About this Webinar

Across the country and locally in Vermont, there has been an increase in recognition of the effectiveness of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in supporting individuals with diabetes. As trusted members of the communities they work with, CHWs are well suited to provide diabetes support and offer ongoing care in addressing social and health issues. Organizations have increased efforts to integrate CHWs in the delivery of diabetes support, but there is a need to increase awareness about how to successfully expand the role of CHWs in addressing diabetes.

What you'll learn

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• Define types, symptoms, risk factors and complications of diabetes
• Discuss the rate of Vermonters with Diabetes
• Identify the roles that Community Health Workers can play in diabetes prevention and control
  
  

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Jennifer Woolard
  BS, MPH

More

Jennifer Woolard, BS, MPH: Jennifer Woolard is the Public Health Program Administrator with the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) Heart Disease and Diabetes Program. She holds a master’s in public health and a bachelor’s in nutrition and has more than ten years of public health experience. Her roles have spanned across various settings, including work with schools, towns, community organizations, health systems, and statewide partners, all aimed at reducing the burden of disease. Over the last five years, Jennifer has worked with community and clinical partners to address system level interventions in support of the prevention and management of heart disease and diabetes. Part of Jennifer’s work has also centered on the development of a formal statewide infrastructure to support and sustain Community Health Workers in Vermont.

• 
  

  Sharon Anderson
  RDN

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Sharon Anderson is a registered dietitian nutritionist and a certified diabetes care and education specialist. She has worked at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in Saint Johnsbury for the past 20 years. Currently she is the director of nutrition and food service. Sharon graduated from the University of Vermont in 1992 with a BS in Nutritional Sciences. She has spent the bulk of her career working with people who have obesity and or diabetes and helping them live healthier lives.



• 
  

  Deborah Locke-Rousseau
  Community Health Team Lead, CHW Supervisor,
  Community Connections of NVRH

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Debbie has been with NVRH for four and a half years. Debbie came to NVRH from the local Council on Aging after 15 years’ experience, 10 years in Case Management and 5 years as a CM Supervisor. Debbie has a background in Emergency Medicine having worked with the local EMS and UVM Medical Center Emergency Department as well as their transport team, as a Correctional Officer, and as a Medical Billing Specialist. As the CHT Lead, she organizes and facilitates the monthly CHT meetings for the NVRH Health Service Area. Our CHT includes not only the Blueprint paid staff, as the title implies, but each partner in the HSA that provides services to our fellow community members, patients, clients. We have over 50 Community Partner Agencies that participate, with over 160 members on the distribution listing. Community Connections is the gateway to those services provided to the community by our Community Health Team members. As a free service provided by NVRH, the CHWs are available by phone, fax, provider or community partner referral or on a walk-in basis at their building on the NVRH campus to conduct a brief intake and hear what is important to and for the individual, conducting a benefits review and supporting them in self-managing to live their best lives.

• 
  

  Crystal Bigelow
  CHW and Vermont Health Connect Navigator at Community Connections of NVRH

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Crystal has been a CHW at Community Connections for a little over three years. In that time she has trained to become a Vermont Health Connect Navigator, a Health Coach, and most recently a Peer Recovery Coach in order to support our local peer recovery center as CHWs. Crystal came to NVRH with seven years’ experience as a Medical Receptionist and a Dental Billing Specialist at Northern Counties Health Care.





Registration

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Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

Join Dr. Chris Chanyasulkit, President-Elect of the American Public Health Association, for her keynote address to Maine Public Health Association’s Annual Conference where she discusses public health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with specific examples from Maine, and recommendations for using public health skills and knowledge to move forward to advance health and equity.

What you'll learn

At the end of the recording, participants will be able to:

• Identify public health responses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and much uncertainty
• Identify and discuss innovative responses taken within Maine to adapt quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Discuss recommendations for harnessing the power of public health for health equity for all
  
  

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  

  Chris Chanyasulkit

  More

  Chris Chanyasulkit is grounded in a strong belief in eliminating the structural barriers to equity for vulnerable populations. Chris holds leadership positions with local, state, regional and national governance and civic engagement organizations, working to promote racial, gender, and health equity. leadership positions with local, state, regional and national governance and civic engagement organizations, working to promote racial and gender equity and policy advocacy. She served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Massachusetts Asian American Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women where she advocated for the needs of Asian Americans and Women throughout the Commonwealth. Dr. Chanyasulkit has served as a Human Services Specialist and Assistant Director of Diversity in the town of Brookline’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations. She designed and delivered graduate public health courses at the Simmons University Department of Public Health. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Temple University, where she teaches Public Health Advocacy in the College of Public Health. Chris earned a B.A. in Biology and Art History from Boston University, an M.P.H. (with a concentration in maternal and child health care) from the Boston University School of Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Northeastern University, where she conducted research on health disparities. In addition to her advocacy and scholarly pursuits, Dr. Chanyasulkit is President-Elect of the American Public Health Association (APHA), an elected Library Trustee of the Public Libraries of Brookline, a Brookline Community Emergency Response Team member, and a Brookline Medical Reserve Corps member. Chris lives in Brookline, Massachusetts with her husband, James, a software engineer, and their three children.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

In this Webinar series, you will get to know two important environmental health issues: extreme heat and air pollution. We will discuss important concepts and research methods through case-studies on specific projects conducted in the City of Chelsea, Massachusetts.

