About this course

By the nature of their role, community health workers manage sensitive information about clients and communities. Community health worker practice relies on laws and protocols to guide their decisions about how to handle client information. One of the most important laws established to protect the privacy and confidentiality of health information is commonly referred to as HIPAA, also known as Health Insurance Portability Act. Note: If working in a HIPAA covered organization this training is only an introduction and you may still be required to attend HIPAA training through your employer. Not all organizations are HIPAA covered entities.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Define HIPAA
• List key components of protected health information
• Identify at least three circumstances where CHWs apply HIPAA during their workday
• Recognize one circumstance when you have an obligation to report HIPAA covered information

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  

  Dawn Heffernan
  

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Dawn Heffernan is a nurse and a public health professional who has supervised and trained community health workers for over a decade. Ms. Heffernan is passionate about community health and education. In addition to developing training for the New Public Health Training Center, she is currently working for Partners in Health as a case investigator for the corona virus pandemic.


Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll button below to register for the course. If you have any trouble accessing the course, 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 course

Discover how worsening air quality impacts respiratory health and learn actionable strategies to support individuals in managing respiratory conditions. This interactive session will provide Community Health Workers with essential tools to reduce exposure to air pollutants and deliver effective care in challenging environments.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

• Describe key strategies for community health workers to support individuals with respiratory conditions in areas impacted by worsening air quality and extreme weather.
• Identify practical skills and tools community health workers can use to address respiratory health emergencies, including effective communication techniques and protective measures.
• Discuss methods for collaborating with local healthcare providers and environmental agencies to deliver coordinated care during air quality crises.
• Develop individualized respiratory health management plans that consider individuals' unique needs and circumstances in rural and underserved communities.

Subject Matter Expert

• Maddie Blair, MPH
  Manager | Nationwide Health Promotions,
  American Lung Association

  
  

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 course

This session will address the growing challenge of disease-carrying vectors and their impact on Maine communities. You'll gain practical strategies to prevent and control vector-borne diseases, equipping you with the knowledge and resources to support the communities your health center serves.

This course is provided in partnership with Maine Public Health Association and Maine Primary Care Association

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

• Understand the Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Diseases: Participants will be able to describe the types and characteristics of vectors responsible for disease transmission in Maine, including their habitats, life cycles, and the diseases they carry.
• Identify Prevention Strategies: Attendees will learn and evaluate various strategies for preventing vector-borne diseases, such as personal protective measures, environmental management, and community-level interventions.
• Implement Effective Control Measures: Health professionals will gain practical knowledge on how to implement and promote effective vector control measures, including the use of insecticides, habitat modification, and public education campaigns.
• Utilize Resources and Support Systems: Participants will be equipped with information on available resources and support systems.

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Megan Porter

  
  

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Megan Porter is a veterinarian and an Infectious Disease Health Educator at Maine CDC. She received her DVM from Michigan State University in 2017. Prior to moving to Maine, she studied the biology and ecology of deer ticks in Michigan, working with veterinarians to collect ticks from companion dogs to map the invasion of deer ticks in the state. Megan’s current work as a Health Educator involves translating current science and public health recommendations for infectious diseases into messages that are relevant and easy to apply to Mainer’s everyday lives.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 course

Join us for Disaster Preparedness and Response 101, a session designed to enhance support for older adults in rural areas during extreme weather emergencies. This session will provide Community Health Workers with the skills needed to respond effectively to health emergencies, foster collaboration with emergency management agencies and healthcare providers for a coordinated response and develop personalized disaster plans tailored to individual needs.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

1.    Describe key strategies for Community Health Workers to effectively support older adults in rural areas during extreme weather emergencies.

2.    Identify practical skills and tools community health workers can use to respond to health emergencies associated with disasters, including communication techniques and safety measures.

3.    Discuss methods for collaborating with local emergency management agencies and healthcare providers to create a coordinated disaster response tailored to the needs of older adults.

4.    Develop individualized disaster preparedness plans that consider the unique health needs and circumstances of older adults living in rural communities.

