fellowship convening bringing together faith leaders, faith-based organizations, and houses of worship to engage with peers, discuss common challenges, and hear best practices related to food security and community food system resilience.  Register here. Reach out to alex.cordova@usda.gov with any questions. 

• NEW Rural Health Research Gateway on SDOH

Tuesday, December 15 at 1:00 pm ET.  Building on work conducted by the FORHP-supported Rural and Minority Research Center, this hour-long presentation will review key elements of social determinants of health (SDOH) such as education, income, and health facility availability. 

• NEW USDA Community Connect Grants – Deadline approaching – December 23, 2020

The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services, based on the criteria contained herein.

• NEW New module of the “Increasing Cultural Awareness and Equity in Extension Programs” series available

1. Go to https://campus.extension.org
2. The login pane is on the left hand side of the screen. Enter existing login credentials or choose “Create New account”
3. Once logged in, search for the course “Increasing Cultural Awareness & Equity in Extension Programs”
4. To enroll in this course
5. Select the course
6. Enter the Enrollment Key (your state name, i.e. Maryland)
7. Select “Enroll Me”

• NEW CDC PLACES data for every census tract in the nation

PLACES (Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates) includes 27 different measures of health— including mental and physical health, access to health insurance, and preventive screenings— at a hyper-local level. These data can be used to identify and understand health disparities, establish health goals, and target programs and policies where you live.

• Explore the new data! Go to https://www.cdc.gov/places to explore health data where you live— by county, city, or census tract!
• Save the date! On January 28 at 1:00pm (ET), the CDC will host a webinar with a live demonstration of the new PLACES data and their interactive capabilities. You’ll also hear how local leaders are planning to use this powerful new resource in their communities.  Registration details to follow.

• Register now! USDA Faith Fellowship and Food Security Virtual Convening

USDA will host a Faith and Opportunity Fellowship convening bringing together faith leaders, faith-based organizations, and houses of worship to engage with peers, discuss common challenges, and hear best practices related to food security and community food system resilience.  Register here. Reach out to alex.cordova@usda.gov with any questions. 

• From the Journal of Extension Volume 58 Number 5 – October 2020

• We (All) Need to Talk About Race: Building Extension’s Capacity for Dialogue and Action
  v58-5comm1
  Walcott, Eric; Raison, Brian; Welborn, Rachel; Pirog, Rich; Emery, Mary; Stout, Mike; Hendrix, Laura; Ostrom, Marcia
  For Extension to remain relevant to the mission of meeting the most critical community needs, we must examine the racial inequities that hold us back as institutions and lead efforts to engage diverse communities in learning about race through dialogue. Responses from participants in 26 states who joined a train-the-trainer initiative suggested that despite previous efforts, there is great need for increased education and capacity building to address racism and prioritize racial equity both within our institutions and in the communities we serve. For Extension professionals to effectively engage in this work, it is critical for administrators to show visible support.

Participate in the JOE Discussion Forum on “We (All) Need to Talk About Race: Building Extension’s Capacity for Dialogue and Action

• Decision-Making Tree for Prioritizing Racial Equity in Resource Allocation
  v58-5tt2
  Bain, Jamie; Harden, Noelle; Heim, Stephanie
  Within University of Minnesota Extension’s health and nutrition program area, we created and are using a decision-making tree to prioritize our work with communities of color through equitable decision-making practices. The tool is currently used to help grant administrators winnow down a pool of applicants for a participatory grant-making program called the Action Learning Seed Fund. In this article, we draw on our experiences with creating and using the tool to explore its potential application for advancing equitable decision making in other areas of Extension work.

• Tips for Using Photovoice in Evaluation of Extension Programs
  v58-5tt7
  Keller, Kimberly J. M.; Mott, Rebecca
  Photovoice is a technique in which a facilitator guides a participant to produce a photograph and accompanying caption that reflects the participant’s unique views regarding a topic. The photovoice process is designed to be used with a wide range of audiences. This article describes ways Extension educators can incorporate photovoice into the evaluation of Extension programs and identifies issues they should consider when doing so.

• A lost generation’: Surge of research reveals students sliding backward, most vulnerable worst affected

Washington Post

Hardest hit are Black, Hispanic, low-income students and children with disabilities.

By Laura Meckler and Hannah Natanson

• Save the Date: No Kid Hungry’s Virtual Rural Child Hunger Summit 
  March 23-24, 2021

The Summit will occur as a virtual event, held over Zoom for two days on March 23-24, 2021. The goals of the 2021 Rural Child Hunger Summit are to highlight the disparities driving child hunger in rural communities, identify promising practices and policy levers that amplify the impact of existing nutrition assistance programs and/or reduce the incidence of rural child hunger, and celebrate innovations that are community-based, user-centered and evidence-informed  

Stay tuned for future updates on how to register for this free event. In the meantime, you can learn more about past Summits by visiting our website.

• Awards and Grant Opportunities

• Statewide Family Network Grant Program

SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2021 Statewide Family Network grant program to more effectively respond to the needs of children, youth, and young adults with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and their families.  Closing date: Jan. 4, 2021.

• AmeriCorps State and National Grants

Funding for programs designed to strengthen communities and solve local problems, including those found in rural and underserved areas. Funding priorities include prescription drug and opioid abuse, education, and rural intermediary organizations. Closing date:  Jan 6, 2021.

• Farm to School Grant Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service grants to plan, establish, and/or sustain a Farm to School program that improves access to local foods in schools. Closing date: Jan. 8, 2021.

• Dept. of Housing and Urban Development HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program

Grants to small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district, or “Main Street” area, by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. Closing Date: Jan. 19, 2021.

• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
  The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program makes federal funds available by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to states, U.S territories, Indian tribal governments, and local communities for pre-disaster mitigation activities. Closing date: Jan 29, 2020.

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of December 7, 2020:

In this Edition

• Q4 Reporting
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• WCC Grant Financial Office Hours
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

Q4 Reporting

• The Q4 report will be due December 15, 2020. The reporting period is September 1 – November 30, 2020.
  • The reporting will consist of each community submitting a community report – submitted via the WCC community portal
  • one LGU Financial Status Report – an excel spreadsheet submitted to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu
  • one Tobacco Separation Protocol validation letter – emailed to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.

Youth Voice and Leadership

• Second Youth Introductory Session, January 19, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET

On January 19, 2021, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET, there will be another virtual Youth Introductory Session where the youth teams from our WCC communities can introduce themselves and their health issues to their peers. We had a very successful first session on August 26, 2020 with 49 participants. Youth from that session are invited to return to cheer on and learn about their peers. This repeat session is for those communities that did not have youth on the August call and to introduce WCC youth to each other prior to the National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living. Each youth team is asked to prepare 1-2 slides to tell about their communities and their activities. PI’s are asked to register their youth and adult participants using this link.  Slides should be sent to Hayat Essa (hessa@fourhcouncil.edu) by January 11, 2021. 

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will open Christmas Week and close January 22, 2021.  Once your team is registered, you will have the opportunity to select a track for your team from these 6: Food Insecurity, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Health Equity.  The selection will need to be made by January 29, 2021.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans to see the impact on communities.

• Deadline Extended National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living Request for Workshop Proposal

National 4-H Council invites you to submit a proposal to conduct a workshop for the virtual National 4-H  Summit (N4-HS) on Healthy Living. The N4-HS on Healthy Living takes place February 13 – 16, 2021. Workshops provide youth with a place to gain information in specific subject areas to increase knowledge, inspire career paths and help them develop action plans to implement and create change/impact in their communities. These action plans enable youth and adults, working together powerfully, to share information and bring about positive health outcomes in their home states. Interested youth and adult teams have an opportunity to submit a proposal for the N4-HS on Healthy Living by:

Proposal submission deadline has been extended: December 11, 2020

Target audience: Youth in grades 9–12

Workshop timeframe: 45-minute

Workshop participant size: Average of 20 – 30 participants

Workshop criteria: High level of hands-on, given the virtual format and include a career component, if feasible.

Submitting a Proposal

Workshops will be conducted via tracks in 2021. The planned tracks are below. Please be sure to indicate which subject matter area you are covering in your proposal.

• Food Insecurity
• Health Equity
• Mental Health
• Nutrition
• Physical Fitness
• Substance Abuse

Proposal Selection

Proposal application is attached. Proposals will be scored by the Summit Workshop Review Team and you will be contacted by December 18, 2020.

