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Introducing Making Contact: A Training for COVID-19 Contact Tracers A new online course from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the National Coalition of STD Directors   Today, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) announced the launch of a free, on-demand training for entry-level COVID-19 contact tracers. The course,Making Contact: A Training for COVID-19 Contact Tracers, will support ongoing public health agency efforts to prepare new contact tracers for their work of helping identify COVID-19 positive cases and those they've been in close contact with.   As the nation looks to restart the economy and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to quickly contain future outbreaks is more important than ever. To achieve this, state and local health agencies will need to rapidly scale up their contract tracing workforces. Making Contact provides approximately three hours of free online training to quickly teach participants the basics of contact tracing, regardless of prior experience in public health.   Participants will walk through the steps of contact tracing and interviewing, experience case-based scenarios, and complete knowledge exercises to reinforce important concepts. The course comes with helpful job aids, which will familiarize learners with frequently asked questions about COVID-19, fundamental components of contact tracing in a remote environment (over phone, video call), tips for conducting interviews, and more.    Interested in using the course in your jurisdiction? See below, read our press release, or visit ASTHO's e-learning center for more details! Contact us at learn@astho.org with any questions.

ASTHO and NCSD thank all of our partners who provided input, expert review, and/or source material for training development, including:  Cardea Services CDC Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Michigan Department of Health and Human Services National Association of County and City Health Officials NCSD Disease Intervention Specialist Committee Public Health Foundation Resolve to Save Lives, a Vital Strategies initiative Texas Department of State Health Services Virginia Department of Health Washington State Department of Health

MPHA Members, Join the American Cancer Society's Action Network to support a number of public health issues at the Capitol. See below for how to make your voice heard!

From ACS-CAN: This week, we’re taking action! Though we can’t be together at the state capitol, we can use our voices together to fight cancer. We hope you join us for a virtual Week of Action starting tomorrow, Monday, April 27th until Friday, May 1st. With your help, we’ll be advocating for legislation to raise the tobacco age of sale in Minnesota to 21, remove barriers to breast and cervical cancer treatment coverage, and ensure that all Minnesotans have access to clinical trials. Visit our Week of Action resource page for suggestions on actions you can take every day this week and talking points, too. We encourage you to get creative! Certain days this week, you’ll get emails with an action alert and a call alert, so we can contact lawmakers in a specific way together. Review the Week of Action resource page. If you have any questions, please reach out to Britta at Britta.babel@cancer.org. Let’s get to work, advocates!

Tuesday, April 28
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm CDT

On Sunday, April 26, Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) will premiere Our Invisible Guardians, a documentary about public health and the many people who work behind the scenes on issues vital to keeping us healthy. Since the film was made a short five months ago, COVID-19 has changed our world and public health is far from ”invisible.”

Join School of Public Health (SPH) Dean John Finnegan as he talks with documentary stars and SPH faculty Michael Osterholm, Marizen Ramirez, Timothy Beebe, and Jeff Bender about their focus on the coronavirus and its impact.

Registration & details at: https://www.sph.umn.edu/event/no-longer-invisible-public-health-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

In public health we are frequently pulled in multiple directions and oftentimes lose our way and our sense of purpose. It’s like getting stuck in a giant hairball! In order to take care of ourselves and better serve others, it is important to pause and explore why we choose to do the work we do. This webinar will guide you through a process of creating your career philosophy which will help you step out of the giant hairball, and navigate the complexity of the public health profession.

This webinar, co-hosted by the School of Public Health (SPH) Office of Alumni Relations and the Career and Professional Development Center, is presented by Vic Massaglia. Vic is the Director of the Career & Professional Development Center for the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. (He's also a MPHA member!) He has extensive experience in leadership, career, and organizational development in both the public and private sectors. He’s on a mission to connect with and inspire people in transition so they can make a positive impact in the world. He approaches his work with compassion by developing his craft of facilitation, coaching, and teaching so people will discover their gifts and become their best selves. He is deeply passionate about social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and believes he is at his best when he is serving others. This webinar will be recorded and available online following the presentation. 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Central.

Audience: This webinar is designed for public health professionals, although students and professionals from other industries are welcome to join. SPH alumni, students and friends of SPH are especially encouraged to attend.

More information

University of Minnesota School of Public Health

MPHA Members,

Join our colleagues at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health for a special COVID-19 health policy webinar Friday, April 24 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm.

COVID-19 Health Policy Briefing Webinar

https://www.sph.umn.edu/event/covid-19-health-policy-briefing-webinar/?fbclid=IwAR0AY-6lrcvP_Kfluagv-4w5r2evApnlwIZJT-Y47E7RoOmwKZowTx_0kHY

MPHA is a member of MCN - see below for their next call & how to submit questions!

What role does equity play in COVID-19 planning and response?

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) is hosting its fourth call with The Governor's Office originally scheduled for Monday, April 20th has been moved to May 4, 11:30 am - 12:15 pm. The call will focus on how equity and accessibility play a role in planning for and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

MCN members and nonmembers are welcome to register and join. Past recordings of the calls are available at MCN's COVID-19 resource page.

Dear MPHA Members:

We've heard many of you would like to know how to help more during this pandemic time.

If you have a suggestion on how Members could help, or know of a specific need, please post your ideas in the comments below! (Just click 'Add Comment' button.)

Expecting a wide variety of comments, as we all are connected to different areas of public health and our communities...

Thank you!

Oral Health is Public Health

Zoom video call (details below)

Dr. Eileen Crespo, Delta Dental of Minnesota and Hennepin Health

Matt Flory, American Cancer Society (and MPHA Past President)

This Infomar will provide an overview of HPV infection, vaccination as cancer prevention and the role of the dental community in this public health effort. 

Meeting details:

Time: Apr 2, 2020 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/989815989 

Meeting ID: 989 815 989

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,989815989# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 989 815 989

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/amm5WBBta

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

2020 DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Wednesday, March 25 | 9:45am-3:00pm | Minnesota State Capitol

Join volunteers, activists, and survivors from across the state as we meet

at the state capitol and tell lawmakers:

It’s time to stand up to Big Tobacco.

• ACS CAN is joining the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation for a Coalition Day at the Capitol

• Volunteers will be trained on the issues

• Lunch will be provided

• Lodging will be provided for volunteers who travel over 75 miles

• No charge to attend

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER:

FIGHTCANCER.ORG/MNDAC

The unfamiliarity of firearms and the complexity of firearm laws have contributed to the existence of myths and misconceptions about firearms. What exactly is an “Assault Weapon”? How do individuals legally and illegally obtain firearms in Minnesota?  This webinar will provide viewers with a basic understanding of common firearm-related terminology and existing firearm laws in Minnesota.

Webinar Objectives - Participants will be able to:

• identify at least five basic firearm-related terms

• identify at least three laws/ or regulations pertaining to firearms in the state of Minnesota
  
  

Who should participate:  Public health professionals, Parents, Educators, Community members, Allied health professionals, university faculty and students

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

Register here:  https://mnsophe.wildapricot.org/event-3735313

Questions about the webinar or MN SOPHE? Email Liz Heimer, membership chair at sopheminn@gmail.com

“An application has been submitted to award Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 1.0 total Category I Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH).  Maximum Advanced-level Continuing Education Contact Hours available are 1.0. SOPHE, including its chapters, is a designated provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.”