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!

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of October 19, 2020:

In this Edition

• Quarterly PI Call Friday, November 20, 2020
• Community Health Action Plans
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• PD and Coaching
• FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards
• 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

• Youth Mental Health Peer Circle

Youth Presenter: Sophia Rodriquez – Sophia is a junior at the University of Georgia and the 2018 Healthy Living Youth in Action Award winner.  Her platform was mental health and helping others learn to cope with mental health issues in their families.

Mental health is important at every stage of life. This peer session on mental health will explore the impact of mental health from youth and adult perspectives. Beyond the examining the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of youth and adults alike, we will be learning from our peers their experience and opportunities available to lead people to mental well-being. Sophia Rodriquez, 2018 4-H Youth in Action: Healthy Living will co-present and co-facilitate this session. The following topics will be discussed:

• What do youth have to say about mental health; learn about the results of a recent Youth Mental Health Survey that included the effects of COVID-19 on how youth see their own mental health during this time
• Opportunities to engage community members to destigmatize public health crisis on the mental health of teens- from the perspective of teens themselves.  
• What do WCC youth and adult community leaders have to say about this public health issue and what they can do within their own communities to open up dialogue about mental health.

If you have the opportunity, we invite you to view Part 1 and Part 2.

The slide deck for both session is attached.  

PD and Coaching

• THIS WEEK Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours

Office hours will be held on Tuesday, October 20 from 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST to entertain questions about Youth-Adult Partnerships or Master Volunteers.  The specific sub-topic for Master Volunteers will be how to communicate impact when working with these highly trained volunteers.  When you register, if you have specific questions, please enter them so they are sure to be addressed.

Register Here

• 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.

FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards

• We are pleased to share some exciting updates regarding the FOURWARD Fund Positive Youth Development (PYD) Awards. National 4-H Council has successfully raised additional funding ($160,000) to underwrite a second round of FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards. As a reminder,100% of this amount will go to state and local 4-H programs rather than the 70/30 split that was initially announced in April.  

Applications for the second round of funding will be available on 4-H.org/ApplyFourward on September 30 at 9:00 am ET. The application period will remain open until October 19 at 11:59 pm ET.  

For more information about how to submit a successful application for the PYD Awards, please reference the following:   

• View the recording and download the presentation from the Positive Youth Development Q&A session held on June 4.  
• Download an updated version of the PYD Awards Q&A
• Download the Overview of the Eight Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development to help inform your application  

The application process is consistent with the approach followed in June, with the addition of a diversity, equity and inclusion question.  Programs that applied during the first round but were not awarded funding are permitted to revise and resubmit their applications in October. 

Thank you to ADM, Crop Risk Services, Corteva, Microsoft and Tractor Supply Company for providing their generous support – making this next round of PYD awards possible. 

Please direct any questions about the FOURWARD Fund Positive Youth Development (PYD) Awards to Jeanine Goldsmith or Nina Lovelace.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW 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.  

• NEW Three in five households with children face COVID-related hardship

More than three in five (61 percent) U.S. households with children report experiencing serious financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a report from National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds.

• NEW Closing the Opportunity Gap: 4-H and the PYD Solution Forum

To celebrate the release of Council’s PYD White Paper, “Beyond the Gap: How America Can Address the Widening Opportunity Gap Facing Young People,” a virtual discussion of the findings was held over Zoom. This virtual discussion was led by the following Extension and National 4-H Council leaders: 

• Dr. Edwin Jones, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and immediate past ECOP chair, National 4-H Council Trustee
• Dr. Kathleen Lodl, Associate Dean and State 4-H Program Leader, University of Nebraska, chair, Program Leaders Working Group
• Dr. Mary Arnold, Director of Youth Development Research and Practice, National 4-H Council
• Tay Moore, Louisiana 4-H alumnus and National 4-H Council Young Alumni Advisory Committee member

Recording can found HERE and the Presentation slides found HERE.

• NEW from eXtension

• eXtension Hosting FDA’s Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition for Webinar: The New Nutrition Facts Label – What’s Changed and What’s Been Updated. October 22nd, 2020, 2 PM – 3 PM ET. FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), the Federal agency responsible for the Nutrition Facts label, as well as the nutrition education and outreach related to the label, will take you “behind the label” to share background on the changes and provide an in-depth tour of the updated Nutrition Facts label. CFSAN staff will also share educational materials and resources on the updated Nutrition Facts label for both health professionals and consumers. Learn More & Register Here. 