Subject Matter Expert

Established in 2017, the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders (NCECE) is a program of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), located in Boston, MA. Supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NCECE operates under the National Training and Technical Assistance Partners (NTTAP) designation. NTTAPs provide free Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) to support health center grantees and look-alikes.

• 
  Dr. Christine Riedy
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Dr. Christine Riedy is the Delta Dental of Massachusetts Associate Professor in Oral Public Health and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She is also a psychologist and health services researcher. Dr Riedy oversees the development of the training and the technical assistance modules, the testing with the Learning Collaborative, and the plan for dissemination. Her previous research has been primarily focused on the understanding and prevention of dental caries, particularly in underserved and diverse populations. Dr. Riedy's previously funded studies (HRSA, NIH-NIDCR) focused on the intergenerational aspect of dental disease and behavioral strategies for promoting prenatal dental visits to potentially prevent the initial transmission of infection between mothers and their children. Dr. Riedy’s more recent focus has been on the integration of health care, particularly medical, dental, and behavioral integration. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine. Dr. Riedy has current funding from HRSA related to the integration of oral health and general health. She is the Lead PI/PD on a HRSA-funded cooperative agreement, “Center for Evaluating Integration of Oral Health into Primary Care Training”. Dr. Riedy draws experience from her extensive work with vulnerable and underserved populations and her current work developing oral health competencies for primary caregivers.

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  Tiffany Kehayoglou Sarkissian
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Tiffany Kehayoglou Sarkissian joined NCECE in 2021 from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Office of Continuing Professional Education. Prior to joining HSDM, she held a research assistant position within Harvard Chan School of Public Health's Department of Environmental Health. Tiffany serves as the Communications Coordinator for NCECE, overseeing health center outreach and engagement, and contributing to the Center's publications and learning activities. She has an extensive background in communications, higher education, writing, and physical fitness/wellness programming, and has a lifelong passion for helping disadvantaged populations. Tiffany also holds a communications role with the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine, to spread awareness of the integration of oral health and overall health.

• 
  Juliette Provost
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Juliette Provost serves as the Staff Assistant at NCECE, providing administrative support for the Center’s activities and day-to-day operations. She joins us from Simmons University where she earned a BA in English and served as an Office Assistant to Accessibility Services and was the Senior Administrative Assistant to the CIO.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 course

This session will provide an overview of how extreme weather events and climate variations contribute to increased health issues, with a focus on identifying the vulnerable populations and communities most at risk. Community health workers and support roles will gain valuable insights and resources to help support the communities they serve.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

• Understand the Health Impacts of Extreme Weather and Climate Variations: Participants will be able to describe how extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, hurricanes, and floods, contribute to various health issues.
• Identify Vulnerable Populations at Risk: Participants will learn to identify which populations and communities are most vulnerable to the health impacts of extreme weather and climate variations.
• Explore Strategies for Community Health Support: Participants will gain insights into effective strategies and resources that can be used by community health workers to support and protect vulnerable populations during extreme weather events.
• Utilize Resources and Support Systems: By the end of this webinar, you will be equipped with information on available resources.

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Jen Boothroyd

  
  

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Jen is the Manager of Environmental Sustainability at Northern Light Health, a role that builds on her career in regional planning, environmental science, and public administration in Maine. She has held this role for a year, and has been with Northern Light for nearly seven years. Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine at Farmington, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine. She is a lifelong Mainer, and lives in Brewer with her two children.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 course

Join us for a webinar led by Migrant Clinicians Network, designed specifically for Community Health Workers (CHWs). This session will explore how climate change affects migrant communities and the unique challenges they face. We will also discuss the crucial role community health workers play in supporting these 

communities and how to prepare for and support those displaced by climate change.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

1. Identify climate change and its impact on migration, migrants, and health systems;
2. Discuss public health strategies to reach undeserved populations;
3. Discuss the role Community Health Workers can play in supporting migrant communities.

