In honor of National Dental Hygiene Month, the Minnesota Oral Health Coalition, Normandale Community College, and the Minnesota Dental Hygienists’ Association announce the establishment of a Collaborative Dental Hygiene Practice Toolkit on the Minnesota Oral Health Coalition website. The importance of the Toolkit is significant and far-reaching.

The Collaborative Dental Hygiene Practice (CDHP) Toolkit originated at Normandale Community College as part of a 5-year U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration grant. Dr. Colleen Brickle, Dean of Health Sciences · Normandale Community College states, “The grant brought together 18 dedicated oral healthcare professionals committed to moving collaborative dental hygiene practice (CDHP) forward. These professionals met quarterly for five years on many initiatives. One of the products produced was the contents of this CDHP Toolkit”.

Maintaining the availability of these valuable resources will empower those interested in collaborative practice. Three examples of many, resources found in the CDHP Toolkit include:

* Provides in-depth information on starting a collaborative practice, to include a collaborative agreement template.

* Describes one Minnesota dental hygienists journey toward a successful collaboration with a dentist.

* Offers guidance on how to navigate the financial aspects of collaborative dental hygiene practice.

Press release - https://www.minnesotaoralhealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CDHP-Toolkit-Release-Final.pdf

On the Minnesota Oral Health Coalition website:

https://www.minnesotaoralhealthcoalition.org/collaborative-dental-hygiene-practice-tool-kit/

Pat McKone from the American Lung Association and Erin Simmons from MyPlace in Mankato, MN, will help lead this interactive discussion and unpack how these devices impact you and the people around you. 

This is one of a 3-part vaping informational series co-hosted by 100 Rural Women and the American Lung Association. Part one, held in March of this year, focused on general information about vaping and how it affects our rural communities. Part two is centered around the physical and mental health impacts professionals are seeing as a result of long-term vape use. Part three, to be held in December, will highlight people and organizations doing important work in the movement to end vaping.

Vaping, introduced initially as a cessation device, has quickly become an epidemic in our nation. With more and more people entering hospitals due to vaping injuries, the true intention behind its use has been called into question.

Register Today

How to Conduct Online Focus Groups

Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT

In this session, Dr. Richard Krueger, a recognized authority on the use of focus group interviewing within the public and non-profit environment, will share how to conduct an online focus group, and help participants develop the skills and techniques useful in online focus group interviewing.

Free, virtual, and open to all! CE credits available.

Register Now

Presented by MPHA's partner, MN Society for Public Health Education (MN-SOPHE)

Overdose Fatality Reviews

November 8th, 12P-1P CT

Register Here

Description: 

The opioid overdose crisis has become a pressing public health emergency, demanding innovative approaches to tackle its complexities effectively. Overdose Fatality (OFR) is  an emerging and powerful tool that has demonstrated immense value in addressing the overdose crisis.

Attendees will be introduced to the concept of OFR, a comprehensive framework for understanding overdose fatalities and informing evidence-based interventions. The session emphasizes the importance of collaboration among stakeholders and jurisdictions in maximizing the impact of OFR. OFR’s multidisciplinary collaboration among stakeholders fosters a holistic understanding of the factors contributing to overdose deaths.

By the end of the webinar presentation, attendees will be able to list two benefits of implementing an Overdose Fatality Review.

Receive 1.0 Category 1 CHES free!

Nonmembers can pay $10 for credit upon post-evaluation

MN SOPHE Membership information available HERE.

Who should participate:  Public health professionals and students, healthcare professionals.

FREE for all participants, and free 1.0 CHES for MN SOPHE Members.  For nonmembers: 1.0 CHES are $10.  All participants will receive a certificate of attendance after participating and completing the evaluation form. 

Disabled Not Disposable: A Virtual Health Equity Conference

Please join us for a free, virtual CME conference focused on advancing health equity for the disability community. This conference will provide education on caring for patients with disabilities by centering the discussion on the experiences that people with disabilities face within the healthcare system and how you can improve the quality of their care. This virtual conference is open to all healthcare professionals. This conference is planned and presented by a partnership between Gillette Children’s, the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Special Olympics MN, and individual volunteers with disabilities.