What you'll learn

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• Explain key environmental health concepts, risk factors for various environmental exposures, vulnerable populations, environmental (in)justice, quantitative research methods, qualitative research methods, and community-engaged approaches.
• Demonstrate a deeper understanding of two important environmental exposures of concern in the context of an environmental justice community: extreme heat and air pollution.
• Identify facilitators and barriers that different community partners face when communicating environmental health risks.  
• Discuss relevant environmental health policy and regulatory applications. 

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Alina McIntyre
  

More

Alina McIntyre is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in both Community Health and Spanish at Tufts University, Alina completed a Master’s degree in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research is part of the Chelsea and East Boston Heat Study (C-HEAT), a collaborative project between GreenRoots, Inc. and BUSPH. She is specifically involved in community-engaged heat and air pollution exposure research, drawing on environmental epidemiology, exposure assessment, and qualitative methods.





Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.



Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

In this Webinar series, you will get to know two important environmental health issues: extreme heat and air pollution. We will discuss important concepts and research methods through case-studies on specific projects conducted in the City of Chelsea, Massachusetts.

What you'll learn

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• Explain key environmental health concepts, risk factors for various environmental exposures, vulnerable populations, environmental (in)justice, quantitative research methods, qualitative research methods, and community-engaged approaches.
• Demonstrate a deeper understanding of two important environmental exposures of concern in the context of an environmental justice community: extreme heat and air pollution.
• Identify facilitators and barriers that different community partners face when communicating environmental health risks.  
• Discuss relevant environmental health policy and regulatory applications. 

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Alina McIntyre
  

More

Alina McIntyre is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in both Community Health and Spanish at Tufts University, Alina completed a Master’s degree in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research is part of the Chelsea and East Boston Heat Study (C-HEAT), a collaborative project between GreenRoots, Inc. and BUSPH. She is specifically involved in community-engaged heat and air pollution exposure research, drawing on environmental epidemiology, exposure assessment, and qualitative methods.

• 
  

  Bianca Navarro Bowman
  

More

Bianca Navarro Bowman is the Climate Justice Coordinator at GreenRoots, Inc. She is passionate about building community knowledge, power, and leadership to combat the unequal distribution of the effects of climate change. At GreenRoots, she leads and supports projects that focus on centering resident involvement and perspectives in advancing community climate resilience and adaptation. Bianca loves working with community members and coworkers to improve the ability of EJ populations to safely navigate increasing summer heat temperatures, flood impacts, and decarbonization efforts that threaten to leave low- and middle-income folks and people of color behind in the clean energy transition. She is originally from the Washington, DC area and graduated from the College of William & Mary in Virginia. She studied English Literature and Environmental Science & Policy and has a background in community-based citizen science research, environmental field work and forest fire management work.





Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.



Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

Maine's aged building stock creates wide spread health challenges including asthma, exposures to toxins in building materials, stress in physical discomfort and vulnerability in extreme weather and anxiety of about heating and cooling costs. The barriers to retrofitting are multi-fold, the rewards of retrofitting combine the health benefits with carbon and reduction as part of our path to our carbon goals. Equitable approaches to improving the built environment are critical. passivhausMAINE is exploring bundling funding sources for systemic approaches to whole building renovation. We are preparing the case for cross/multi department communication and systems to ease the funding barriers and structure scalable retrofits across the state through pilot projects in Freeport and Lewiston, Maine. 

What you'll learn

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate the potential for wide scale retrofits through multi-agency funding approaches.
• Analyse the comprehensive benefits of building retrofits to physical and mental health and the corollary benefits of carbon and energy reduction. 
• Explore the overlapping issues of housing, gender, racial, education and economic justice. 

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Naomi Beal
  

More

Naomi Beal is the Executive Director and founding member of passivhausMAINE [phME] and a founding board member of the Passive House Network. Naomi embraces the challenge of developing phME into a sustainable and impactful organisation through local, national, and international partnerships. Naomi believes Maine’s economic development can be fostered through a framework of building efficiency and innovative and traditional wood products and prioritizes equitable retrofits as both climate mitigation and adaptation. Naomi lives in South Freeport, ME.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

This webinar will explore race as a social construct and its implications in data collection and research. Participants will hear from presenters how the concept of race originated and how to uphold diversity and equity in research and policy, with specific examples of the implications of systemic racism in policies in Maine.