For Questions Please Contact:

Justin Crowe

Summit Coordinator
jcrowe3@utk.edu

865-974-2128

WCC Grant Financial Office Hours

• If you have questions about doing a budget modification, spending, or the Q4 financial reporting, I have set aside 2 blocks of time, one hour each, for Office Hours:

WCC Grant Financial Office Hours

December 8, 2020 and December 10, 2020 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

• Register for December 8, 2020
• Register for December 10, 2020

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW Register now! USDA Faith Fellowship and Food Security Virtual Convening

USDA will host a Faith and Opportunity Fellowship convening bringing together faith leaders, faith-based organizations, and houses of worship to engage with peers, discuss common challenges, and hear best practices related to food security and community food system resilience.  Register here. Reach out to alex.cordova@usda.gov with any questions. 

• NEW From the Journal of Extension Volume 58 Number 5 – October 2020

• We (All) Need to Talk About Race: Building Extension’s Capacity for Dialogue and Action
  v58-5comm1
  Walcott, Eric; Raison, Brian; Welborn, Rachel; Pirog, Rich; Emery, Mary; Stout, Mike; Hendrix, Laura; Ostrom, Marcia
  For Extension to remain relevant to the mission of meeting the most critical community needs, we must examine the racial inequities that hold us back as institutions and lead efforts to engage diverse communities in learning about race through dialogue. Responses from participants in 26 states who joined a train-the-trainer initiative suggested that despite previous efforts, there is great need for increased education and capacity building to address racism and prioritize racial equity both within our institutions and in the communities we serve. For Extension professionals to effectively engage in this work, it is critical for administrators to show visible support.

Participate in the JOE Discussion Forum on “We (All) Need to Talk About Race: Building Extension’s Capacity for Dialogue and Action

• Decision-Making Tree for Prioritizing Racial Equity in Resource Allocation
  v58-5tt2
  Bain, Jamie; Harden, Noelle; Heim, Stephanie
  Within University of Minnesota Extension’s health and nutrition program area, we created and are using a decision-making tree to prioritize our work with communities of color through equitable decision-making practices. The tool is currently used to help grant administrators winnow down a pool of applicants for a participatory grant-making program called the Action Learning Seed Fund. In this article, we draw on our experiences with creating and using the tool to explore its potential application for advancing equitable decision making in other areas of Extension work.

• Tips for Using Photovoice in Evaluation of Extension Programs
  v58-5tt7
  Keller, Kimberly J. M.; Mott, Rebecca
  Photovoice is a technique in which a facilitator guides a participant to produce a photograph and accompanying caption that reflects the participant’s unique views regarding a topic. The photovoice process is designed to be used with a wide range of audiences. This article describes ways Extension educators can incorporate photovoice into the evaluation of Extension programs and identifies issues they should consider when doing so.

• NEW A lost generation’: Surge of research reveals students sliding backward, most vulnerable worst affected

Washington Post

Hardest hit are Black, Hispanic, low-income students and children with disabilities.

By Laura Meckler and Hannah Natanson

• NEW Save the Date: No Kid Hungry’s Virtual Rural Child Hunger Summit 
  March 23-24, 2021

The Summit will occur as a virtual event, held over Zoom for two days on March 23-24, 2021. The goals of the 2021 Rural Child Hunger Summit are to highlight the disparities driving child hunger in rural communities, identify promising practices and policy levers that amplify the impact of existing nutrition assistance programs and/or reduce the incidence of rural child hunger, and celebrate innovations that are community-based, user-centered and evidence-informed  

Stay tuned for future updates on how to register for this free event. In the meantime, you can learn more about past Summits by visiting our website.

• NEW Awards and Grant Opportunities

• Statewide Family Network Grant Program

SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2021 Statewide Family Network grant program to more effectively respond to the needs of children, youth, and young adults with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and their families.  Closing date: Jan. 4, 2021.

• AmeriCorps State and National Grants

Funding for programs designed to strengthen communities and solve local problems, including those found in rural and underserved areas. Funding priorities include prescription drug and opioid abuse, education, and rural intermediary organizations. Closing date:  Jan 6, 2021.

• Farm to School Grant Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service grants to plan, establish, and/or sustain a Farm to School program that improves access to local foods in schools. Closing date: Jan. 8, 2021.

• Dept. of Housing and Urban Development HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program

Grants to small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district, or “Main Street” area, by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. Closing Date: Jan. 19, 2021.

• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
  The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program makes federal funds available by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to states, U.S territories, Indian tribal governments, and local communities for pre-disaster mitigation activities. Closing date: Jan 29, 2020.

• 2020 – Exchange Conference

Presented by The Social Impact Exchange and Morgan Stanley

Over the past 10 years, SIE has hosted the nation’s only annual conference exclusively focused on scaling social impact. The conference is now hosted in partnership with Morgan Stanley. The Exchange 2020: Unifying Leadership was held virtually on September 23-24.

In this year of existential issues, we need leaders who can bring us together to achieve true systems change. The Exchange 2020 tackled pressing concerns of racial equity, the global pandemic, and the most severe recession in the United States since the Great Depression. We identified systemic solutions that can emerge from these challenges to create transformational change. Below are video highlights from the 2020 Exchange conference.

SELECT VIDEOS FROM THE EXCHANGE 2020

• Report: Reimagining rural policy: Organizing federal assistance to maximize rural prosperity

The Brookings Institution

By: Anthony F. Pipa and Natalie Geismar Thursday, November 19, 2020

• NIFA Funds Tribal Programs to Support Learning, Health, and Opportunity

NIFA funds programs that promote learning, opportunities and health in Tribal communities. The total amount NIFA invested in all Tribal programs in FY 2020 was approximately $28 million. Tribal land-grant colleges and universities infuse components of Native American culture in their teaching curriculum. For example, an environmental biology class may be combined with studies of Navajo names of plant species. Through Tribal research grants, tribal colleges partner with other land-grant universities to address issues of interest to local Native American communities, such as preserving tribal forests or protecting water quality on reservations. Tribal college extension services reach out to Native American ranchers and farmers to improve farm profitability. They also provide vital health, safety and economic development information to tribal communities. The Tribal Colleges also receive an endowment that supports facilities and other critical needs at these schools. For more information, read the NIFA blog.

• From eXtension

• Getting Ready To Tell Consumers About MyPlate & the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines. December 2nd, 2 PM. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be released soon, and anticipation is building around this important roadmap for healthy eating. As a Cooperative Extension nutrition communicator, you play an important role in helping us disseminate key Dietary Guidelines consumer messages to your unique audiences in your local communities throughout the country.  While the content of the latest Dietary Guidelines is being finalized, during the webinar we will share key consumer messaging with you and offer suggestions for getting promotional materials ready. Learn More & Register Here. 
  
  Connect Extension Virtual Chat: Video Production in Cooperative Extension – Crowdsourcing Training Resources & Ideas. December 3rd, 1 PM ET. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Cooperative Extension professionals are branching out to add simple video production to their skillset. If you’re already using your laptop, iPhone, or iPad to create and edit videos – or if you’d like to learn more – this virtual chat is for you. We’ll be crowdsourcing information from across Cooperative Extension about training resources and ideas for video production. Learn More & RSVP Here. 
  
  Connect Extension Virtual Chat: Using Data to Understand the Community You Serve. December 10th, 1 PM – 2 PM ET. The purpose of this chat is to gather information for creating an eFieldBook targeted at Extension professionals about using data in their work. This virtual chat will provide an opportunity to have a conversation about whether participants are – or would like to be – using data in their work to understand and improve their communities. We’ll also explore what data possibilities participants are aware of, and what data-related topics they would like to learn more about. Learn More & RSVP Here

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of November 30, 2020:

In this Edition

• Community Health Action Plans
• Q4 Reporting
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• WCC Grant Financial Office Hours
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

DUE TODAY Community Health Action Plans

• We encourage you to review your community’s Action Plan Feedback Summary with your partners and update your action plan as needed. As your efforts continue, the PD team is happy to connect to provide guidance and learn from you about the ways in which your goal connects to policies and systems in community. UPDATE: Please plan to email your updated action plan to Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu by November 30, 2020.  

We will be coordinating some peer-to-peer cohort learning sessions. Hayat Essa has been reaching out to determine availability and coordinate the sessions.

If you are interested in discussing the feedback or receiving additional support as you update your action plan, please contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.  

Q4 Reporting

• The Q3 report will be due December 15, 2020. The reporting period is September 1 – November 30, 2020.
  • The reporting will consist of each community submitting a community report – submitted via the WCC community portal
  • one LGU Financial Status Report – an excel spreadsheet submitted to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu
  • one Tobacco Separation Protocol validation letter – emailed to smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.

Youth Voice and Leadership

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will be open only during the month of January, 2021.
• There will be seven tracks which participants will stay in for the three workshop sessions; once a track is chosen, that’s where you stay:
  • Food Insecurity
  • Health Equity
  • Physical Fitness
  • Substance Abuse
  • Nutrition
  • Mental Health
  • Adult Track for professional development.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans throughout the year to see the impact on communities.
• A detailed agenda will be available in mid-November.
• Opportunities for Collegiate Facilitators are available for those 4-H alums who are in college and attended at least one 4-H Healthy Living Summit.  Applications are due November 20, 2020.