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Alma Galván, MHC

  
  

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Alma Galván, MHC (she/her/ella), is the Director of Community Engagement and Worker Training with MCN. Bicultural and bilingual, Galván has worked for more than three decades to improve the health of communities disadvantaged by structural inequities in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Latin America. Her work has focused on a broad range of public health topics including infectious diseases, environmental health and justice, climate justice, worker health and safety, drug prevention, water and sanitation, cultural competency, and community development water and sanitation. She has worked with community-based organizations and international agencies such as the Pan American Health Organization. At Migrant Clinicians Network, she fosters innovative and participatory approaches to building capacity among immigrant and migrant communities and other underserved populations. She contributes to the development, implementation, and evaluation of multiple projects. Galván has extensive expertise in providing technical assistance and developing culturally contextual curricula and educational materials for Limited English Proficiency and low-literacy adult learners, community health workers, health professionals, health educators, and clinicians. Her unique approach to adult learning and expansive expertise in community-based approaches to health promotion helped hundreds of community health workers, clinicians and health department personnel bring culturally contextual COVID-19 resources and strategies to immigrant and migrant communities in order to promote vaccination and address mis/disinformation. Galván has worked extensively with MCN partners, community-based organizations, health agencies, and local and state health departments promoting health equity through language access and cultural competency. Galván has a strong health and social science background and has designed, implemented, and assessed programs for over 30 years. Galván is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is passionate and committed to addressing health inequities and lessening disparities. In her free time, Galván spends time with her family, and enjoys movies, reading, and learning about different cultures. 

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 course

This session will delve into the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and explore effective strategies for advocating equitable access to healthcare services and resources. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how climate change exacerbates health disparities and learn actionable approaches to support and protect those most at risk.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

1. Understand Disproportionate Impacts: Identify how climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, particularly within Justice 40 Communities in Maine, and recognize specific health disparities that are exacerbated by climate change.
2. Advocate for Equitable Healthcare Access: Learn effective strategies to advocate for equitable access to healthcare services and resources for communities most at risk. Understand the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in supporting climate resilience and health equity.
3. Develop Actionable Approaches: Learn about actionable approaches and interventions to mitigate the health impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations. Explore best practices and community-based strategies to enhance climate resiliency among undeserved communities.
4. Resource Utilization: Access and utilize resources provided during the webinar to support ongoing efforts in addressing climate health disparities.

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Ben Fulgencio-Turner

  
  

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Ben Fulgencio-Turner leads the Climate for Health program, a national initiative to build climate leadership and action in the health sector, advancing solutions that protect personal and community health. Ben started his career as a community organizer in New Orleans, supporting neighborhood leaders and building power in communities recovering from Hurricane Katrina. He has studied and worked within systems of safety-net health care for over fourteen years, developing cross-sector partnerships to address root causes of health inequities. He received a BA from Tulane University and a MPP from Georgetown University.

• 
  Jess Hinshaw

  
  

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Jess Hinshaw is the Director of Environmental Health in the Population Health Division at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). In her role, she works alongside community health centers engaging in environmental health work and oversees initiatives that build climate resilience, promote learning about the health impacts of climate change, and address environmental justice issues. Jess’s work has focused on community-based participatory research in public health and environmental health. Before coming to NACHC, Jess held various positions with AMOS Health and Hope in Managua, Nicaragua focused on community based primary health care. She also served as the Health Equity Evaluator at the New Mexico Department of Health in response to COVID-19. In addition to her role at NACHC, Jess leads a course on Monitoring and Evaluation for non-profits and civil society organizations at the United Nations University for Peace, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Jess received her Master of Public Health from Vanderbilt University and is also currently a doctoral candidate at the George Washington University.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 course

This webinar explores mental health support in the face of climate change, featuring Dr. Daniel Dodgen, Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Discover insights into the mental health challenges posed by climate change and gain practical skills to empower CHWs in supporting individuals affected by climate-related stressors.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

1. Increased Awareness of Climate-Induced Mental Health Issues: Gain a deeper understanding of the mental health impacts of climate change, including stress, anxiety, trauma, and depression caused by environmental disasters and climate shifts.
2. Strengthened Capacity for Community Resilience: Learn how to build resilience in their communities by promoting mental well-being and providing resources to cope with climate-related stressors.
3. Develop Actionable Approaches: Learn about actionable approaches and interventions to mitigate the health impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations. Explore best practices and community-based strategies to enhance climate resiliency among undeserved communities.
4. Resource Utilization: Access and utilize resources provided during the webinar to support ongoing efforts in supporting mental health.