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe race as a social construct
• Explain the implications of race in data collection and research
• Identify two ways to uphold diversity and equity in research and policy

This webinar will be recorded and made available within 2 business days of the webinar close. Please log in to view the recording in the section "View a Recording of the Webinar.

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Winfred Williams, MD

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Dr. Win Williams is the Associate Chief of the MGH Division of Nephrology and Founding Director of the MGH Center for Diversity and Inclusion. He has a long, foundational track record at MGH in the development of programs to enhance the diversity of the physician workforce and at the Harvard Medical School. Over the past two decades, he has helped develop critical initiatives to support hospital-wide diversity goals. Dr. Williams is also the deputy director of the New England Journal of Medicine. He graduated from Harvard College with a B.A. in Biochemical Sciences. He went on to medical school at the New York University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

• 
  

  Bruce King

More

Bruce King is the Co-Executive Director of Maine Inside Out. His focus is on the leadership, growth and community outreach for MIO. Bruce’s lived experience as a previously incarcerated individual provides him with the insight critical to building connection and promoting healing for the people and communities he interacts with. Prior to joining MIO, Bruce worked in the fields of substance use disorder and recovery, mentoring and coaching multicultural youth and community building. As a second generation Mexican American, Bruce serves on the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations to address disparate treatment of marginalized ethnic groups and actualize racial justice. He is on the board of Mindbridge and an active member of the Prison Reentry Network.

• 
  

  Keith Maddox

More

Keith Maddox earned his A.B. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Professor in the Psychology Department at Tufts University, Director of the Tufts University Social Cognition (TUSC) Lab. His research and teaching are focused on exploring social cognitive aspects of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. The long-range goal of this work is to further the understanding of the representation of stereotypic knowledge and its implications for the behavior and treatment of members of stereotyped groups. He is co-Director of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Program, has served as the Special Advisor to the Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at Tufts, and has founded an initiative at Tufts that seeks to bring social science evidence to bear on the development and evaluation of programs designed to address the challenges and opportunities associated with diversity, climate, and inclusion in organizations.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

Participants will learn about the history of slavery and racism in Maine, including the role of eugenics and the term Vacationland. Presenters will talk about our shared ancestry and how the slavery has impacted the way the world functions today. Participants will also learn specific examples of racism and how it plays out in communities.

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe how Maine’s history with slavery has impacted genocide, immigration, disinformation and racism in American culture.
• Describe the hidden history of black communities in Maine.

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Myron M. Beasley, PhD

More

Myron M. Beasley, Ph.D. is Associate Professor and Chair of American Studies at Bates College. His ethnographic research explores the intersection of cultural politics, material culture and social change. His book, Disturbers of the peace: Performance, Art, and politics of the African Diaspora is currently in press by Routledge. Having conducted fieldwork in Morocco, Haiti, and Brazil he writes about art and food and the constructions of identity and culture. He is also an international curator and he is a trustee of the Maine Historic Society. He has been recognized with distinguished awards and fellowships by the Andy Warhol Foundation, the Whiting Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, the Kindling Fund, The Davis Family Foundation, the Reed Foundation, and Dorathea and Leo Rabkin Foundation. His writing appears in Liminalities: The Journal of Performance Studies, The Journal of Poverty, Text and Performance Quarterly, Museum & Social Issues, The Journal of Curatorial Studies and Performance Research, and Gastronomica.

• 
  

  Bob Greene

More

Bob Greene is a native of Portland and the eighth generation of his family to be born in Cumberland County. His roots in Maine stretch back into the 1700s. After graduating from Portland High, Bob went off to college and a career as a journalist, covering among other things airplane crashes, Mississippi River floods and the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He has met three presidents: Harry Truman, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. And, as The Associated Press Tennis Writer, Bob traveled the world covering the sport. After retiring he returned home to Maine where his genealogical research has led to his deep knowledge about Maine’s Black history. He currently teaches a Black History of Maine course at OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute} at the University of Southern Maine. Bob also is the 2021 recipient of the Maine Historical Society’s Neal Allen Award, which is presented each year for exceptional contributions to Maine History.