• Investing in Community Resilience Webinar: Advocating for Trauma-Informed Policy & Systems Change. October 20th, 3 PM – 4 PM ET. This is available to eXtension Members Only. Building on the Scattergood Foundation’s Trauma-Informed Philanthropy series, we are pleased to present a 10-month learning series, Investing in Community Resilience. This series, presented in partnership with the Scattergood Foundation, will provide vital information to funders and cooperative extension professionals for developing trauma-informed, healing-centered approaches in their work. Learn More and Register Here

• NEW 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.

• NEW 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!

• New Report: State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America

The rate of U.S. adults who have obesity stands at more than 42%. This marks the first time the national rate has passed the 40% mark and is a 26% increase since 2008. Check out Trust for America’s Health’s State of Obesity report for additional information.

• New Resource: Updated Indigenous People’s Day Toolkit Drops in Time for Holiday

“Americans have been fed a false history.” That’s the message behind Illuminative’s Indigenous People’s Day Toolkit, which celebrates and honors Native people. Dive into the importance of celebrating and promoting this holiday here.

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of October 12, 2020:

In this Edition

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

Community Health Action Plans

• All communities that submitted an action plan should have received their feedback summaries by September 30, 2020. If your community submitted an action plan and did not receive a feedback summary by September 30, 2020, please let Shay know as soon as possible. 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. We encourage you to review this feedback with your partners and update your action plan as needed. Please plan to upload your updated action plan to your community portal by November 30, 2020.  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

• Youth Mental Health Peer Circle

Youth Presenter: Sophia Rodriquez – Sophia is a junior at the University of Georgia and the 2018 Healthy Living Youth in Action Award winner.  Her platform was mental health and helping others learn to cope with mental health issues in their families.

Mental health is important at every stage of life. This peer session on mental health will explore the impact of mental health from youth and adult perspectives. Beyond the examining the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of youth and adults alike, we will be learning from our peers their experience and opportunities available to lead people to mental well-being. Sophia Rodriquez, 2018 4-H Youth in Action: Healthy Living will co-present and co-facilitate this session. The following topics will be discussed:

• What do youth have to say about mental health; learn about the results of a recent Youth Mental Health Survey that included the effects of COVID-19 on how youth see their own mental health during this time
• Opportunities to engage community members to destigmatize public health crisis on the mental health of teens- from the perspective of teens themselves.  
• What do WCC youth and adult community leaders have to say about this public health issue and what they can do within their own communities to open up dialogue about mental health.

If you have the opportunity, we invite you to view Part 1 and Part 2.

The slide deck for both session is attached.  

PD and Coaching

• Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours

Office hours will be held on Tuesday, October 20 from 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST to entertain questions about Youth-Adult Partnerships or Master Volunteers.  The specific sub-topic for Master Volunteers will be how to communicate impact when working with these highly trained volunteers.  When you register, if you have specific questions, please enter them so they are sure to be addressed.

Register Here

• 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

FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards

• We are pleased to share some exciting updates regarding the FOURWARD Fund Positive Youth Development (PYD) Awards. National 4-H Council has successfully raised additional funding ($160,000) to underwrite a second round of FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards. As a reminder,100% of this amount will go to state and local 4-H programs rather than the 70/30 split that was initially announced in April.  

Applications for the second round of funding will be available on 4-H.org/ApplyFourward on September 30 at 9:00 am ET. The application period will remain open until October 19 at 11:59 pm ET.  

For more information about how to submit a successful application for the PYD Awards, please reference the following:   

• View the recording and download the presentation from the Positive Youth Development Q&A session held on June 4.  
• Download an updated version of the PYD Awards Q&A
• Download the Overview of the Eight Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development to help inform your application  

The application process is consistent with the approach followed in June, with the addition of a diversity, equity and inclusion question.  Programs that applied during the first round but were not awarded funding are permitted to revise and resubmit their applications in October. 

Thank you to ADM, Crop Risk Services, Corteva, Microsoft and Tractor Supply Company for providing their generous support – making this next round of PYD awards possible. 

Please direct any questions about the FOURWARD Fund Positive Youth Development (PYD) Awards to Jeanine Goldsmith or Nina Lovelace.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW 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!

