Will the HBO series “The Weight of the Nation” be a catalyst for community change?

May 9th, 2012 by Donna Shanklin

When Rachel Carson wrote “Silent Spring” did she realize it would be the catalyst for environmental awareness of a generation?

The health-related groups that are involved in the HBO series “The Weight of the Nation” are too numerous to mention. We count ourselves, the Creating Healthy Communities Community of Practice (CHC CoP), as a group that wants the series to succeed in galvanizing people to become involved in the obesity issue.

Weight of the Nation Sesries logo - filmstrip with words and USA map

Weight of the Nation Series Logo

 

The Weight of the Nation Discussion guide breaks the series into 3 parts:

 

 

 

-Consequences

-Choices

-Children in Crisis

 

The Children in Crisis segment addresses many of the issues the CHC CoP addresses in our work online, in webinars and twitter chats. We focus on the role of the community in public policy and education of the community much as this series does.

Join us as we watch the series May 14 and 15th. Organize a group to discuss the series and gear up to make some changes in your life and/or the life of you community. Who knows it could be the catalyst for change — be it just YOU or YOUR community.

Discuss the series on Twitter and use the hashtag #weightofthenation and #PriesterHealth.

Visit the HBO series page http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/

Visit the NIH info page at http://www.nih.gov/health/NIHandweightofthenation/

 

 

 

Gearing up for Priester Conference! Webinars March 26 & April 2, 2012

March 16th, 2012 by Donna Shanklin

As the Creating Healthy Communities membership GEAR UP for the Priester Conference April 10 – 12 in Washington, DC, we are also preparing attendees and potential attendees for the types of speakers and interactions, they can expect to be exposed to when they attend the Conference in person.

Public policy, funding, and community action are necessary components of community development — the two webinars will be discussing these important issues. Enhancing the Impact of Public Policy on the Health of Vulnerable Populations and Connecting Federal Priorities with Local Community Action are the titles of the two webinars.

Title: Enhancing the Impact of Public Policy on the Health of Vulnerable Populations

Presenter: Roberta Riportella, Ph.D.,  Professor, Health Policy Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Date & Time: Monday, March 26 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (EDT)

Link to http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/communities a few minutes before 3:00 p.m. (EDT). Participants will use computer speakers for audio and interact through the chat box.

Title: Connecting Federal Priorities with Local Community Action

Presenter: Sharon Hoelscher Day, CFCS Emeritus, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

Date & Time: Monday, April 2 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (EDT)

Link to http://learn.extension.org/events/478 a few minutes before 1:00 p.m. (EDT). Participants will use computer speakers for audio and interact through the chat box.

For more information about the speakers connect with the Priester Conference website at http://blogs.extension.org/priesterconference/ and click on the preconference webinar tab AFTER you check out the schedule of events for the April 10 – 12 Priester Conference.

We look forward to seeing your name on the list of webinar attendees and at the Priester Conference.



Journal of Health Communication Celebrates 100th Issue!

January 18th, 2012 by Donna Shanklin

The Journal’s mission of “‘presenting timely research into and evaluations of the use of communication to prevent disease and promote good health’’ is also part of the Creating Healthy Communities mission. We, like the Journal, want to “nurture supportive personal, family, work, and community environments’’. (Ratzan 1996).

Celebrate the 100th issue of the Journal of Health Communication

Celebrate the 100th issue of the Journal of Health Communication

In celebration — the Journal of Health Communication — has open access to all the 100th issues articles. IT IS FREE!

Visit the site at http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/uhcm20/current

Articles include:

•Health Communication Grows in Significance—The 100th Issue

•A Look Back: The Journal of Health Communication Celebrates 100 Issues

•Critiquing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Health Communication Campaigns Targeted to American Indians

•The Picture of Mental Health/Illness in the Printed Media in Three Central European Countries

•Build It, and Will They Come? Unexpected Findings From a Study on a Web-Based Intervention to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening

•The Role of Endorsers, Framing, and Rewards on the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplement Advertisements

•When Movies Matter: Exposure to Smoking in Movies and Changes in Smoking Behavior

•Using Theory to Identify Beliefs Associated With Support for Policies to Raise the Price of High-Fat and High-Sugar Foods

•Communicating Immunization Science: The Genesis and Evolution of the National Network for Immunization Information

- Remember to visit the site online at http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/uhcm20/current

And YES — we could have linked individually to each  article — but we wanted you to see the breath of work that encompasses health communication before clicking out into hyperspace.