• 
  

  Pedro Vazquez

More

Pedro A. Vázquez (he/him/his) is a community leader and organizer holding multiple roles dedicated to abolitionism, anti-racism, and uplifting of the community. His work highlights the need for just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive initiatives in all structures of society and demands accountability to aim beyond the cosmetic. A father of 6, he specifically engages with young people in recognition of their brilliance and natural ability to lead.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

The concept of food sovereignty has developed within Indigenous communities and is broadly applicable. It offers a framework for working toward a greater degree of local autonomy over food production and food access, alleviating food insecurity, and fostering a culture of environmental justice. While food sovereignty has received increased attention in recent years, the focused has largely been on developing a conceptual framework emphasizing local, Indigenous control over food production and distribution in Tribal communities. Less information has been disseminated on practical strategies for implementing food sovereignty initiatives in real-world settings. The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (HBMI) has launched a food sovereignty initiative with the aims of increasing access to nutritious food, improving food security, and strengthening connections to Wabanaki culture through the sharing of traditional approaches to food production, storage, and preparation - including planting edible landscapes, Three Sisters, and sacred medicines. Lessons learned are adding to current knowledge about how to develop, implement, and evaluate a model that is rooted in the principals of food sovereignty and designed to increase access to nutritious food, food security, and connection to traditional culture.

The Initiative is implementing coordinated, culturally-connected strategies including establishing community gardens available to youth, Elders, and over 309 individual households throughout Maliseet territory, as well as foster-children in non-Native households - this represents a reach to over 700 individuals. Youth interns have been engaged in program management, training, and evaluation activities. Opportunities to learn and share knowledge about traditional storage and recipes are being provided to community members. Existing partnerships are being leveraged to develop a sustainable model. Evaluation processes are collecting input from the community to understand the overall impact. Household gardens are being installed for each Tribal housing unit. Additional community gardens will enable food production capacity to increase over the coming years.

What you'll learn

At the end of the recording, participants will be able to:

• Describe the concepts of food sovereignty, food security, and environmental justice
• Describe the main programmatic aspects of the Maliseet Food Sovereignty Initiative
• Discuss strategies for implementing and evaluating a community-based food sovereignty initiative

Subject Matter Experts

Chief Clarissa Sabattis, Houlton Band of Maliseets

More

Andrew Pritchard, MPH Lead Program Evaluator, PHRI Consulting

More

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

_{Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

About this Webinar

The region called Maine is the ancestral territory of indigenous communities. The COVID 19 pandemic has been triggering for tribal nations. Disease was one of the first weapons used against indigenous people, whether understood or not, diminishing and devastating native populations and aiding the taking of land. What does moving forward together look like?

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Restate perspectives of Indigenous Communities from personal narratives
• Explain why social inequity leads to certain outcomes
• Identify basic knowledge of tribal nations in Maine

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Maulian Dana

More

Tribal Ambassador Maulian Dana presents issues important to Penobscot Nation and wide native and non-native audiences. Her topics include land use, water rights, trial sovereignty, eradication of native American mascots, and establishing Indigenous People’s Day. Dana was born on the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation on May 17, 1984, and is one of five children. She is the daughter of former Penobscot Nation Chief Barry Dana, who served from 2000 to 2004. She attended the University of Maine with a focus in political science. In 2005 she was awarded the Margaret Chase Smith Public Policy Scholarship and went on to graduate in 2006.[2] She serves on the board of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, as co-chair of Maine Climate Councils Equity subcommittee, and as co-chair of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

_{Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

About this Recording

When looking at the disproportionate impact in health disparities on communities of color, the black community's experience can be an indicator of what is happening to all marginalized communities. It is possible that empathy is hard to have as a member of a less impacted community. If you don't see it and don't experience it, it seems you don't feel it.

What you'll learn

At the end of the recording, participants will be able to:

• List four ways in which Black and Brown communities have been disadvantaged more than white communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Name three health impacts of not having stable and safe housing
• Name two actions on housing policies that can reduce housing inequity
• Name three ways that the Justice System can reduce racial injustice

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Dr. Danielle Cooper
More

Dr. Danielle Cooper is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and the Director of Research at the Tow Youth Justice Institute at the University of New Haven. Dr. Cooper received her BS in Justice Systems (with a minor in Business Administration) in 2009 and her MA in Criminology from the University of Florida in 2011. She received her Ph.D. in Criminology (with a minor in Organizational Leadership for Nonprofits) from the University of Florida in 2015.
In addition to her work as a Professor and the Director of Research at UNH, she is also a Certified Prevention Professional who works with nonprofits and community organizations as a prevention trainer and evaluation consultant. Through her work in the community, she has collaborated with key stakeholders, such as youth and their parents, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and youth-serving organizations.

• 
  Karen DuBois-Walton
More

Karen DuBois-Walton currently serves as the President of the Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of the City of New Haven and President of The Glendower Group, LLC (the development affiliate of HANH) and 360 Management Group, Inc. (the property management affiliate) responsible for administrative, programmatic and policy direction of the public housing, housing choice voucher program, finance and planning, and development activities.
Dr. DuBois-Walton resides in New Haven. She is actively involved in a number of non-profit boards dedicating time to creating greater equity for those who are marginalized. She leads efforts within New Haven and the Region to remove barriers to fair housing, reverse housing segregation patterns, and to invest in under-resourced communities.