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Daniel Dodgen

  
  

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Daniel Dodgen, Ph.D., is the Senior Advisor for Strategy, Policy, Plans and Requirements with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). His expertise includes disaster preparedness and response, climate change, equity and inclusion, health system policy, behavioral health, and community resilience. Dr. Dodgen served as the Executive Director of the White House directed national advisory group on disaster mental health and has overseen the behavioral health response to multiple natural disasters, public health emergencies, and mass violence incidents. He was a lead author on the Special Report on the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health, released by President Obama in 2016, and authored the first chapter on mental health and climate change in a federal report. Before joining HHS, Dr. Dodgen was Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer at the American Psychological Association (APA) following an AAAS Fellowship with the U.S. House of Representatives. He received the American Psychological Association (APA) 2005 Early Career Award and was elected a Fellow of APA in 2012. He has served on the APA Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest, the Board of Directors of the International Association of Applied Psychology and the Child Maltreatment Board of the Society for Child, Youth, and Family Services. In 2016, Dr. Dodgen was selected as a Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellow. He received his Bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Psychology at the University of Southern California and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Houston. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Washington, DC.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 course

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  

  Tom Carpino, MPH
  Gordis Teaching Fellow, PhD Candidate,
  Infectious Disease Epidemiology, John Hopkins University

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Tom Carpino is a teaching fellow and PhD candidate in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and is supported by the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (F31AI178878) to study the epidemiology of mpox in the US. He has a wide set of research interests which includes stigma, emerging infections and outbreaks, and STIs in diverse communities. He is a member of Hopkins’ Center for Public Health and Human Rights.

Prior to his PhD, he earned an MPH from Columbia University in biostatistics and was a co-investigator on several projects to study topics ranging from HIV and Covid-19 to health systems more broadly.

About this Recording

This program explored the challenges associated with obtaining data about marginalized and hard-to-reach populations. Which populations are “hidden” from existing public health statistics? What methods and techniques can help us fill these gaps so we can better identify and address the health needs of these populations moving forward?

What you'll learn

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

• List two challenges in identifying invisible populations 
• Discuss how social networks and respondent driven sampling can reach populations that may otherwise be invisible
• Explain internal displacement and some of the health challenges faced by internally displaced persons

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  

  Scarlett Bellamy
  
  Chair and Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health

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Scarlett Bellamy will join the SPH community as Chair and Professor of Biostatistics on July 1st, 2023. Prior to her arrival at BU she was a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health. Before joining Drexel University in 2016, Bellamy spent 15 years at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Perelman School of Medicine, where she was a professor of biostatistics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Hampton University, and completed her doctoral training in biostatistics at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Much of Bellamy’s research centers on evaluating the efficacy of interventions in longitudinal behavioral modification trials, including cluster- and group-randomized trials. She is particularly interested in applying this methodology to address health disparities for a variety of clinical and behavioral outcomes, including HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and health-promoting behaviors. Bellamy previously served as the co-principal investigator of the Data Coordinating Center for the Prematurity and Respiratory Outcomes Program at UPenn, which aimed to improve respiratory outcomes during the first year of life after preterm birth. She was also PI of the Fostering Diversity in Biostatistics Workshop at the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society (ENAR). This federally funded initiative aims to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in graduate training and professional careers in biostatistics. In 2016, Bellamy was elected a fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA). The designation has been an honor for nearly 100 years, and under ASA bylaws, only one-third of one percent of the total association membership may be elected as fellows each year. In 2017, Bellamy served as the president of ENAR. She also currently serves as a statistical collaborator for the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia.