• National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living Request for Workshop Proposal

National 4-H Council invites you to submit a proposal to conduct a workshop for the virtual National 4-H  Summit (N4-HS) on Healthy Living. The N4-HS on Healthy Living takes place February 13 – 16, 2021. Workshops provide youth with a place to gain information in specific subject areas to increase knowledge, inspire career paths and help them develop action plans to implement and create change/impact in their communities. These action plans enable youth and adults, working together powerfully, to share information and bring about positive health outcomes in their home states. Interested youth and adult teams have an opportunity to submit a proposal for the N4-HS on Healthy Living by:

Proposal submission deadline: December 4, 2020

Target audience: Youth in grades 9–12

Workshop timeframe: 45-minute

Workshop participant size: Average of 20 – 30 participants

Workshop criteria: High level of hands-on, given the virtual format and include a career component, if feasible.

Submitting a Proposal

Workshops will be conducted via tracks in 2021. The planned tracks are below. Please be sure to indicate which subject matter area you are covering in your proposal.

• Food Insecurity
• Health Equity
• Mental Health
• Nutrition
• Physical Fitness
• Substance Abuse

Proposal Selection

Proposal application is attached. Proposals will be scored by the Summit Workshop Review Team and you will be contacted by December 18, 2020.

For Questions Please Contact:

Justin Crowe

Summit Coordinator
jcrowe3@utk.edu

865-974-2128

WCC Grant Financial Office Hours

• If you have questions about doing a budget modification, spending, or the Q4 financial reporting, I have set aside 2 blocks of time, one hour each, for Office Hours:

WCC Grant Financial Office Hours

December 8, 2020 and December 10, 2020 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

• Register for December 8, 2020
• Register for December 10, 2020

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW 2020 – Exchange Conference

Presented by The Social Impact Exchange and Morgan Stanley

Over the past 10 years, SIE has hosted the nation’s only annual conference exclusively focused on scaling social impact. The conference is now hosted in partnership with Morgan Stanley. The Exchange 2020: Unifying Leadership was held virtually on September 23-24.

In this year of existential issues, we need leaders who can bring us together to achieve true systems change. The Exchange 2020 tackled pressing concerns of racial equity, the global pandemic, and the most severe recession in the United States since the Great Depression. We identified systemic solutions that can emerge from these challenges to create transformational change. Below are video highlights from the 2020 Exchange conference.

SELECT VIDEOS FROM THE EXCHANGE 2020

• NEW Report: Reimagining rural policy: Organizing federal assistance to maximize rural prosperity

The Brookings Institution

By: Anthony F. Pipa and Natalie Geismar Thursday, November 19, 2020

• NEW NIFA Funds Tribal Programs to Support Learning, Health, and Opportunity

NIFA funds programs that promote learning, opportunities and health in Tribal communities. The total amount NIFA invested in all Tribal programs in FY 2020 was approximately $28 million. Tribal land-grant colleges and universities infuse components of Native American culture in their teaching curriculum. For example, an environmental biology class may be combined with studies of Navajo names of plant species. Through Tribal research grants, tribal colleges partner with other land-grant universities to address issues of interest to local Native American communities, such as preserving tribal forests or protecting water quality on reservations. Tribal college extension services reach out to Native American ranchers and farmers to improve farm profitability. They also provide vital health, safety and economic development information to tribal communities. The Tribal Colleges also receive an endowment that supports facilities and other critical needs at these schools. For more information, read the NIFA blog.

• NEW From eXtension

• Getting Ready To Tell Consumers About MyPlate & the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines. December 2nd, 2 PM. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be released soon, and anticipation is building around this important roadmap for healthy eating. As a Cooperative Extension nutrition communicator, you play an important role in helping us disseminate key Dietary Guidelines consumer messages to your unique audiences in your local communities throughout the country.  While the content of the latest Dietary Guidelines is being finalized, during the webinar we will share key consumer messaging with you and offer suggestions for getting promotional materials ready. Learn More & Register Here. 
  
  Connect Extension Virtual Chat: Video Production in Cooperative Extension – Crowdsourcing Training Resources & Ideas. December 3rd, 1 PM ET. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Cooperative Extension professionals are branching out to add simple video production to their skillset. If you’re already using your laptop, iPhone, or iPad to create and edit videos – or if you’d like to learn more – this virtual chat is for you. We’ll be crowdsourcing information from across Cooperative Extension about training resources and ideas for video production. Learn More & RSVP Here. 
  
  Connect Extension Virtual Chat: Using Data to Understand the Community You Serve. December 10th, 1 PM – 2 PM ET. The purpose of this chat is to gather information for creating an eFieldBook targeted at Extension professionals about using data in their work. This virtual chat will provide an opportunity to have a conversation about whether participants are – or would like to be – using data in their work to understand and improve their communities. We’ll also explore what data possibilities participants are aware of, and what data-related topics they would like to learn more about. Learn More & RSVP Here

• Reimagining rural policy: Organizing federal assistance to maximize rural prosperity

The report analyzes the legacy of federal leadership for rural development, which has resulted in a fragmented and confusing landscape that is in urgent need of updating and modernizing to help rural areas successfully respond to the current moment. Federal programs must change significantly to better reflect the diversity, entrepreneurialism, and unique opportunities in rural communities.

KEY FINDINGS:

• Over 400 federal programs are open to rural areas for community and economic development, spanning 13 departments, 10 agencies, and over 50 offices and sub-agencies. A total of 14 legislative committees have jurisdiction over their authorizing legislation.
• A subset of 93 programs exclusively targeted to rural areas made $2.58 billion available in non-loan assistance in fiscal year 2019 (just 0.2 percent of federal discretionary spending).
• The ratio of loan authority to grant spending for rural development in FY2019 was nearly 15:1, underscoring the lack of flexible grant funding available to rural communities.
• Even when they are eligible for community and economic development assistance, rural communities are often locked out by spending formulas, eligibility requirements, and performance measures that implicitly privilege large, densely populated metros.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Launch a new development corporation, to invest in local vision and leadership through long-term block grants and innovative financing tools that give communities a fighting chance to strengthen and renew their local economies.
2. Create a national rural strategy, elevate White House and interagency leadership, and undertake a set of specific and targeted reforms that will greatly enhance federal coherence and effectiveness.
3. Appoint a bipartisan congressional commission to undertake a top-to-bottom review and build political momentum to transform federal rural policy.    

• With a Focus on Equity, Geography No Longer Has To Be Destiny

The “widening rural-urban divide” is squarely in the headlines again—despite the fact that 2020 has caused us to reexamine everything and to challenge longstanding inequities. It’s time to build a more comprehensive equity analysis. Take a minute to read this new thought piece: https://ampr.gs/3pJaNQ6

What’s good for rural communities and for communities of color is good for the nation as a whole. It’s time to build a more comprehensive equity analysis that accounts for economic, racial, health, as well as geographic inequities. Take a minute to read this new thought piece:https://ampr.gs/3pJaNQ6

• In case you missed it: Celebrating “Can Do” Spirit on National Rural Health Day

by Jennifer Grizzard Ekzarkhov · November 19, 2020

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day. National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America, gives us a chance to bring to light the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face, and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address those challenges. (Learn more at www.powerofrural.org)

Please let us know if you have any questions about anything found in this week’s bulletin.

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of November 23, 2020:

In this Edition

• Community Health Action Plans
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• PD and Coaching
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

UPDATE Community Health Action Plans

• We encourage you to review your community’s Action Plan Feedback Summary with your partners and update your action plan as needed. As your efforts continue, the PD team is happy to connect to provide guidance and learn from you about the ways in which your goal connects to policies and systems in community. UPDATE: Please plan to email your updated action plan to Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu by November 30, 2020.  

We will be coordinating some peer-to-peer cohort learning sessions. Hayat Essa has been reaching out to determine availability and coordinate the sessions.

If you are interested in discussing the feedback or receiving additional support as you update your action plan, please contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.  

Youth Voice and Leadership

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will be open only during the month of January, 2021.
• There will be seven tracks which participants will stay in for the three workshop sessions; once a track is chosen, that’s where you stay:
  • Food Insecurity
  • Health Equity
  • Physical Fitness
  • Substance Abuse
  • Nutrition
  • Mental Health
  • Adult Track for professional development.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans throughout the year to see the impact on communities.
• A detailed agenda will be available in mid-November.
• Opportunities for Collegiate Facilitators are available for those 4-H alums who are in college and attended at least one 4-H Healthy Living Summit.  Applications are due November 20, 2020.