• 
  Linda K. Barry
More

Linda K. Barry, M.D., M.P.H., FACS is a board-certified liver and pancreas surgeon with a unique background in both clinical and basic science research. As an Associate Professor of Surgery, Dr. Barry practices and teaches at the University of Connecticut Medical School and holds the position of Director of the Office of Multicultural and Community. She previously served as Assistant Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (CICATS) at the University of Connecticut, Co-Director for the CICATS Pilot Program for Collaborative Translational and Clinical Research, Director of the Young Innovative Investigator Program, and Director of the CICATS M1 Mentorship Program. Dr. Barry’s professional experience and life’s work has been in addressing health disparities in health care delivery and research.


Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

_{Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.} 

About this Webinar 

In this webinar, we will discuss the latest evidence about the trajectory of the COVID-19 epidemic, its impact on Hispanic/Latinx communities, and actions that we can take in our own areas of practice to address these health disparities.

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Conceptualize systems and structures that lead to COVID-19 disparities in the Hispanic/Latinx community
• Describe effective approaches to addressing COVID-19 disparities
• Discuss the latest evidence on the COVID-19 epidemic’s impact on Hispanic/Latinx communities
• Identify potential points of synergy with COVID-19 and other health needs in the Hispanic/Latinx community
  

This webinar will be recorded and made available within 2 business days of the webinar close. Please log in to view the recording in the section "View a Recording of the Webinar. "

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Matt Murphy
  MD

More

Dr. Matthew Murphy is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University. He lives in a bilingual and bicultural household where Spanish is the primary language of communication. His work has been supported by the World Health Organization, The Pan American Health Organization, the NIH, the CDC and the European Commission. He was a Fulbright Research Fellow in Morocco where he led research on the impact of the country’s National HIV Program. He completed the European Master’s of Public Health as an Erasmus Mundus Fellow at the Andalusian School of Public Health in Granada, Spain and France’s National School of Public Health in Rennes, France. He was also named a Yale/Stanford Global Health Scholar and worked in the Infectious Diseases Department of the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia. Dr. Murphy has worked extensively in Latin America with Brown University collaborating sites, the Pan American Health Organization as well as non-governmental organizations. As the Medical Director of Open Door Health, an Initiative of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute, he oversaw the implementation of a community adapted COVID-19 testing program which was described in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal. He also supported the COVID-19 response in the state’s correctional system co-authoring several related publications in the Lancet among other high impact journals.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this webinar. If you have any trouble accessing the webinar, contact support@nephtc.org.

<sub>Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

* Yale School of Public Health, Office of Public Health Practice, a New England Public Health Training Center partner, is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. All CHES credit inquiries are managed by YSPH</sub>

About this Webinar

The endeavor to digitize processes and centralize data that assess risk and grant access to vital community resources is inherently a negotiation in power, ownership, and social control. This session will explore the power dynamics inherent in public health data collection and how data integration platforms can functionally "do no harm."

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the ways public health data can be used to address and reinforce social inequality
• Articulate anti-racist approaches to public health data collection

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Rhea Boyd, MD, MPH
  Pediatrician, Public Health Advocate, and Scholar
More

Rhea Boyd MD, MPH is a pediatrician, public health advocate, and scholar who writes and teaches on the relationship between structural racism, inequity and health. She has a particular focus on the child and public health impacts of harmful policing practices and policies. She serves as the Chief Medical Officer of San Diego 211, working with navigators to address social needs of San Diegans impacted by chronic illness and poverty. And she is the Director of Equity and Justice for The California Children's Trust, an initiative to advance mental health access to children and youth across California. Dr. Boyd graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Africana Studies and Health from the University of Notre Dame. She earned a M.D. at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at University of California, San Francisco. In 2017, Dr. Boyd graduated from the Commonwealth Fund Mongan Minority Health Policy Fellowship at Harvard University’s School of Public Health, earning a Master of Public Health.


Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this webinar. If you have any trouble accessing the webinar, contact support@nephtc.org.

_{Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

About this Webinar

Dr. Boyd will explore racism as a root cause of racial health inequities. Given this foundation, she will issue a challenge to researchers, journals, reviewers, and readers to engage racism within their analysis of racial health inequities.