• 
  

  Louisa Yasukawa
  
  Researcher, Internal Displacement Monitoring Center 
  
  
  

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Louisa is a Researcher at IDMC, where she focuses on the socioeconomic impacts of internal displacement. She currently leads IDMC’s research programmes on gender, children, youth and education, and people with disabilities. Louisa has lead research projects in various countries including Cameroon, Colombia, Kenya, Mali, Niger and Vanuatu, with the aim of informing humanitarian programming and planning on internal displacement. Louisa is a qualified lawyer from Australia and holds an MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from the University of Oxford. She has previously worked for the UNHCR in Ecuador and Colombia-based research and advocacy organisation, Dejusticia. Louisa speaks English and Spanish.

• 
  

  Renice A. Bunde
  
  Assistant Manager, Governance, Peace and Security Statistics, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

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Renice Akinyi Bunde works with Kenya National Bureau of Statistics as an Assistant Manager in Governance, Peace and Security Statistics where she handles statistics on human rights for the vulnerable population especially persons with disability, forcibly displaced, women and girls, children, street families and the elderly. She also handles statistics on crime, social protection, participation in decision making among others. She is a champion for inclusive data. Renice holds both Master and Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Statistics from Maseno University.

• 
  

  Forrest W. Crawford
  
  Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Operations, and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Yale University

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Forrest W. Crawford is an Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Statistics & Data Science, Operations, and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Yale University. He is affiliated with the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, the Institute for Network Science, the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Program, and the Public Health Modeling Concentration. His work develops and applies solutions in AI/ML, data science, causal inference, network science, and other methodological domains to solve difficult inferential problems in epidemiology, public health, and social science.

• 
  

  Paul Wesson
  
  Assistant Professor, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, UCSF School of Medicine
  
  

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Paul Wesson, PhD is an epidemiologist focused on quantifying the health burdens of (and disparities related to) hard-to-reach and socially marginalized populations, particularly as they relate to infectious diseases. His research expertise includes developing and using data driven methods for sampling hard-to-reach and “hidden” populations, population size estimation methods, and using advanced epidemiologic and statistical techniques to study the social determinants of health. Dr. Wesson am particularly interested in the social determinants of infectious disease risk. He sees his research as existing at the nexus of infectious disease, data science, and social epidemiology; as such, he incorporates theories and principles from social epidemiology to inform and guide his study designs and analyses (e.g. intersectionality, minority stress theory). Specifically, as an HIV researcher, Dr. Wesson’s research agenda relates to the unique challenges of sampling hard-to-reach populations for HIV surveillance, and leverages information from the sampling process (and survey data) to generate estimates of the population size. Valid estimates of the population size are a key component of biomedical informatics and epidemiological analyses (providing a denominator for the population at risk) and inform how and where limited public health resources should be targeted. In his research, he has both applied numerous population size estimation methods to data sets derived from bio-behavioral surveillance surveys, public health surveillance, and electronic medical records. As part of his research on population size estimation, Dr. Wesson has also developed novel population size estimation methods to correct for known biases. Additionally, he is interested in extending his research to include Geo-spatial analysis and clinical data to further examine contextual and structural determinants of disparities in health outcomes.

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 Course

This training explores the importance of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities, problem gambling concepts and terminology, variables associated with an increased or decreased risk of problem gambling, groups at risk for developing problem gambling, and connections with related health issues.