Sit back and read the 100th issue cover to cover

Sit back and read the 100th issue cover to cover - be it a print copy, tablet PC or iPad

—————-

Ratzan , S. ( 1996 ). The status and scope of health communication . Journal of Health Communication http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730.2012.646910#tabModule

 

Priester Conference – Call for Abstracts/Presentations January 30 deadline

January 6th, 2012 by Donna Shanklin

The call for Abstracts /Presentations has been made for the April 10-12 Priester Conference in Washington DC — summit your abstracts TODAY! Deadline is January 30th at 5:00 pm EST

2012 PRIESTER NATIONAL EXTENSION HEALTH CONFERENCE

Learn more at:  http://priesterconference.org – links to HOW TO information  and a SUBMISSION PAGE to fill online or print out and send in!

We will be celebrating our 15th Annual Conference – Leveraging Partnerships to Improve the Health of the Nation

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS/PRESENTATIONS!

CONFERENCE DATES  — April 10-12, 2012

LOCATION :  Marriott Renaissance

999 Ninth Street NW

Washington, District Of Columbia 20001 USA

Learn more at:  http://priesterconference.org

REMEMBER — Deadline for Submission of Proposals: January 30, 2012@ 5pm EST

The eXtension Creating Healthy Communities Community of Practice (CoP) is looking forward to the Conference and we hope you are too! Remember to use the #priesterhealth hashtag when you TWEET or post on FACEBOOK.

2012 Jeanne M. Priester Award Nominations Open – February 10, 2012 Deadline

November 28th, 2011 by Donna Shanklin

2012 Jeanne M. Priester Award

Sponsored by the National Priester Extension Health Conference

Nomination Due Date: February 10, 2012

Purpose:

The Jeanne M. Priester Award honors the accomplishments and contributions of Jeanne M. Priester to the Cooperative Extension System. Ms. Priester was a leader in advancing health education within the CES during her tenure at the United States Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the award is to honor Extension programs that are positively impacting the health of people across the United States, and that are providing the leadership to expand Extension’s capacity to effectively implement health programs. The Priester Award will recognize sound and innovative health education programs on the county, state and national level.

Award Categories

Two awards will be given. A nomination can be for either a Statewide/Multi-state Program or County/Multi-county Program.

Award

A plaque will be presented to the winning individual or team in each category. In the case of a team award each team member will also receive a certificate. These awards will be presented at the 2012 National Priester Extension Health Conference to be held April 10-12, 2012 in Washington, DC. Award winners will be notified prior to the conference. It is expected that award winners will be present to receive their award.

Nominations and Eligibility

Any Extension employee may make nominations. Self-nominations are acceptable. Project Leaders must have an Extension appointment and programs must be ongoing to be nominated.

Criteria and Award Eligibility

Proposals will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

1. The program must be a planned ongoing educational program with consistent interventions and a series of activities that focus on a specific health issue. (30 Points)

2. The program targets an at-risk population. (10 Points)

3. The program must show both local and statewide support. (10 Points)

4. The program must demonstrate an evaluation process. (30 Points)

5. There is evidence of a reviewed curriculum or products developed as part of the program. (10 Points)

6. The program must be replicable. (10 Points)

Project Description

Limit project description to 4 pages and attach to the nomination form which follows. Use 12-point font, one-inch margins, and single-spacing. Do not attach supplemental documents, such as publications or brochures.

1. Program Description – This section should provide details on the program such as a description of the following:

a) The need for the program and program objectives;

b) The primary target audience (number of participants, type of audience the program served (demographics); the potential audience that could have been served): and

c) The program delivery methods (type of methods used, number of lessons, training hours, etc).

2. Local and statewide support – This section should briefly describe the extent that the program is accepted at the multi-state, state, and local levels. Include a list of collaborating partners who played a significant role in the program as well as the involvement of stakeholders.

3. Program Evaluation – This section should describe the evaluation process (type of evaluation performed, measurable outcomes validated and changes made to the program, if any, as a result of evaluation.)

4. Products Developed – List any reviewed curriculum, CDs, videos, publications, journal articles, web based resources, etc. developed for the program, note whether products are peer-reviewed, sold to other states or used by other states, etc. When applicable and appropriate, provide a URL where the materials can be viewed.