• NEW New Report: State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America

The rate of U.S. adults who have obesity stands at more than 42%. This marks the first time the national rate has passed the 40% mark and is a 26% increase since 2008. Check out Trust for America’s Health’s State of Obesity report for additional information.

• NEW New Resource: Updated Indigenous People’s Day Toolkit Drops in Time for Holiday

“Americans have been fed a false history.” That’s the message behind Illuminative’s Indigenous People’s Day Toolkit, which celebrates and honors Native people. Dive into the importance of celebrating and promoting this holiday here.

• Webinar Series: Spirituality and Mental Health

2nd Episode in 6-part series: Tues., Oct. 13, 2020, 12:00 p.m. EDT, Register here. 

Research demonstrates that spirituality and religious belief can be a protective factor in the prevention of, and recovery from, mental illness.  Learn more about programs that have translated this research into action and the importance of providing spiritual support for the clinicians themselves. Learn more about this series here and listen to prior episodes here.

• Fostering Innovative Research to Improve Mental Health Outcomes Among Minority and Health Disparities Populations

NOT-MH-20-073 — The National Institute of Mental Health seeks time-sensitive input from all interested parties on the most innovative research and research priorities to improve mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic minority and health disparities populations. Learn more here.  Response date: Oct. 30, 2020.

• New Research on Child Health

A new report from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics compares 41 indicators of well-being in children by the type of community they live in. (These are metropolitan, nonmetropolitan, micropolitan, or rural, according to the Office of Management and Budget.) The brief finds that infant mortality rates were highest in rural counties (6.8 per 1,000). During the same time, the mortality rate for Hispanic and American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic infants was also higher for those living in rural counties than those living in micropolitan and metropolitan counties. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Mental Health Treatment Among Children Aged 5-17 years, 2019, finding that as the level of urbanization decreased, the percentage of children who had taken medication for their mental health increased.

• HRSA Plans October 5 Release of 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health Data

HRSA will release 2019 data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) on October 5, which is also National Child Health Day. The NSCH provides the latest national and state-level data on the health and health care needs of children as well as information about their families and communities.

Survey topics include:

• Children’s physical and mental health;
• Health insurance status;
• Access to and use of health care services, including:
  • Receipt of preventive and specialty care;
  • Patient-centered medical home; and
  • Services to support transition to adult health care for adolescents;
• Lifetime exposure to adverse childhood experiences, and more. 

The NSCH is funded and directed by HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which oversees sampling, survey administration and the production of a final data set for public use. Look for the release on our social media channels (@HRSAgov), and like and share to show your support of Child Health Day.

• Deadline Approaching 2021 Culture of Health Prize

Call for Applications | Application Deadline: Thu, 15 Oct 2020

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize (the Prize) elevates the compelling stories of places where residents are working together to transform education, jobs, transportation, housing, and more so better health flourishes for all. A Culture of Health recognizes that where we live—such as our access to affordable homes, quality schools, good jobs, and reliable transportation—affects how long and how well we live. 

Learn more about how you can be one of our next Culture of Health Prize-winning communities by reviewing an informational webinar recording and slides.

Listen to a Prize Alumni webinar recording to hear representatives from Prize communities share their insights on the value of winning the Prize.

The following bulletin includes information regarding the Well Connected Communities initiative for the week of October 5, 2020:

In this Edition

• Community Health Action Plans
• Upcoming Wave 1 Community Evaluation Activities
• Youth Voice and Leadership
• PD and Coaching
• FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards
• News, Research, and Resources from the Field

Community Health Action Plans

• All communities that submitted an action plan should have received their feedback summaries by September 30, 2020. If your community submitted an action plan and did not receive a feedback summary by September 30, 2020, please let Shay know as soon as possible. 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. We encourage you to review this feedback with your partners and update your action plan as needed. Please plan to upload your updated action plan to your community portal by November 30, 2020.  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.  

Upcoming Wave 1 Community Evaluation Activities

• The  Center for Community Health and Evaluation, the evaluation partner for WCC, will be conducting their first major evaluation data collection effort at the community level. This first year of the evaluation, CCHE will be focusing on communities that participated in Wave 1 of WCC. In the coming weeks, CCHE will be reaching out to PIs who started in Wave 1 for support on the following evaluation activities:

• Community coalition surveys – CCHE will launch a survey at the end of August/beginning of September to collect information on how community collaboration is going, what is working well, and where there might be opportunities to strengthen partnerships. You will receive a report that includes the survey results for all of your communities that complete the survey for your use and so that you can share back with your communities.
• Youth interviews – CCHE would like to ask PIs of Wave 1 communities to help identify 1 youth who would be willing to talk about their experience with WCC. The youth could be from any of your communities that engaged in Wave 1; ideally they have been participating in WCC for at least one year, but that’s not required. CCHE aims to conduct the youth interviews in early September.