What you'll learn

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

• Better understand how to apply a public health approach to problem gambling
• Describe levels of gambling and their associated risk
• Identify problem gambling risk and protective factors 
• Identify groups at disproportionate risk for developing problem gambling
• Better understand the intersections between problem gambling and other behavioral health issues

Subject Matter Expert

• Jacqueline Dick, MS,
  Project Director
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Jacqueline Dick is a public health and wellness expert who brings over 30 years of experience leading and advancing community collaboration and grant-funded initiatives. She brings extensive expertise as a program manager, health educator, wellness coach, and tenured professor and has led programs at the federal and state levels. She is adept in utilizing and adapting learning management systems to accommodate diverse learning styles. As director of EDC’s Massachusetts Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling Prevention, Ms. Dick leads a team in providing high-quality and culturally responsive capacity building, training, and education to address problem gambling and related behavioral health issues. Previously, Ms. Dick was a program leader and tenured faculty for Northern Essex Community College’s Public Health Program and has extensive experience in program design and community health worker trainings. Additionally, she served on the advisory board for the Academic Public Health Corps of Massachusetts. Ms. Dick holds an MS from the Indiana University School of Public Health and a BA in Human Movement Studies from the Carnegie College of Human Movement in Leeds England.

• 
  Haner Hernandez, PhD
  Training and Technical Assistance Associate
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Dr. Hernández has worked for 31 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically competent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs. He also has many years of experience in delivering addiction counseling and clinical supervision to professionals in the field. As a professional trainer and facilitator, he provides individualized technical assistance and support to organizations that provide addiction prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery supports. Dr. Hernández is in long-term recovery from addiction himself and is committed to eliminating health disparities by working at the national, state, and local levels. Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Hernández is fluent in English and Spanish.

• 
  Sarah Jerome, PhD
  Training and Technical Assistance Associate

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Ms. Jerome is a solution-oriented, versatile public health professional with research, consulting, policy, and leadership experience. She aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in marginalized communities through education, capacity building, and advocacy. She has expertise and experience in areas that include infant and early childhood mental health, substance misuse prevention, adolescent health, adverse childhood experiences, collaborative learning, curriculum development, instructional design, motivational interviewing, and group facilitation. Ms. Jerome is fluent in Haitian Creole and conversational in French and Spanish.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 Course

This training explores the importance of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities, problem gambling concepts and terminology, variables associated with an increased or decreased risk of problem gambling, groups at risk for developing problem gambling, and connections with related health issues.

What you'll learn

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

Better understand how to apply a public health approach to problem gambling

Describe levels of gambling and their associated risk

Identify problem gambling risk and protective factors 

Identify groups at disproportionate risk for developing problem gambling

Better understand the intersections between problem gambling and other behavioral health issues

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Haner Hernandez, PhD
  Training and Technical Assistance Associate
More

Dr. Hernández has worked for 31 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically competent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs. He also has many years of experience in delivering addiction counseling and clinical supervision to professionals in the field. As a professional trainer and facilitator, he provides individualized technical assistance and support to organizations that provide addiction prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery supports. Dr. Hernández is in long-term recovery from addiction himself and is committed to eliminating health disparities by working at the national, state, and local levels. Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Hernández is fluent in English and Spanish.

• 
  Emily Bhargava, MA
  Training and Technical Assistance Associate

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Emily has been providing technical assistance to support community-level prevention since 2005. Trained in medical anthropology, she brings a strong focus on cultural appropriateness and health equity as well as an interest in qualitative data to all of her work. She is also skilled in using collaborative art as a tool for health promotion. Emily served as a member of the statewide epidemiological work group that identified the emerging opioid epidemic in 2006, and has partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on multiple initiatives, including a toolkit for the application of culturally and linguistic appropriateness services standards to public health initiatives, a statewide plan to mitigate the harms of expanded gambling in Massachusetts, and a comprehensive workforce development plan for substance abuse prevention practitioners. She is a certified prevention specialist.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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 Course

This training consists of a two-part presentation given in partnership with the Massachusetts Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling Prevention, you can find more information about trainings like this on their website,  www.mcoepgp.org

• Part 1: What's Equity Got To Do with It? explores how to center health equity in problem gambling prevention by enhancing cultural proficiency and addressing structural and institutional factors that impact community health. Participants will examine the historical and policy influences shaping communities and identify practical strategies to apply health equity principles to improve the well-being of individuals and communities.