5. Replicability – This section should include a description of any Extension Services, agencies or organizations who have replicated the program or its potential to be replicated. Include how program was adapted for other communities or target populations.

Review and Selection Process

1. The Priester Conference Planning Committee will coordinate the review and selection process.

2. The review team will consist of both members of the Priester Conference Planning Committee and external individuals.

3. The review team may choose not to give an award if no submitted proposals adequately meet the identified criteria.

4. Proposals will be reviewed based on stated Criteria, Award Eligibility, and Proposal Format requirements

Due Date

The nomination form and project proposal must be received by February 10, 2012. All information must be received under one cover. No late proposals will be reviewed. Send the nomination packet by e-mail to: Anna Mae Kobbe at amkobbe@aol.com. Please use “Priester Award” as the subject header.

Conference Information

Additional information regarding the 2012 National Priester Extension Health Conference including registration information can be found on the web at http://www.priesterconference.org/

Priester Theme Announced! Leveraging Partnerships to Improve the Health of the Nation

November 4th, 2011 by Donna Shanklin

The theme, location and date  have been announced for the Priester National Extension Health Conference.

THEME: Leveraging Partnerships to Improve the Health of the Nation

LOCATION: Marriott Renaissance – 999 Ninth Street NW – Washington, District Of Columbia 20001 USA

DATE: April 10-12, 2012!

Looking forward to hearing updates on a diversity of health issues from health literacy to community greenscapes. It is the Conference’s 15th year of existence and everyone is looking forward to seeing fellow health professionals from throughout the US there.

A call for proposals to be announced shortly.

The Priester National Extension Health Conference is coming! April 2012 Washington DC

October 6th, 2011 by Donna Shanklin

Jeanne Priester was a dynamo when it came to moving forward a health agenda within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The long-standing national Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) first existed under her innovative effort to train community members as lay nutrition educators in Alabama.

Under her direction the program transformed from a regional program that impacted families throughout the south to a national program that impacted hundreds of thousands of families throughout the United States.

Beginning as early as 1993, a group of extension staff from around the country with particular interest in health education met, under Ms. Priester’s direction.

Eventually the group grew large enough that there was extensive energy to organize the first National Extension Health Conference and the organizers had no doubt that the conference should be named in honor of Ms. Priester, her vision, and her ability to organize and energize new ideas and projects.  Hence was created the Priester National Extension Health Conference.

The Conference has weaved around to different locations in the United States, from Alabama to Missouri to North Carolina. In 2012 the Priester National Extension Health Conference will be held in Washington DC the week of April 10th under the leadership of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension and Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy .

Health educators, community advocates, researchers, and others will come together in Washington DC to discuss a diversity of topics — from walkable communities to using social media to push health messages to youth.

The Creating Health Communities Community of Practice (CoP) is excited to partner with the host organizati0n — University of Maryland Cooperative Extension — in promoting the Conference and its objectives.

Look for more information from a diversity of sites — from the www.priesterconference.org to eXtension’s Creating Healthy Communities landing page within eXtension.org.

 


Health and Twitter: Who to Follow?

July 1st, 2011 by H. Marissa Stone

Have a Twitter account? I didn’t until just a day or so ago. I joined (kicking and screaming, I might add) the millions of users who are now sending 140 million tweets per day, on average, up from 50 million Tweets sent per day a year ago.

So what’s available in 140 characters or less when it comes to creating healthy communities? Here’s a few health Twitter accounts  you may want to follow.

  • Let’s Move, the White House Initiative for physical activity: @letsmove
  • Environmental Protection Agency: @EPAgov
  • Environmental Health Perspectives, a research journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: @EHPonline
  • US Department of Health and Human Services: @HHSGov
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: @CDCgov
  • The Public Health Foundation: @ThePHF
  • National Association of Community Health Centers: @NACHC
  • CommunityHealthCorps, AmeriCorps program based in community health centers: @CommHealthCorps

Not on Twitter yet? Go to twitter.com and sign up. Select a few accounts of interest to follow at first, and just listen.

Whether you’re a newbie or a Twitter savvy user with tons of followers, please share your favorite health Twitter accounts with us.

Start following us on @CreateHealthCoP and use hashtag #CHC to join the social media landscape and the Creating Healthy Communities conversation!