Youth Voice and Leadership

• THIS WEEKYouth Mental Health Peer Circle

Part 2: October 7, 2020, 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET

Part 2 of the Youth Mental Health Peer Circle will be Wednesday, October 7 from 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET when we will unpack Youth Mental Health Programs planned by WCC Communities.  You are welcome to join even if you missed session 1.  If you have the opportunity, we invite you to view Part 1.  

Register for Part 2

The registration is organized by Community so one adult lead from the community will register all youth and adults (The adult that registers everyone from their community will need to share the ZOOM link with all participants.) The session will be based on the discussion from the September 2, 2020 Session.

• Youth Food Security Webinar Postponed

The Youth Food Security Webinar originally scheduled for September 23 was postponed.  At the September 2 Youth Introductory Session, there was wonderful WCC work already in progress engaging youth leadership in organizing the distribution of blessing boxes (similar to Little Free Libraries), and other food distribution techniques.  If anyone has youth who would like to help plan and carry out a youth-driven food security webinar, please let JoAnne Leatherman (jleatherman@fourhcouncil.edu) know by the end of September.  We would like to highlight your work through this webinar, which will likely be in late October.

PD and Coaching

• Youth-Adult Volunteer Leadership Office Hours

Office hours will be held on Tuesday, October 20 from 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST to entertain questions about Youth-Adult Partnerships or Master Volunteers.  The specific sub-topic for Master Volunteers will be how to communicate impact when working with these highly trained volunteers.  When you register, if you have specific questions, please enter them so they are sure to be addressed.

Register Here

• 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

• Leading Together for Equity and Inclusion Webinar

September 17, 2020, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Presenter: Dorothy Freeman, PhD

Recording (slide deck attached)

Dr. Freeman is the Director of Equity at National 4-H Council whose role is to lead Council to strategically align its programmatic priorities and vision with the Equity, Access and Belonging Committee. Dr. Freeman has a distinctive career in 4-H Extension where she was Associate Dean and State 4-H Director with the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development and 25years Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech University. 

Dr. Freeman will delve into the topics listed below and her presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with some Wave 2 grantees:

• How are we defining equity and inclusion? Holding it as a value? [CES & 4-H]
• What is Extension/4-H learning about equity during this time of multiple pandemics (COVID-19 and widespread calls for racial justice)
• How are we adapting/moving to action?
• What are the unique challenges and opportunities related to WCC? What is our unique role?
• The Extension Model as a community engagement model.

FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards

• We are pleased to share some exciting updates regarding the FOURWARD Fund Positive Youth Development (PYD) Awards. National 4-H Council has successfully raised additional funding ($160,000) to underwrite a second round of FOURWARD Fund PYD Awards. As a reminder,100% of this amount will go to state and local 4-H programs rather than the 70/30 split that was initially announced in April.  

Applications for the second round of funding will be available on 4-H.org/ApplyFourward on September 30 at 9:00 am ET. The application period will remain open until October 19 at 11:59 pm ET.  

For more information about how to submit a successful application for the PYD Awards, please reference the following:   

• View the recording and download the presentation from the Positive Youth Development Q&A session held on June 4.  
• Download an updated version of the PYD Awards Q&A
• Download the Overview of the Eight Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development to help inform your application  

The application process is consistent with the approach followed in June, with the addition of a diversity, equity and inclusion question.  Programs that applied during the first round but were not awarded funding are permitted to revise and resubmit their applications in October. 

Thank you to ADM, Crop Risk Services, Corteva, Microsoft and Tractor Supply Company for providing their generous support – making this next round of PYD awards possible. 

Please direct any questions about the FOURWARD Fund Positive Youth Development (PYD) Awards to Jeanine Goldsmith or Nina Lovelace.