What you'll learn

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• List 2 concrete ways racism impacts health
• Analyze racial disparities emerging during the US COVID19 pandemic and the racial disparities evidenced by disproportionate police violence, within the history of racism in the US
• Propose new publication standards that engage racism as a root cause of racial health inequities

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Rhea Boyd MD, MPH
  

  Pediatrician, Public Health Advocate, and Scholar

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Rhea Boyd MD, MPH is a pediatrician, public health advocate, and scholar who writes and teaches on the relationship between structural racism, inequity and health. She has a particular focus on the child and public health impacts of harmful policing practices and policies. She serves as the Chief Medical Officer of San Diego 211, working with navigators to address social needs of San Diegans impacted by chronic illness and poverty. And she is the Director of Equity and Justice for The California Children's Trust, an initiative to advance mental health access to children and youth across California.

Dr. Boyd graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Africana Studies and Health from the University of Notre Dame. She earned a M.D. at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at University of California, San Francisco. In 2017, Dr. Boyd graduated from the Commonwealth Fund Mongan Minority Health Policy Fellowship at Harvard University’s School of Public Health, earning an M.P.H.




Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this webinar. If you have any trouble accessing the webinar, contact support@nephtc.org.

_{Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

_{* Yale School of Public Health, Office of Public Health Practice, a New England Public Health Training Center partner, is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. All CHES credit inquiries are managed by YSPH}

About this Webinar

The Rhode Island Public Health Institute, in partnership with the city of Providence and the Providence Community Clinics Network conducted a mixed-methods needs assessment focused on Communities of Color in Providence RI. The needs assessment focused on characterizing health literacy needs with a focus of COVID-19 and other topics of public health significance which intersect with the pandemic.

.

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss capacity building for reaching at-risk populations
• Identify health literacy and resource needs of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx individuals in Rhode Island.

Subject Matter Expert

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  Yelena Malyuta
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Yelena Malyuta is the Director of Evaluation at the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. Her work focuses on research and evaluation efforts in community and clinical settings. She is passionate about community-driven and informed solutions to public health challenges. Yelena received a Master of Public Health from The University of Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire.




Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this webinar. If you have any trouble accessing the webinar, contact support@nephtc.org.


_{Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

About this Webinar

The Rhode Island Public Health Institute led an advocacy campaign for a statewide SNAP incentive program in retail settings; Eat Well Be Well Rewards. We have started evaluating the program and conducting surveys in the retail stores across the state. 

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe Implementing a state-wide evaluation in retail settings
• Discuss food insecurity across Rhode Island

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Yelena Malyuta
More

Yelena Malyuta is the Director of Evaluation at the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. Her work focuses on research and evaluation efforts in community and clinical settings. She is passionate about community-driven and informed solutions to public health challenges. Yelena received a Master of Public Health from The University of Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire.

• 
  Kerri Connolly
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Kerri Connolly is the Deputy Director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and holds a secondary placement as Project Director at Brown University School of Public Health. Her work focuses on implementing programs that eliminate barriers to healthy food access and using data-driven metrics to inform and advocate for policies at the state and federal level. Kerri received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Simmons University and is nearly complete with her Master of Public Health from Brown University.




Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this webinar. If you have any trouble accessing the webinar, contact support@nephtc.org.


_{Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

About this Webinar

Discover the basics of website accessibility and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as Dr. Amanda Diver, a Physical Therapist turned website developer, shares expert insights and practical strategies in this webinar. Amanda will guide attendees to identify areas for improvement and implement effective strategies to enhance compliance and search engine rankings.

What you'll learn

At the end of the recording, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the significance and meaning of website accessibility and its impact on your organization.
• Identify areas to improve American with Disabilities Act compliance and emerging regulations.
• Utilize practical tools for implementing accessibility changes on your website, including color contrast, website architecture, and more.
• Develop effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies to improve your website’s search engine rankings.
  
  

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  

  Dr. Amanda Diver
  PT, DPT, CPACC

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Dr. Amanda Diver, PT, DPT, CPACC, is a Physical Therapist, Website Developer and Accessibility and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expert. She provides consulting services to diverse businesses and organizations to help clients reach larger audiences, by increasing website accessibility and improving online presence. Over the past several years, during the process of building websites for clients, Dr. Diver realized that 96.8% of the web was not accessible to everyone. This led to the realization that accessibility plays a huge role in SEO, which allows websites to show up in Google and other search engines. This ignited her passion in this emerging field. With her knowledge and experience as a Physical Therapist, and her history working with over 100 business owners across diverse industries on their websites, Dr. Diver set out to become a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competency (CPACC). This foundational credential strengthened her skills in digital technologies, architectural considerations, and thoughtful design as well as her understanding of compliance responsibilities requiring disability access. Dr. Diver’s insights and practical solutions captivate audiences by explaining complex material to those less comfortable with technology. She authored A Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Rowing and owns and curates sites such as The Rowing Doc and Healthy Digital. Amanda Diver lives in Colorado with her husband and two fur-kids.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Webinar

Addressing public health in rural areas requires a unique approach. Join this panel discussion to learn about rural health in Maine, how to define "rurality" and how to innovatively adapt public health efforts in rural regions.