• National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living Request for Workshop Proposal

National 4-H Council invites you to submit a proposal to conduct a workshop for the virtual National 4-H  Summit (N4-HS) on Healthy Living. The N4-HS on Healthy Living takes place February 13 – 16, 2021. Workshops provide youth with a place to gain information in specific subject areas to increase knowledge, inspire career paths and help them develop action plans to implement and create change/impact in their communities. These action plans enable youth and adults, working together powerfully, to share information and bring about positive health outcomes in their home states. Interested youth and adult teams have an opportunity to submit a proposal for the N4-HS on Healthy Living by:

Proposal submission deadline: December 4, 2020

Target audience: Youth in grades 9–12

Workshop timeframe: 45-minute

Workshop participant size: Average of 20 – 30 participants

Workshop criteria: High level of hands-on, given the virtual format and include a career component, if feasible.

Submitting a Proposal

Workshops will be conducted via tracks in 2021. The planned tracks are below. Please be sure to indicate which subject matter area you are covering in your proposal.

• Food Insecurity
• Health Equity
• Mental Health
• Nutrition
• Physical Fitness
• Substance Abuse

Proposal Selection

Proposal application is attached. Proposals will be scored by the Summit Workshop Review Team and you will be contacted by December 18, 2020.

For Questions Please Contact:

Justin Crowe

Summit Coordinator
jcrowe3@utk.edu

865-974-2128

PD and Coaching

• WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community

WCC is partnering with 100 Million Lives to lead the work on racial justice. WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community provides space for communities, organizations, and coalitions to learn with one another. Together, communities reflect and take action to address racism in relationships and in structures and systems. Register at https://winnetwork.org/communities-1 to participate.

Top 3 reasons to join: 

1. Develop identity, voice and skills to advance racial justice.
2. Share ideas and solve problems together as part of a community dedicated to this.
3. Learn to tackle racism at multiple levels to create structural and systemic change.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW Reimagining rural policy: Organizing federal assistance to maximize rural prosperity

The report analyzes the legacy of federal leadership for rural development, which has resulted in a fragmented and confusing landscape that is in urgent need of updating and modernizing to help rural areas successfully respond to the current moment. Federal programs must change significantly to better reflect the diversity, entrepreneurialism, and unique opportunities in rural communities.

KEY FINDINGS:

• Over 400 federal programs are open to rural areas for community and economic development, spanning 13 departments, 10 agencies, and over 50 offices and sub-agencies. A total of 14 legislative committees have jurisdiction over their authorizing legislation.
• A subset of 93 programs exclusively targeted to rural areas made $2.58 billion available in non-loan assistance in fiscal year 2019 (just 0.2 percent of federal discretionary spending).
• The ratio of loan authority to grant spending for rural development in FY2019 was nearly 15:1, underscoring the lack of flexible grant funding available to rural communities.
• Even when they are eligible for community and economic development assistance, rural communities are often locked out by spending formulas, eligibility requirements, and performance measures that implicitly privilege large, densely populated metros.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Launch a new development corporation, to invest in local vision and leadership through long-term block grants and innovative financing tools that give communities a fighting chance to strengthen and renew their local economies.
2. Create a national rural strategy, elevate White House and interagency leadership, and undertake a set of specific and targeted reforms that will greatly enhance federal coherence and effectiveness.
3. Appoint a bipartisan congressional commission to undertake a top-to-bottom review and build political momentum to transform federal rural policy.    

• New With a Focus on Equity, Geography No Longer Has To Be Destiny

The “widening rural-urban divide” is squarely in the headlines again—despite the fact that 2020 has caused us to reexamine everything and to challenge longstanding inequities. It’s time to build a more comprehensive equity analysis. Take a minute to read this new thought piece: https://ampr.gs/3pJaNQ6

What’s good for rural communities and for communities of color is good for the nation as a whole. It’s time to build a more comprehensive equity analysis that accounts for economic, racial, health, as well as geographic inequities. Take a minute to read this new thought piece:https://ampr.gs/3pJaNQ6

• New In case you missed it: Celebrating “Can Do” Spirit on National Rural Health Day

by Jennifer Grizzard Ekzarkhov · November 19, 2020

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day. National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America, gives us a chance to bring to light the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face, and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address those challenges. (Learn more at www.powerofrural.org)

• Advancing Racial Equity series: Mobilizing Public Health to Achieve Environmental Justice

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET

Speakers: Kate Robb, MSPH, Crystal Dixon, MPH, MCHES, NBC-HWC, Donna Chavis, Donele Wilkins, Sacoby Wilson, PhD, MS and Michele Okoh, JD.

The final webinar in the APHA Advancing Racial Equity series will raise awareness of the ongoing impact of environmental racism on the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous and people of color in the U.S. 

Presenters will:

• Address historic and systemic issues (e.g., redlining, toxic waste siting, zoning policies) that have disproportionally impacted BIPOC communities, including social, economic, and health implications of these practices.
• Discuss the importance of environmental justice initiatives to mitigate inequity and how public health professionals can address environmental racism.
• Present strategies and frameworks to address environmental racism, such as health-in-all-policies, just transition, and cumulative impacts policies to curtail future health disparities.

If you missed the Housing is a Human Right webinar, check out the recording, slides and transcript from this examination of structural racism in housing. See all of the Advancing Racial Equity webinars.

• The Racial Equity Analytics Lab: Equipping change agents with data

To forge new, data-driven avenues of opportunity for people of color, the new Racial Equity Analytics Lab delivers data for decision making, identifies patterns of structural racism, and cultivates collaboration and continuous learning for change agents.

• Planning Your Holidays During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • In this blog post NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins shares ways that millions of Americans, including his own family, will break with tradition this year to celebrate the holiday in ways that will help to keep us all safe and healthy.
  • Please review and share CDC’s newly released considerations for Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings to help minimize risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19 including their Thanksgiving Tip Sheet and Considerations for Traveling During the Holidays.

• Community Connect Broadband Grant Program

Grants for communities without broadband access to provide residential and business broadband service and connect facilities such as police and fire stations, healthcare, libraries, and schools. Closing date: Dec 23, 2020.

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of November 16, 2020:

In this Edition

• Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 2020
• Community Health Action Plans
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• PD and Coaching
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

THIS WEEK Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 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, November 20, 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:

• November 20, 2020
• February 19, 2021
• May 21, 2021
• August 20, 2021

UPDATE Community Health Action Plans

• We encourage you to review your community’s Action Plan Feedback Summary with your partners and update your action plan as needed. As your efforts continue, the PD team is happy to connect to provide guidance and learn from you about the ways in which your goal connects to policies and systems in community. UPDATE: Please plan to email your updated action plan to Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu by November 30, 2020.  

We will be coordinating some peer-to-peer cohort learning sessions. Hayat Essa has been reaching out to determine availability and coordinate the sessions.

If you are interested in discussing the feedback or receiving additional support as you update your action plan, please contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.  

Youth Voice and Leadership

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will be open only during the month of January, 2021.
• There will be seven tracks which participants will stay in for the three workshop sessions; once a track is chosen, that’s where you stay:
  • Food Insecurity
  • Health Equity
  • Physical Fitness
  • Substance Abuse
  • Nutrition
  • Mental Health
  • Adult Track for professional development.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans throughout the year to see the impact on communities.
• A detailed agenda will be available in mid-November.
• Opportunities for Collegiate Facilitators are available for those 4-H alums who are in college and attended at least one 4-H Healthy Living Summit.  Applications are due November 20, 2020.

• Deadline Approaching National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living Collegiate Facilitators Needed

The Virtual National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living brings together teens from across the nation to focus on healthy living related challenges and opportunities for  youth today. Designed for high school students (grades 9 – 12), the Summit provides opportunities to learn life skills, participate in hands-on activities and workshops and learn from leaders in the field as well as networking with each other. Participants traditionally attend in teams comprised of two to eight youth and are accompanied by adult mentor/chaperone(s). The National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living provides learning opportunities benefitting attendees personally as well as in their communities.

Twelve collegiate 4-H members/alums are needed to facilitate activities, serve as group leaders, help plan/implement the summit, and serve as role models to the youth attendees.  Applicants need not be members of a formally organized collegiate 4-H club, but must be currently enrolled in an institute of higher education and have at least one year of previous enrollment in 4-H.  Preference is given to individuals who have attended a previous National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living. 

Facilitators should be prepared to put in several hours of prep work prior to the virtual summit, and should also expect to work long hours over the course of the summit weekend. While this will be hard work, this is a great opportunity to meet 4-H members from across the nation as well as other collegiate 4-H members. Your registration fees will be waived and this is a wonderful resume builder for college or employment opportunities.

Applicants must be available virtually for 5-6 hours per day from Thursday, February 11th through Monday, February 15th, 2021. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Justin Crowe at jcrowe3@utk.edu or 865-974-2128. All applicants will be notified if they are accepted no later than November 30, 2020.