News, Research and Resources from the Field:

• NEW Hispanic Heritage Month 2020 Twitter Chat/#HealthyLatinos

Thurs., Oct. 8, 2020, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Join this bilingual Twitter chat in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month. The chat will focus on highlighting healthy behaviors for the Hispanic/Latino community in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; getting the recommended vaccinations; and highlight efforts to improve diversity in clinical trials.  Use #HealthyLatinos.

• NEW Webinar Series: Spirituality and Mental Health

2nd Episode in 6-part series: Tues., Oct. 13, 2020, 12:00 p.m. EDT, Register here. 

Research demonstrates that spirituality and religious belief can be a protective factor in the prevention of, and recovery from, mental illness.  Learn more about programs that have translated this research into action and the importance of providing spiritual support for the clinicians themselves. Learn more about this series here and listen to prior episodes here.

• NEW Fostering Innovative Research to Improve Mental Health Outcomes Among Minority and Health Disparities Populations

NOT-MH-20-073 — The National Institute of Mental Health seeks time-sensitive input from all interested parties on the most innovative research and research priorities to improve mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic minority and health disparities populations. Learn more here.  Response date: Oct. 30, 2020.

• NEW New Research on Child Health

A new report from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics compares 41 indicators of well-being in children by the type of community they live in. (These are metropolitan, nonmetropolitan, micropolitan, or rural, according to the Office of Management and Budget.) The brief finds that infant mortality rates were highest in rural counties (6.8 per 1,000). During the same time, the mortality rate for Hispanic and American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic infants was also higher for those living in rural counties than those living in micropolitan and metropolitan counties. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Mental Health Treatment Among Children Aged 5-17 years, 2019, finding that as the level of urbanization decreased, the percentage of children who had taken medication for their mental health increased.

• NEW HRSA Plans October 5 Release of 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health Data

HRSA will release 2019 data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) on October 5, which is also National Child Health Day. The NSCH provides the latest national and state-level data on the health and health care needs of children as well as information about their families and communities.

Survey topics include:

• Children’s physical and mental health;
• Health insurance status;
• Access to and use of health care services, including:
  • Receipt of preventive and specialty care;
  • Patient-centered medical home; and
  • Services to support transition to adult health care for adolescents;
• Lifetime exposure to adverse childhood experiences, and more. 

The NSCH is funded and directed by HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which oversees sampling, survey administration and the production of a final data set for public use. Look for the release on our social media channels (@HRSAgov), and like and share to show your support of Child Health Day.

• 2021 Culture of Health Prize

Call for Applications | Application Deadline: Thu, 15 Oct 2020

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize (the Prize) elevates the compelling stories of places where residents are working together to transform education, jobs, transportation, housing, and more so better health flourishes for all. A Culture of Health recognizes that where we live—such as our access to affordable homes, quality schools, good jobs, and reliable transportation—affects how long and how well we live. 

Learn more about how you can be one of our next Culture of Health Prize-winning communities by reviewing an informational webinar recording and slides.

Listen to a Prize Alumni webinar recording to hear representatives from Prize communities share their insights on the value of winning the Prize.

• Let’s Talk About Recovery — Resources from NIDA

In acknowledgment of National Recovery Month, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released the following resources to help jumpstart a dialogue with your community and family members.

• Conversation Starter: MTV “16 and Recovering” Series

MTV premiered a new four-part docu-series,“16 and Recovering,” spotlighting stories from teens at Northshore Recovery High School in Massachusetts.  The program can be a  conversation starter for parents, caregivers, and educators to help teens realize they’re not alone or different—and that the disease of addiction is treatable.

• Words Matter: Preferred Language for Talking About Addiction

NIDA’s preferred language guide helps de-stigmatize conversations about drug use and addiction using person-first, non-judgmental language. Additional information may be found on drugabuse.gov and teens.drugabuse.gov.

• NIDA’s Step by Step Guides to Finding Treatment for Drug Use Disorders

This series of publications is filled with resources and information to help you or someone you care about who might have a drug use disorder, including a guide specifically written for young people.

• Teens Ask: “Is There a Cure for Addiction?”

During National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®, teens often ask about a cure for addiction. In this blog post for teens, experts explain that while there may not be a cure, there is treatment that helps people live full, healthy lives.

• NIAAA: Ask 10 Recommended Questions

These questions, outlined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), will help you learn whether a substance use disorder treatment provider offers higher-quality treatment and is a good fit for your situation. Here is the link to NIAAA’s tool for recognizing quality care.