• Part 2: Partnering for Change explores how the social determinants of health (SDOH) impact problem gambling and addresses ways to promote health equity. Participants learn strategies for using data to inform action plans and building authentic community partnerships to address key issues within their communities. It provides actionable insights for integrating SDOH into prevention efforts.

What you'll learn

After completing Part 1: What's Equity Got To Do With It? the training, you will be able to...

• Define and describe common concepts and words associated with disparities, health equity, and cultural-linguistic responsiveness 
• Describe how structural and institutional factors impact community health 
• Identify how discrimination and oppression of all kinds are a threat to the health of communities 
• Identify ways to apply health equity and cultural responsiveness to our work to improve the individuals we serve and the overall community’s health 

After completing Part 2: Partnering for Change the training, you will be able to...

• Identify key issues to analyze and address when planning to eliminate health disparities caused by the social determinants of health.
• Describe the social determinants of health and explore how they can be addressed through problem gambling prevention efforts.

• Identify methods for collecting and analyzing data on health disparities to inform and prioritize key issues within the community, contributing to a health equity action plan.
• Identify strategies for building authentic partnerships within the community to facilitate a process of community change.

Subject Matter Expert

• Debra Morris, MPH,
  Health Equity Advisor and Trainer
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Debra Gardner Morris, an expert in advanced training and technical assistance, helps build strong systems to promote health and support substance misuse prevention. She brings extensive experience in evidence-based prevention strategies, cultural competency, effective methods to address health disparities, school-based prevention, management of large national public health centers, and systems change. Morris is a lead training and technical assistance specialist for Prevention Solutions@EDC. Nationwide, she provides coaching to engage and mobilize communities to implement environmental prevention strategies. Drawing on a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of the public health workforce, she builds capacity to launch, monitor, improve, and sustain public health initiatives. Morris specializes in guiding agencies in coordinating their services to enhance efficiency and improve outcomes. She has managed and provided training and technical assistance at all levels of government and nonprofit organizations, and uses a wide range of on-site, virtual, and blended methods. Morris holds an MPH from Emory University focused on Behavioral Sciences and Health Education. She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).

• Ben Spooner, BS, CPS
  Associate Project Director
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Mr. Spooner is an experienced project manager and training and technical assistance (TA) provider, and has a passion for advancing cultural and linguistic responsiveness and helping communities do the same. He brings expertise in communications planning, sustainability planning, strategic planning, event organizing, and developing and facilitating virtual events. He specializes in providing training and developing tools that build the capacity of prevention professionals in key areas such as SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework. Mr. Spooner holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Connecticut and a PMD Pro Certification from APMG International. He is a Certified Prevention Specialist in Massachusetts.

• 
  Carol Musallam,
  Training Coordinator

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Carol holds a master’s degree in Global Studies and International Relations from Northeastern University, and she is passionate about social impact, health equity and international development. As a global development professional, she brings expertise in digital and communications strategy, project management, policy analysis and advocacy. She is fluent in English and Arabic with hands on experience in projects based in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Mexico.

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  Ivy Jones Turner,
  Training and Technical Assistance Manager

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Ivy Jones Turner has provided training and technical assistance (T/TA) on the promotion and prevention of behavioral health issues with nonprofit, state, and community-based organizations, faith-based agencies, and school districts for more than 15 years. Her capacity-building skills include formative and summative program evaluation, program design and implementation, organizational development, and partnerships/collaborations. As the Training and Technical Assistance Manager of EDC’s Massachusetts Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling Prevention, Ms. Jones Turner oversees the Training and Technical Assistance Team in providing a range of capacity-building services to support local communities in understanding, addressing, and implementing projects focused on problem gambling prevention. In addition to working with MCOE PGP, Ms. Jones Turner provided TA to substance misuse prevention providers as part of SAMHSA’s Prevention Technology Transfer Center system and has assisted both urban and rural school districts with implementing and sustaining school and community interventions to prevent youth violence and promote social-emotional and mental health. Previously, Ms. Jones Turner served as a T/TA Specialist and Co-Director of the Center for Strategic Prevention Support (CSPS), providing TA and resources to Massachusetts communities seeking to prevent and reduce the misuse of alcohol and other drugs, assisted both urban and rural school districts with implementing and sustaining school and community interventions to prevent youth violence and promote social-emotional and mental health through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative, and served as project director for The Center for the Advancement of Mentoring, a national T/TA center for youth mentoring programs serving youth who were in foster care, at risk of gang-involvement, were former juvenile offenders, or would have otherwise benefited from a mentor. She is a certified prevention specialist.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Select the Enroll Me button below to register for this course. 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

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.