If you would like to be a Collegiate Facilitator, please complete the attached form and email to Justin Crowe by November 20, 2020:         

Justin Crowe

Director and State 4-H Program Leader

University of Tennessee Extension
jcrowe3@utk.edu

• National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living Request for Workshop Proposal

National 4-H Council invites you to submit a proposal to conduct a workshop for the virtual National 4-H  Summit (N4-HS) on Healthy Living. The N4-HS on Healthy Living takes place February 13 – 16, 2021. Workshops provide youth with a place to gain information in specific subject areas to increase knowledge, inspire career paths and help them develop action plans to implement and create change/impact in their communities. These action plans enable youth and adults, working together powerfully, to share information and bring about positive health outcomes in their home states. Interested youth and adult teams have an opportunity to submit a proposal for the N4-HS on Healthy Living by:

Proposal submission deadline: December 4, 2020

Target audience: Youth in grades 9–12

Workshop timeframe: 45-minute

Workshop participant size: Average of 20 – 30 participants

Workshop criteria: High level of hands-on, given the virtual format and include a career component, if feasible.

Submitting a Proposal

Workshops will be conducted via tracks in 2021. The planned tracks are below. Please be sure to indicate which subject matter area you are covering in your proposal.

• Food Insecurity
• Health Equity
• Mental Health
• Nutrition
• Physical Fitness
• Substance Abuse

Proposal Selection

Proposal application is attached. Proposals will be scored by the Summit Workshop Review Team and you will be contacted by December 18, 2020.

For Questions Please Contact:

Justin Crowe

Summit Coordinator
jcrowe3@utk.edu

865-974-2128

PD and Coaching

• WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community

WCC is partnering with 100 Million Lives to lead the work on racial justice. WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community provides space for communities, organizations, and coalitions to learn with one another. Together, communities reflect and take action to address racism in relationships and in structures and systems. Register at https://winnetwork.org/communities-1 to participate.

Top 3 reasons to join: 

1. Develop identity, voice and skills to advance racial justice.
2. Share ideas and solve problems together as part of a community dedicated to this.
3. Learn to tackle racism at multiple levels to create structural and systemic change.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW Advancing Racial Equity series: Mobilizing Public Health to Achieve Environmental Justice

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET

Speakers: Kate Robb, MSPH, Crystal Dixon, MPH, MCHES, NBC-HWC, Donna Chavis, Donele Wilkins, Sacoby Wilson, PhD, MS and Michele Okoh, JD.

The final webinar in the APHA Advancing Racial Equity series will raise awareness of the ongoing impact of environmental racism on the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous and people of color in the U.S. 

Presenters will:

• Address historic and systemic issues (e.g., redlining, toxic waste siting, zoning policies) that have disproportionally impacted BIPOC communities, including social, economic, and health implications of these practices.
• Discuss the importance of environmental justice initiatives to mitigate inequity and how public health professionals can address environmental racism.
• Present strategies and frameworks to address environmental racism, such as health-in-all-policies, just transition, and cumulative impacts policies to curtail future health disparities.

If you missed the Housing is a Human Right webinar, check out the recording, slides and transcript from this examination of structural racism in housing. See all of the Advancing Racial Equity webinars.

• NEW The Racial Equity Analytics Lab: Equipping change agents with data

To forge new, data-driven avenues of opportunity for people of color, the new Racial Equity Analytics Lab delivers data for decision making, identifies patterns of structural racism, and cultivates collaboration and continuous learning for change agents.

• NEW Planning Your Holidays During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • In this blog post NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins shares ways that millions of Americans, including his own family, will break with tradition this year to celebrate the holiday in ways that will help to keep us all safe and healthy.
  • Please review and share CDC’s newly released considerations for Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings to help minimize risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19 including their Thanksgiving Tip Sheet and Considerations for Traveling During the Holidays.

• NEW Understanding the Ground: Social Determinants of Health in Rural Populations

Tues., Nov. 17, 2020, 1:00 p.m. ET. Register here. 

This presentation will review socio/economic factors determining health outcomes across rural White and minority populations, such as education, income, and health facility availability.

• NEW Rural Health: Challenges in the Era of COVID-19

Thurs., Nov. 19, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET. Register here.

This videocast seminar from the National Institute of Health (NIH) will explore the impact of the COVID-19 on rural populations, systems and workforce issues and community engagement in response to the pandemic.  Review the agenda here.

• NEW Community Connect Broadband Grant Program

Grants for communities without broadband access to provide residential and business broadband service and connect facilities such as police and fire stations, healthcare, libraries, and schools. Closing date: Dec 23, 2020.

• HRSA Celebrates National Rural Health Day. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will recognize the annual event with online activities on Thursday, November 19. HRSA Administrator Tom Engels will kick off the day, along with a welcome from Jeff Colyer, Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. HRSA will host a variety of events throughout the week which are open to the public, including a virtual rural job fair and webinars focused on the rural response to COVID-19, social determinants of health, and telehealth.

HRSA Events

• Tuesday, November 17, 2020
• Wednesday, November 18, 2020
• Thursday, November 19, 2020
• Friday, November 20, 2020

• Using Accountable Care Programs to Improve the Delivery of Behavioral Health Care

This report from the National Academy for State Health Policy examines how Colorado, Minnesota, and Rhode Island are using accountable care programs to improve the delivery of behavioral health services. It was developed through HRSA’s cooperative agreement with the National Organizations of State and Local Officials. Read the report.

 

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of November 9, 2020:

In this Edition

• Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 2020
• Community Health Action Plans
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• PD and Coaching
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 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, November 20, 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:

• November 20, 2020
• February 19, 2021
• May 21, 2021
• August 20, 2021

Community Health Action Plans

• We encourage you to review your community’s Action Plan Feedback Summary with your partners and update your action plan as needed. As your efforts continue, the PD team is happy to connect to provide guidance and learn from you about the ways in which your goal connects to policies and systems in community. Please plan to upload your updated action plan to your community portal by November 30, 2020.  

We will be coordinating some peer-to-peer cohort learning sessions. Hayat Essa has been reaching out to determine availability and coordinate the sessions.

If you are interested in discussing the feedback or receiving additional support as you update your action plan, please contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.  

Youth Voice and Leadership

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will be open only during the month of January, 2021.
• There will be seven tracks which participants will stay in for the three workshop sessions; once a track is chosen, that’s where you stay:
  • Food Insecurity
  • Health Equity
  • Physical Fitness
  • Substance Abuse
  • Nutrition
  • Mental Health
  • Adult Track for professional development.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans throughout the year to see the impact on communities.
• A detailed agenda will be available in mid-November.
• Opportunities for Collegiate Facilitators are available for those 4-H alums who are in college and attended at least one 4-H Healthy Living Summit.  Applications are due November 20, 2020.

• National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living Collegiate Facilitators Needed

The Virtual National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living brings together teens from across the nation to focus on healthy living related challenges and opportunities for  youth today. Designed for high school students (grades 9 – 12), the Summit provides opportunities to learn life skills, participate in hands-on activities and workshops and learn from leaders in the field as well as networking with each other. Participants traditionally attend in teams comprised of two to eight youth and are accompanied by adult mentor/chaperone(s). The National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living provides learning opportunities benefitting attendees personally as well as in their communities.

Twelve collegiate 4-H members/alums are needed to facilitate activities, serve as group leaders, help plan/implement the summit, and serve as role models to the youth attendees.  Applicants need not be members of a formally organized collegiate 4-H club, but must be currently enrolled in an institute of higher education and have at least one year of previous enrollment in 4-H.  Preference is given to individuals who have attended a previous National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living. 

Facilitators should be prepared to put in several hours of prep work prior to the virtual summit, and should also expect to work long hours over the course of the summit weekend. While this will be hard work, this is a great opportunity to meet 4-H members from across the nation as well as other collegiate 4-H members. Your registration fees will be waived and this is a wonderful resume builder for college or employment opportunities.

Applicants must be available virtually for 5-6 hours per day from Thursday, February 11th through Monday, February 15th, 2021. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Justin Crowe at jcrowe3@utk.edu or 865-974-2128. All applicants will be notified if they are accepted no later than November 30, 2020.

If you would like to be a Collegiate Facilitator, please complete the attached form and email to Justin Crowe by November 20, 2020:         

Justin Crowe

Director and State 4-H Program Leader

University of Tennessee Extension
jcrowe3@utk.edu

PD and Coaching

• Thriving Together: Recovery & Resilience during and post-COVID 19 Webinar

November 12, 2020, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

This session will focus on the healing, recovery and resilience in two areas of WCC initiative—youth and communities—especially during COVID but looking ahead post-COVID.