What you'll learn

At the end of the recording, participants will be able to:

• Describe what rurality means in Maine.
• Identify 2-3 ways to address public health challenges in rural Maine.

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Tim Cowan

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Tim Cowan received his Masters of Science in Public Health in 1994, with a focus in epidemiology. Since then, he has been an analyst and/or administrator for multiple program evaluation and quality improvement projects. Currently, Tim is the Director of Community Health Surveillance and Evaluation at MaineHealth. Tim leads programs that help MaineHealth prioritize the community health issues toward which system resources are allocated. In addition, Tim oversees activities to analyze data and disseminate information about opportunities for most effectively addressing the priority health issues, as well as to provide feedback on the collective impact being made by the many organizations involved.

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  Erika Ziller

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Erika Ziller is Chair of Public Health at the University of Southern Maine, where she also serves as the Director of the Maine Rural Health Research Center (https://mrhrc.org/). She began her career at the intersection of public health and social work practice, where she observed how policy can impact the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Since then, Dr. Ziller has been committed to policy-informed research aimed at improving health care access for underserved populations, particularly rural residents. She grew up in small-town Maine and obtained all three of her degrees, including a PhD in public policy, from the University of Southern Maine. In recognition of her contributions to rural health policy, Dr. Ziller received the Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health from the National Rural Health Association. She served on the editorial board of the Journal of Rural Health and is an active member of the National Rural Health Association.

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  Tom Judge

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Tom Judge is founding Executive Director of LifeFlight of Maine/ LifeFlight Foundation. LifeFlight of Maine, a non-profit hospital consortium critical care system. (www.lifeflightmaine.org) serving over 40 hospitals in Maine and New England as well as providing primary response to accident scenes and medical emergencies to remote and island communities. With an extensive background in emergency medical services and air medicine he has worked in the private, public and non-government sectors designing and implementing systems nationally and internationally. Thomas has served as an air medical and EMS subject matter expert for the Institute of Medicine, the US Government Accountability Office, the National Transportation Safety Board, the State of Maryland, as well as five successive appointments to the Federal National EMS Advisory Council and a current appointment to the Federal Air Ambulance Patient Billing Advisory Committee.

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  Sabrina Keene

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Sabrina Keene attended the University of Maine at Farmington in Farmington Maine from 2011- 2017. She holds a B.S degree in Community Health. Sabrina currently leads the resource team at Healthy Community Coalition connecting patients and community members to services throughout Franklin County. She also host bi-monthly Franklin Resource Collaborative meetings where community members, businesses, and state organizations come together to collaborate efforts that best serve the community. Sabrina also coordinates harm reduction initiatives under two opioid related grants at Healthy Community Coalition, and is working on efforts to mobilize a syringe exchange in Franklin County. Sabrina has been with Healthy Community Coalition for five years working on a variety of grants, and has her Prevention Specialist certification.

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  Brendan Schauffler

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Brendan Schauffler has worked in public health in rural Western Maine for the past ten years, cultivating a broad network of relationships with community partners across diverse sectors. Working with those partners in groups both large and small allowed him to practice being a careful listener and communicator, and to create spaces where meaningful conversations can be held around deep-held concerns regarding community health. Much of his work over the past five years has focused on Substance Use Disorder, Adverse Childhood Experiences and resilience, and diseases of despair.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of award 2 UB6HP31685‐05‐00 “Public Health Training Centers.” The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this Recording

Indigenous communities, people who identify as American Indian and Alaska Native, have long faced systemic oppression in this country which is reflected in poor health outcomes. For example, indigenous communities have a life expectancy that is 5.5 years shorter than the national average. Learn about how Connecticut has treated indigenous communities in the past, how these injustices impact policy today and how you can engage this population in health planning. While the focus is on Connecticut, this presentation has information useful for practice in any state.

What you'll learn

At the end of the recording, participants will be able to:

• Name the indigenous communities in Connecticut
• Describe how indigenous communities have been overlooked in health equity outcomes
• Recall examples of state policies that resulted in unjust treatment of native peoples
• Discuss strategies for outreach and inclusion for this population

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Michele Scott Dixon (Mashantucket Pequot)
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Michele Scott is the Executive Director of The Health Education Center located in Norwich, CT where she works diligently to ensure that the healthcare workforce pipeline reflects the communities it serves. She brings with her a background in community health, strategic planning, program evaluation and a commitment to equity within health systems. Michele serves as Chair of the Health Care Advisory Board of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and is a member of The Arc Eastern Connecticut Board of Directors. Michele received her B.A in Psychology and American Studies from Columbia University and her M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. She resides on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation with her family.