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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

• 
  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 digital divide* is a public health crisis now more than ever. In the heightened moment of COVID-19 we see a digital divide gap widening throughout Western Massachusetts. This webinar will discuss how Western Massachusetts communities are addressing the digital divides resulting from digital literacy, internet connectivity, internet infrastructure particularly equipment, and policy. This conversation simultaneously includes urban and rural communities in a collective approach in addressing low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.

*A digital divide is an economic and social inequality with regard to access to, use of, or impact of information and communication technologies(ICT).[1] The divide within countries (such as the digital divide in the United States) may refer to inequalities between individuals, households, businesses, or geographic areas, usually at different socioeconomic levels or other demographic categories . - From Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide

What you'll learn

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

• List standard and functional definitions for digital divide, digital equity, and digital literacy
• Discuss how to assess where digital divides occur in your organization or community
• Describe the steps for mobilizing stakeholders to heighten awareness of digital divides and take action to close divides in program, organization, and community settings

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Frank Robinson, Ph.D.
  
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In 2015 Frank Robinson, Ph.D., became the Vice President of Public Health & Community Relations for Baystate Health. In this role, Dr. Robinson is responsible for integrating clinical and community care to better serve vulnerable people and populations across the spectrum of diversity and create healthier communities. In leading Baystate’s efforts to expand the definition of health to include economic opportunity; access to education, nutritious food and culture; safe neighborhoods, and other underlying essentials of a person’s and a community’s ability to thrive, Dr. Robinson focuses on building community partnerships to achieve large-scale health improvements, including resource development, health education and health equity initiatives and community benefits.
Dr. Robinson earned his Ph.D. in Public Health - Community Health Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; his Master of Arts in Community Psychology from Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA; and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from State University of New York, Oswego, NY. Residency Program at the Maine Medical Center. She helps co-found the Yarmouth Community Coronavirus Task Force in Yarmouth Maine.

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  Paul Foster
  
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Paul Foster is the Chief Information and Accountability Officer for the Springfield Public Schools. A member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet, he is responsible for technology, digital learning, assessment, planning and evaluation, computer science instruction, data, and research. In this role he has led the implementation of a one-to-one computing program for every student in the district; expanded the availability and use of data and predictive analytics; launched Springfield’s computer science for all initiative; and, created the community data warehouse for data sharing between the school district and community-based organizations serving children.
Mr. Foster’s background is in research and data analytics in the public sector as he served as the Regional Information Center Manager at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; as an Analyst with the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center; and as the founder and first Director of the City of Springfield’s CitiStat performance management program. A proud resident of Springfield, he has a BA in History and African American Studies from Harvard College and an MA in Social Policy from Brandeis University.

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  Paul R Murphy
  
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Paul Murphy is the incoming Board Chair of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Recently, he was Chair of the Community Foundation’s Distribution Committee. In that role, Mr. Murphy participated in the distribution of more than $6,500,000 from the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund to nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable individuals and families throughout the Pioneer Valley.
Mr. Murphy is a Trustee of Baystate Health and has served on the Board of Trustees of other nonprofit organizations. He is the retired Legal and Administrative Counsel of Amherst College and a former Partner of Foley Hoag LLP, a Boston-based law firm with offices in New York, New York, Washington, D.C. and Paris, France. Mr. Murphy has a BA in Physics from Amherst College and a J.D. from Yale Law School. Paul and his wife, Dale live in Northampton, MA.


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

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.