• Youth: The 4-H Thriving Model by Dr. Mary Arnold will focus on capacity building around programs and activities that promote thriving youth especially during COVID and a post-COVID world. Mary Arnold is Director, Youth Development Research and Practice at National 4-H Council. She currently teaches at Oregon State University on 4-H Youth Development. Dr. Arnold developed the 4-H Thriving Model which describes the processes to support positive youth development in 4-H.
• Community: Well Being Trust will present practical actions for communities across America who want to heal through the trauma of COVID-19 and secure vital conditions for people and places to thrive. Our guest speaker will highlight actions to accelerate an equitable recovery and build resilience over time.

Learning objectives include:

• Application of understanding of how 4-H helps young people thrive to shape recruitment and engagement of youth in WCC coalitions.
• Identify opportunities that will foster inclusivity and diversity among 4-H youth.
• Support communities in reaching beyond learning outcomes to probing into “what happens” especially in a COVID and post-COVID world.
• Learn practical actions that are consistent with determinants of health for an equitable recovery and resilience during COVID and post-COVID.

Register Here

• WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community

WCC is partnering with 100 Million Lives to lead the work on racial justice. WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community provides space for communities, organizations, and coalitions to learn with one another. Together, communities reflect and take action to address racism in relationships and in structures and systems. Register at https://winnetwork.org/communities-1 to participate.

Top 3 reasons to join: 

1. Develop identity, voice and skills to advance racial justice.
2. Share ideas and solve problems together as part of a community dedicated to this.
3. Learn to tackle racism at multiple levels to create structural and systemic change.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW HRSA Celebrates National Rural Health Day. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will recognize the annual event with online activities on Thursday, November 19. HRSA Administrator Tom Engels will kick off the day, along with a welcome from Jeff Colyer, Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. HRSA will host a variety of events throughout the week which are open to the public, including a virtual rural job fair and webinars focused on the rural response to COVID-19, social determinants of health, and telehealth.

• NEW Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) Session

Tuesday, November 10 at 3:00 pm ET.  The collaborative that includes the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Aspen Institute will hold an hour-long virtual exchange to discuss health and equity in rural places.

• NEW Using Accountable Care Programs to Improve the Delivery of Behavioral Health Care

This report from the National Academy for State Health Policy examines how Colorado, Minnesota, and Rhode Island are using accountable care programs to improve the delivery of behavioral health services. It was developed through HRSA’s cooperative agreement with the National Organizations of State and Local Officials. Read the report.

• NIFA’s Food Safety Programs Help Consumers Stay Safe

Do you remember the last time you got sick from eating something that “didn’t agree with you?” It’s likely you or someone you know has experienced food poisoning. It’s not fun! Unfortunately, the health impact of foodborne illnesses in the United States is considerable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year, roughly 1 in 6 Americans (48 million people) gets sick; 128,000 are hospitalized; and 3,000 die of foodborne illnesses. NIFA seeks to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and provide a safer food supply by supporting research, education, and extension activities addressing current priority issues and multiple disciplines in food safety. For more information, read the NIFA blog.

• New Research Effort Aims to Improve Health Outcomes for Rural Patients

How much will it cost? For many, this question is the most critical determining factor in receiving quality medical care but can be difficult to broach with a health care provider. A new research effort led by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture aims to better facilitate these conversations, leading to improved health outcomes. “Access to care and following treatment recommendations from a health care provider is often impacted by other expenses, like childcare, transportation, housing or regular bills,” states Christopher T. Sneed, assistant professor and lead investigator for the project. Over the next two years, the research team will develop and test materials for older adults and health care providers that help cost of care conversations take place. “For patients living in poverty, especially in rural areas, out-of-pocket costs can mean the difference between following treatment recommendations and ignoring them completely,” continues Sneed. This effort is supported by a new grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, read the University of Tennessee article.

• USDA Farm to School Grant Program – January 8

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects to make 150 awards of up to $100,000 each to improve access to local foods in schools.  Grants will be made under three tracks: 1) implementation grants to help schools develop existing efforts; 2) turnkey grants for schools or districts just getting started; and 3) state agency grants to develop farm-to-school efforts in their states.

• Learn More About Federal Funding and Resources for Rural Health

This is a recording of an 80-minute presentation (via Adobe Connect) by the Health Resources and Services Administration on rural-focused federal programs and resources.  Presenters represent USDA’s Rural Development and Rural Utilities Service, telecommunications programming at the Universal Service Administrative Company, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and two FORHP-funded rural hospital programs.

• How Family Accommodation Worsens Child Anxiety and Function

Childhood anxiety and mood disorders are on the rise, as reported by the CDC. COVID-19 is hitting children and adolescents hard, highlighting the critical importance of a secure family, modeling of positive coping, and cultivating constructive ways to bolster resilience in youth.

• Youth Garden Grant 
  Youth Garden Grants are awarded to schools and community organizations with youth-centered garden programs. Closing date: Dec. 18, 2020.

• Rural Health Network Development Planning Program

HRSA-21-021 – The purpose of this grant program is to promote the development of integrated health care networks and bring together key parts of a rural health care delivery system, particularly those entities that may not have collaborated in the past, to work together to establish or improve local capacity and coordination of care.  Closing date: Nov. 16, 2020.

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of November 2, 2020:

In this Edition

• Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 2020
• Community Health Action Plans
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• PD and Coaching
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 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, November 20, 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:

• November 20, 2020
• February 19, 2021
• May 21, 2021
• August 20, 2021

Community Health Action Plans

• We encourage you to review your community’s Action Plan Feedback Summary with your partners and update your action plan as needed. As your efforts continue, the PD team is happy to connect to provide guidance and learn from you about the ways in which your goal connects to policies and systems in community. Please plan to upload your updated action plan to your community portal by November 30, 2020.  

We will be coordinating some peer-to-peer cohort learning sessions. Hayat Essa has been reaching out to determine availability and coordinate the sessions.

If you are interested in discussing the feedback or receiving additional support as you update your action plan, please contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.  

Youth Voice and Leadership

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 12 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 12 -15, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will be open only during the month of January, 2021.
• There will be seven tracks which participants will stay in for the three workshop sessions; once a track is chosen, that’s where you stay:
  • Food Insecurity
  • Health Equity
  • Physical Fitness
  • Substance Abuse
  • Nutrition
  • Mental Health
  • Adult Track for professional development.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans throughout the year to see the impact on communities.
• A detailed agenda will be available in mid-November.
• Opportunities for Collegiate Facilitators are available for those 4-H alums who are in college and attended at least one 4-H Healthy Living Summit.  Applications are due November 20, 2020.

• National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living Collegiate Facilitators Needed

The Virtual National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living brings together teens from across the nation to focus on healthy living related challenges and opportunities for  youth today. Designed for high school students (grades 9 – 12), the Summit provides opportunities to learn life skills, participate in hands-on activities and workshops and learn from leaders in the field as well as networking with each other. Participants traditionally attend in teams comprised of two to eight youth and are accompanied by adult mentor/chaperone(s). The National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living provides learning opportunities benefitting attendees personally as well as in their communities.

Twelve collegiate 4-H members/alums are needed to facilitate activities, serve as group leaders, help plan/implement the summit, and serve as role models to the youth attendees.  Applicants need not be members of a formally organized collegiate 4-H club, but must be currently enrolled in an institute of higher education and have at least one year of previous enrollment in 4-H.  Preference is given to individuals who have attended a previous National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living. 

Facilitators should be prepared to put in several hours of prep work prior to the virtual summit, and should also expect to work long hours over the course of the summit weekend. While this will be hard work, this is a great opportunity to meet 4-H members from across the nation as well as other collegiate 4-H members. Your registration fees will be waived and this is a wonderful resume builder for college or employment opportunities.

Applicants must be available virtually for 5-6 hours per day from Thursday, February 11th through Monday, February 15th, 2021. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Justin Crowe at jcrowe3@utk.edu or 865-974-2128. All applicants will be notified if they are accepted no later than November 30, 2020.

If you would like to be a Collegiate Facilitator, please complete the attached form and email to Justin Crowe by November 20, 2020:         

Justin Crowe

Director and State 4-H Program Leader

University of Tennessee Extension
jcrowe3@utk.edu

PD and Coaching

• Thriving Together: Recovery & Resilience during and post-COVID 19 Webinar

November 12, 2020, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

This session will focus on the healing, recovery and resilience in two areas of WCC initiative—youth and communities—especially during COVID but looking ahead post-COVID.

• Youth: The 4-H Thriving Model by Dr. Mary Arnold will focus on capacity building around programs and activities that promote thriving youth especially during COVID and a post-COVID world. Mary Arnold is Director, Youth Development Research and Practice at National 4-H Council. She currently teaches at Oregon State University on 4-H Youth Development. Dr. Arnold developed the 4-H Thriving Model which describes the processes to support positive youth development in 4-H.
• Community: Well Being Trust will present practical actions for communities across America who want to heal through the trauma of COVID-19 and secure vital conditions for people and places to thrive. Our guest speaker will highlight actions to accelerate an equitable recovery and build resilience over time.