Date: November 29th, 2023 | 10:00am - 3:00pm CT 

Sessions:

• Disability Bias and Ableism in Health Care
• Inclusive Communication
• Intersectionality 
• Accessibility and Person-Center Health Care 
• After the Conference, Open Consultation/Discussion with the Conference Planning Committee and speakers 
  
  

Questions? If you have any questions regarding this continuing education activity, please contact us at cme@gillettechildrens.com.

The Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance is excited to promote two opportunities this fall connected with the CHW Training Program Funded by HRSA:

Apprenticeship:

The Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry is working with employers across the State of Minnesota to expand employment opportunities for the Community Health Worker (CHW) via a Registered Apprenticeship Program.

For more information, or to schedule an information session with your organization, contact Vonyee Howard at apprenticeship@mnchwalliance.org and check out the Apprenticeship FAQs for Employers on the MNCHWA website.

Scholarship:

Scholarship applications for the Community Health Worker Certificate Program for Spring 2024 are available NOW on the MNCHWA website! Please visit the scholarship information page to learn more and apply.

For more information, or if you have specific questions about the scholarship program, please reach out to Angela Feilds at scholarship@mnchwalliance.org.

Reimaging Black Youth Mental Health Community Event

Strengthening community environments for well-being through community capacity and policy

Join state and local policy leaders for a dialogue about investing in protective community resources and policies that promote mental health and well-being for Black youth and families. This special event is hosted by MDH as part of the Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health Initiative.

When: Thursday, November 16th, 2023
      12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center
        5600 85th Avenue N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Register Now

Date & Time: October 17, 2023 |  8:30am -11:00am
Location: Wilder Foundation
    451 Lexington Pkwy N, St Paul, MN 55104 

The ACS CAN Minnesota Research and Innovation Forum is a premier event that brings together leaders from the business, education, medical, government and research communities to advance the work of ACS CAN. The event not only unites those in Minnesota who are fighting to end cancer, but it also serves to support ACS CAN and its work.

The October 17 event will focus on the latest innovations in cancer research. Attendees will hear directly from survivors, caregivers, providers, researchers, and public health advocates about how research impacts Minnesota's cancer community and informs ACS CAN's public policy initiatives.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, is the nation’s leading cancer advocacy organization working every day to make cancer issues a top priority. ACS CAN unites and empowers cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their loved ones, giving them the training and tools they need to be heard.

For event information and to RSVP, visit: www.fightcancer.org/mnforum.

Event Details

Date/Time: Saturday, October 28th, 2023 – 9am-3pm
Location: Bancroft Elementary School
   3829 13th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55407

The "Tu Salud" Health Fair aims to provide accessible health information and services to the Latino community, promoting holistic well-being. We believe that your dental expertise and contribution can add immense value to our attendees. Dental health plays a crucial role in overall well-being, and we understand the importance of having dental professionals like you actively involved in educating and supporting the community. We have managed to bring together different hospitals, nonprofits organizations and healthcare professionals, such as Minnesota Children's Hospital, United Health Care, Hennepin County, Alzheimer’s Association, etc., to be a part of this event scheduled for October 28th. It will be a day filled with informative booths, engaging speakers, and meaningful discussions focused on empowering the Latino community with health knowledge and resources.

Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance

We had a total of 88 scholarship applications submitted for Fall 2023, and of those 62 students have been awarded and begun their CHW Certificate courses this fall. We will have 90 scholarships available for Spring 2024 and we are hopeful that we can increase our outreach for the spring semester and use all 90 of the scholarships- help us get the word out!

Applications for the Spring 2024 CHWTP Scholarship will be open from October 1st through November 30th on the MNCHWA website!  

We are currently working hard to spread the word about the Apprenticeship Program, which is also a huge part of the Community Health Worker Training Program. Please reach out to Vonyee Howard at apprenticeship@mnchwalliance.org if you would like to get connected and learn more about this amazing opportunity.