Michele is available at scott@healtheducenter.org to answer any webinar follow up questions.



Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

_{Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

About this Recording

Poverty poses a serious threat to the health of the public, as those living in poverty are less likely to be able to access the conditions that promote health. Panelists will discuss the intersections of health, medicine, and poverty, and how addressing the social factors that create health can lead to greater health for all.

What you'll learn

At the end of the recording, participants will be able to:

• Describe the role of housing instability in health of individuals and of populations
• List at least 3 risk factors for poor health outcomes that are associated with poverty
• Describe the interrelationship among Medicaid, race, and poverty
• Discuss the role of power as a social determinant of health and how it can be used to create change

Moderator

• 
  

  Natalia Linos

  Executive Director, FXB Center at Harvard University

About this Webinar

This webinar will describe the intersection between homelessness and housing and public health and health outcomes. It will discuss how housing is a social determinant of health and identify local solutions to ending homelessness.

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe what homelessness looks like in Maine
• Describe how homelessness intersects with health promotion and disease prevention
• Identify 1-2 services and solutions to homelessness
• Identify 1-2 ways Maine is approaching the design and delivery of homelessness services
  

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Lauren Bustard

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Lauren Bustard is the Senior Director of Homeless Initiatives at MaineHousing. Prior to joining MaineHousing in 2012, she worked for many years in social service and education programs in Maine, and in refugee and international development programs in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

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  Courtney Pladsen
  DNP, FNP-BC

More

Courtney Pladsen is the Clinical Director at the National Health Care for the Homeless Council where she leads national efforts to improve health care quality and access for people experiencing homelessness through quality improvement initiatives, technical assistance, research, policy/advocacy, and training. She is a current fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader program for her work at the intersection of health and housing. She works clinically providing medical, mental health, and substance use treatment to people who are experiencing homelessness at the FQHC Greater Portland Health in Portland, Maine.

• 
  

  Cullen Ryan

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Cullen Ryan has a 35-year career serving homeless and special needs populations. A formerly licensed clinician (LICSW) with a BA from the University of Vermont and a MA in Counseling and Psychological Services from St. Mary’s University (Minnesota), Cullen has provided street outreach, case management, family therapy, and individual/group psychotherapy to homeless adults, families, and adolescents in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings in three states. Since 2004, Cullen Ryan has served as Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine, the largest housing provider for homeless populations in the state. Cullen currently co-chairs or chairs several Boards and Coalitions, and he serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Maine CoC. Cullen was a past Chair of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, and recent Acting Chair of Maine’s Statewide Homeless Council, and actively serves on both. For more on Community Housing of Maine, go to www.chomhousing.org

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  Erin Healy

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Erin Healy is a Strategy Lead for Large Scale Change at Built for Zero. Her work focuses on implementing the Built for Zero model on a statewide level. She has worked on issues related to the homeless sector for over fifteen years. Erin specializes in systems improvement, movement building, and helping collaborative teams set and achieve clear, measurable goals. After several years as an independent consultant, Erin re-joined the Community Solutions team in 2021. She was a member of CS’s 100,000 Home Campaign team (2012 – 2014) and helped launch Built for Zero in 2016. Erin holds a JD from the University of Washington School of Law and an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College.

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  Donna Kelley
  MSW, LCSW

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Donna Kelley is the President and CEO of Waldo Community Action Partners. She is Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Maine and joined WCAP in 2018. Prior to that she worked for Kennebec Behavioral Health for 19 years. Donna has been immersed in the community mental health and social services field for 32 years. She has worked to plan, develop, implement, and restructure mental health and community service programs and systems by working with local, regional, and statewide community-based organizations, groups, and governmental agencies to improved access and quality of services for consumers allowing for improved quality of life and greater self-sufficiency. Donna earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Maine, and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of New England in Biddeford.

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  Rich Hooks Wayman

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Rich Hooks Wayman serves as the President and CEO for Volunteers of America Northern New England (www.voanne.org), a nonprofit organization offering affordable housing, residential care and community based social services to communities in Maine and New Hampshire. Prior to his tenure at Volunteers of America, Richard served as the National Executive Director for the Children’s Defense Fund. Additionally, Richard was the CEO of a regional child welfare agency in Massachusetts, was the Executive Director of a statewide supportive housing program serving long term homeless persons in Minnesota, and conducted federal legislative advocacy and policy analysis for the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Richard attended the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1992, and the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1992. He is a member of the American Bar Association to has been appointed to the Commission on Homelessness and Poverty. Richard and his husband (Aaron) have six adoptive children.

Registration

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this recording. If you have any trouble accessing the recording, contact support@nephtc.org.

Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.