Learning objectives include:

• Application of understanding of how 4-H helps young people thrive to shape recruitment and engagement of youth in WCC coalitions.
• Identify opportunities that will foster inclusivity and diversity among 4-H youth.
• Support communities in reaching beyond learning outcomes to probing into “what happens” especially in a COVID and post-COVID world.
• Learn practical actions that are consistent with determinants of health for an equitable recovery and resilience during COVID and post-COVID.

Register Here

• WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community

WCC is partnering with 100 Million Lives to lead the work on racial justice. WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community provides space for communities, organizations, and coalitions to learn with one another. Together, communities reflect and take action to address racism in relationships and in structures and systems. Register at https://winnetwork.org/communities-1 to participate.

Top 3 reasons to join: 

1. Develop identity, voice and skills to advance racial justice.
2. Share ideas and solve problems together as part of a community dedicated to this.
3. Learn to tackle racism at multiple levels to create structural and systemic change.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW NIFA’s Food Safety Programs Help Consumers Stay Safe

Do you remember the last time you got sick from eating something that “didn’t agree with you?” It’s likely you or someone you know has experienced food poisoning. It’s not fun! Unfortunately, the health impact of foodborne illnesses in the United States is considerable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year, roughly 1 in 6 Americans (48 million people) gets sick; 128,000 are hospitalized; and 3,000 die of foodborne illnesses. NIFA seeks to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and provide a safer food supply by supporting research, education, and extension activities addressing current priority issues and multiple disciplines in food safety. For more information, read the NIFA blog.

• NEW New Research Effort Aims to Improve Health Outcomes for Rural Patients

How much will it cost? For many, this question is the most critical determining factor in receiving quality medical care but can be difficult to broach with a health care provider. A new research effort led by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture aims to better facilitate these conversations, leading to improved health outcomes. “Access to care and following treatment recommendations from a health care provider is often impacted by other expenses, like childcare, transportation, housing or regular bills,” states Christopher T. Sneed, assistant professor and lead investigator for the project. Over the next two years, the research team will develop and test materials for older adults and health care providers that help cost of care conversations take place. “For patients living in poverty, especially in rural areas, out-of-pocket costs can mean the difference between following treatment recommendations and ignoring them completely,” continues Sneed. This effort is supported by a new grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, read the University of Tennessee article.

• NEW USDA Farm to School Grant Program – January 8

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects to make 150 awards of up to $100,000 each to improve access to local foods in schools.  Grants will be made under three tracks: 1) implementation grants to help schools develop existing efforts; 2) turnkey grants for schools or districts just getting started; and 3) state agency grants to develop farm-to-school efforts in their states.

• NEW Learn More About Federal Funding and Resources for Rural Health

This is a recording of an 80-minute presentation (via Adobe Connect) by the Health Resources and Services Administration on rural-focused federal programs and resources.  Presenters represent USDA’s Rural Development and Rural Utilities Service, telecommunications programming at the Universal Service Administrative Company, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and two FORHP-funded rural hospital programs.

• NEW How Family Accommodation Worsens Child Anxiety and Function

Childhood anxiety and mood disorders are on the rise, as reported by the CDC. COVID-19 is hitting children and adolescents hard, highlighting the critical importance of a secure family, modeling of positive coping, and cultivating constructive ways to bolster resilience in youth.

• America Walks Community Change Grants
  Grants for projects related to creating healthy, active, and engaged communities that support walking as transportation, health, and recreation. For the current grant cycle, America Walks is particularly interested in projects that center the concerns of residents who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color; reach across the demographics of communities to build coalitions; and/or create unique civic partnerships with new perspectives. Closing date: Nov. 9, 2020.

• Youth Garden Grant 
  Youth Garden Grants are awarded to schools and community organizations with youth-centered garden programs. Closing date: Dec. 18, 2020.

• Rural Health Network Development Planning Program

HRSA-21-021 – The purpose of this grant program is to promote the development of integrated health care networks and bring together key parts of a rural health care delivery system, particularly those entities that may not have collaborated in the past, to work together to establish or improve local capacity and coordination of care.  Closing date: Nov. 16, 2020.

• Learn More About Federal Funding and Resources for Rural Health

This is a recording of an 80-minute presentation (via Adobe Connect) by the Health Resources and Services Administration on rural-focused federal programs and resources.  Presenters represent USDA’s Rural Development and Rural Utilities Service, telecommunications programming at the Universal Service Administrative Company, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and two FORHP-funded rural hospital programs.

• From eXtension

• Organizations Partner to Combat the Digital Divide by Launching Searchable Wi-Fi Map for Needed Broadband Connections
  Aaron Weibe, Communication & Engagement Manager, eXtension Foundation

Several partner organizations today announced the launch of the American Connection Project (ACP) interactive Wi-Fi map. The map provides a free resource to help the public locate more than 2,300 free Wi-Fi locations across 49 U.S. states. The map includes Wi-Fi locations from Land O’Lakes, Inc. and its ag retail owner network, along with several partner organizations including 4-H…Learn More

• Rural Mortality Penalty is Wide and Growing
  Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director, ECOP
  Subgroup: Health & Well-Being

After decades of lower or similar mortality rates in rural areas than in urban areas of the U.S., a rural mortality penalty emerged in the 1990s and has grown since the mid-2000s. Although the rural–urban mortality gap has widened across all major racial/ethnic groups over the past 30 years, it has widened the most among…Learn More

• Neighborhoods at Risk: New FREE Tool To See Where Climate Change is Likely To Impact The Most Vulnerable People
  Paul Lachapelle, Professor, Montana State University
  Subgroup: National Extension Climate Initiative

Hi all, See this new FREE national tool called “Neighborhoods at Risk” developed by colleagues here in Bozeman, MT at Headwaters Economic to see where climate change is likely to impact the most vulnerable people…Learn More

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of October 26, 2020:

In this Edition

• Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 2020
• Community Health Action Plans
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• PD and Coaching
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 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:

• November 20, 2020
• February 19, 2021
• May 21, 2021
• August 20, 2021

Community Health Action Plans

• We encourage you to review your community’s Action Plan Feedback Summary with your partners and update your action plan as needed. As your efforts continue, the PD team is happy to connect to provide guidance and learn from you about the ways in which your goal connects to policies and systems in community. Please plan to upload your updated action plan to your community portal by November 30, 2020.  

We will be coordinating some peer-to-peer cohort learning sessions. Hayat Essa will be reaching out to determine availability and coordinate the session.

If you are interested in discussing the feedback or receiving additional support as you update your action plan, please contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.  

Youth Voice and Leadership

• National 4-H Summit for Health Living, February 13 – 15, 2021
  • The National 4-H Summit on Healthy Living will be virtual and held on its usual Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 13-16, 2021. The number of hours per day is still TBD but will last no more than approximately 4-5 hours on any one day.

• Cost is $75 per youth or adult.
• Registration will be open only during the month of January, 2021.
• There will be seven tracks which participants will stay in for the three workshop sessions; once a track is chosen, that’s where you stay:
  • Food Insecurity
  • Health Equity
  • Physical Fitness
  • Substance Abuse
  • Nutrition
  • Mental Health
  • Adult Track for professional development.
• Because of the tracks, there will be no limit on the number of registrations.
• Highlights of the Summit will include keynote and capnote speakers and a speaker of the day, virtual State Showcase, 3 workshops, career exploration, a virtual “Coffee House” for discussion of national health issues, action plan development, and lots of opportunities for networking.
• New for this year will be TBD follow-ups for pitching action plans in the “Dolphin Tank”, and following those action plans throughout the year to see the impact on communities.
• A detailed agenda will be available in mid-November.
• Opportunities for Collegiate Facilitators are available for those 4-H alums who are in college and attended at least one 4-H Healthy Living Summit.  Applications are due November 20, 2020.

• National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living Collegiate Facilitators Needed

The Virtual National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living brings together teens from across the nation to focus on healthy living related challenges and opportunities for  youth today. Designed for high school students (grades 9 – 12), the Summit provides opportunities to learn life skills, participate in hands-on activities and workshops and learn from leaders in the field as well as networking with each other. Participants traditionally attend in teams comprised of two to eight youth and are accompanied by adult mentor/chaperone(s). The National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living provides learning opportunities benefitting attendees personally as well as in their communities.

Twelve collegiate 4-H members/alums are needed to facilitate activities, serve as group leaders, help plan/implement the summit, and serve as role models to the youth attendees.  Applicants need not be members of a formally organized collegiate 4-H club, but must be currently enrolled in an institute of higher education and have at least one year of previous enrollment in 4-H.  Preference is given to individuals who have attended a previous National 4-H Summit for Healthy Living. 

Facilitators should be prepared to put in several hours of prep work prior to the virtual summit, and should also expect to work long hours over the course of the summit weekend. While this will be hard work, this is a great opportunity to meet 4-H members from across the nation as well as other collegiate 4-H members. Your registration fees will be waived and this is a wonderful resume builder for college or employment opportunities.

Applicants must be available virtually for 5-6 hours per day from Thursday, February 11th through Monday, February 15th, 2021. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Justin Crowe at jcrowe3@utk.edu or 865-974-2128. All applicants will be notified if they are accepted no later than November 30, 2020.

If you would like to be a Collegiate Facilitator, please complete the attached form and email to Justin Crowe by November 20, 2020:         

Justin Crowe

Director and State 4-H Program Leader

University of Tennessee Extension
jcrowe3@utk.edu

PD and Coaching

• Thriving Together: Recovery & Resilience during and post-COVID 19 Webinar

November 12, 2020, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

This session will focus on the healing, recovery and resilience in two areas of WCC initiative—youth and communities—especially during COVID but looking ahead post-COVID.

• Youth: The 4-H Thriving Model by Dr. Mary Arnold will focus on capacity building around programs and activities that promote thriving youth especially during COVID and a post-COVID world. Mary Arnold is Director, Youth Development Research and Practice at National 4-H Council. She currently teaches at Oregon State University on 4-H Youth Development. Dr. Arnold developed the 4-H Thriving Model which describes the processes to support positive youth development in 4-H.
• Community: Well Being Trust will present practical actions for communities across America who want to heal through the trauma of COVID-19 and secure vital conditions for people and places to thrive. Our guest speaker will highlight actions to accelerate an equitable recovery and build resilience over time.

Learning objectives include:

• Application of understanding of how 4-H helps young people thrive to shape recruitment and engagement of youth in WCC coalitions.
• Identify opportunities that will foster inclusivity and diversity among 4-H youth.
• Support communities in reaching beyond learning outcomes to probing into “what happens” especially in a COVID and post-COVID world.
• Learn practical actions that are consistent with determinants of health for an equitable recovery and resilience during COVID and post-COVID.

Register Here

• WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community

WCC is partnering with 100 Million Lives to lead the work on racial justice. WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community provides space for communities, organizations, and coalitions to learn with one another. Together, communities reflect and take action to address racism in relationships and in structures and systems. Register at https://winnetwork.org/communities-1 to participate.

Top 3 reasons to join: 

1. Develop identity, voice and skills to advance racial justice.
2. Share ideas and solve problems together as part of a community dedicated to this.
3. Learn to tackle racism at multiple levels to create structural and systemic change.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW America Walks Community Change GrantsGrants for projects related to creating healthy, active, and engaged communities that support walking as transportation, health, and recreation. For the current grant cycle, America Walks is particularly interested in projects that center the concerns of residents who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color; reach across the demographics of communities to build coalitions; and/or create unique civic partnerships with new perspectives. Closing date: Nov. 9, 2020.

• NEW Youth Garden Grant Youth Garden Grants are awarded to schools and community organizations with youth-centered garden programs. Closing date: Dec. 18, 2020.

• NEW Combating Opioid Overdose through Community-level Intervention 
  Grants for evidence-based, community-level programs that aim to reduce opioid-involved overdose. Projects must evaluate these community-based efforts to assess their efficacy in reducing opioid-involved overdose and other harms of opioid use, particularly in the regions of the United States with the highest rates of fatal and non-fatal opioid-involved overdoses. Closing date: Nov. 2, 2020.

• NEW Rural Health Network Development Planning Program

HRSA-21-021 – The purpose of this grant program is to promote the development of integrated health care networks and bring together key parts of a rural health care delivery system, particularly those entities that may not have collaborated in the past, to work together to establish or improve local capacity and coordination of care.  Closing date: Nov. 16, 2020.

• NEW Learn More About Federal Funding and Resources for Rural Health

This is a recording of an 80-minute presentation (via Adobe Connect) by the Health Resources and Services Administration on rural-focused federal programs and resources.  Presenters represent USDA’s Rural Development and Rural Utilities Service, telecommunications programming at the Universal Service Administrative Company, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and two FORHP-funded rural hospital programs.

• NEW from eXtension

• Organizations Partner to Combat the Digital Divide by Launching Searchable Wi-Fi Map for Needed Broadband Connections
  Aaron Weibe, Communication & Engagement Manager, eXtension Foundation

Several partner organizations today announced the launch of the American Connection Project (ACP) interactive Wi-Fi map. The map provides a free resource to help the public locate more than 2,300 free Wi-Fi locations across 49 U.S. states. The map includes Wi-Fi locations from Land O’Lakes, Inc. and its ag retail owner network, along with several partner organizations including 4-H…Learn More

• Rural Mortality Penalty is Wide and Growing
  Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director, ECOP
  Subgroup: Health & Well-Being

After decades of lower or similar mortality rates in rural areas than in urban areas of the U.S., a rural mortality penalty emerged in the 1990s and has grown since the mid-2000s. Although the rural–urban mortality gap has widened across all major racial/ethnic groups over the past 30 years, it has widened the most among…Learn More

• Neighborhoods at Risk: New FREE Tool To See Where Climate Change is Likely To Impact The Most Vulnerable People
  Paul Lachapelle, Professor, Montana State University
  Subgroup: National Extension Climate Initiative

Hi all, See this new FREE national tool called “Neighborhoods at Risk” developed by colleagues here in Bozeman, MT at Headwaters Economic to see where climate change is likely to impact the most vulnerable people…Learn More

• Resources for Addressing Food Access for Military Families
  October 27th, 2020, 11 AM – 12:30 PM ET

This webinar discusses the resources available through the Extension and Land Grant university system and the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) that address food access and nutrition for vulnerable military service members. Federal resources will also be discussed…Learn More

• 2020 APLU Annual Meeting Registration Now Open

For the first time in its 133-year history, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Annual Meeting will be held virtually Nov. 9-11, 2020. This year’s theme is Resilience & Equity. According to APLU President Peter McPherson, the APLU Annual Meeting is still here to provide higher education leaders with an opportunity to strengthen our community with opportunities to share best practices and strategies while making lasting connections with colleagues from across North America. Click Here for the Cooperative Extension Section’s Guide to APLU/FANR Events which includes links to register for the APLU Annual meeting.  

• HRSA Releases 2019-2020 Report on Health Equity: Special Feature on Housing and Health Inequalities

The Health Resources and Services Administration, through the agency’s Office of Health Equity, today released the HRSA 2019-2020 Health Equity Report: Special Feature on Housing and Health Inequalities. The report indicates substantial progress has been made nationally for all Americans in vital indicators including life expectancy, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and influenza and pneumonia; while health inequities between population groups and geographic areas persist. The report will help HRSA and others build upon the agency’s mission to improve health outcomes and address health disparities through access to quality services, a skilled health workforce and innovative, high-value programs.

Read the release.

• 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health Data

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau released the latest data from the 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) on October 5. The NSCH provides annual, national and state-level data on the health and health care needs of children, as well as information about their families and communities. The NSCH covers a broad array of health-related topics impacting children and families such as mental and behavioral health. The survey data reveals that 13.2 percent of children aged 3-17 years in the U.S. (about 8 million children) had a current diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition. The most common condition was anxiety, which affected 8.5 percent of children, followed by behavior disorder at 6.8 percent and depression at 3.8 percent. The data also shows that 66.5 percent of children aged 6-17 years met all criteria for flourishing, a term describing children who have positive health and are thriving.

Learn more about the 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health data and how it can provide information for program and policy decision-making, implementation, and evaluation.

• Schools as Nutrition Hubs Grant Opportunity

Deadline to apply is Oct 28, 2020

No Kid Hungry is partnering with the School Nutrition Foundation to support the efforts of school nutrition departments that are working with community organizations, i.e. non-profits and out-of-school time providers, or building new partnerships to ensure kids get the food they need. Grants of up to $50,000 will be given to facilitate partnerships with community organizations to support joint efforts to ensure kids in their community have access to the federal meals programs, backpack programs and food pantries. This grant will also support the needs of school nutrition departments to run these programs. 

Details:

• Eligibility Criteria: School districts that are currently working with community organizations, or intend to work with community organizations, to provide children in their communities with access to the federal meals programs, backpack programs or food pantries during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Length of Grant: November 15, 2020 – November 15, 2021
• Grant Amount: up to $50,000 awarded to school nutrition departments
• Proposals Due: October 28, 2020 by 11:59 p.m. ET

Download the RFP to find out more about the grant and how to apply!