Minnesota Public Health Association Blog Posts

Standing Up for Public Health Funding

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:48:20 GMT

Dear MPHA Members and Friends,

On February 11th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cancelled a $38 million award to Minnesota for the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) program, which was planned to continue through 2027. Minnesota, along with Colorado, Illinois, and California is facing this CDC grant cancellation by the Trump administration.

We encourage you to:

Listen (if you haven't yet) to this MPR show “How federal public health funding cuts could affect Minnesota”, February 18, 2026: https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/02/18/how-federal-public-health-funding-cuts-could-affect-minnesota. The interview aired yesterday on Minnesota Public Health Radio’s Angela Davis show, featuring guests Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham, Minnesota Department of Health, and Chera Sevcik, Executive Director of Health and Human Services for Faribault and Martin counties in southern Minnesota (and MPHA 2024 Award Recipient!).
Read the background information on potential public health funding cuts for our state, below.
Contact your federal lawmakers to share your examples about the impacts these cuts will have in your department and how it will impact the community. (Find out Who Represents Me?)
Educate your personal network about the important role of public health and describe the potential impact of these cuts in your local community through social media or in conversation.

Standing Up for Public Health Funding

The Minnesota Public Health Association is deeply concerned that this abrupt gap in federal public health funding will have detrimental consequences for the health of Minnesotans, both now and in the future. These terminations are part of a broader effort affecting multiple streams of federal public health funding, including the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), Core State Injury Prevention Program (Core SIPP), Preventive Services Block Grant (PBG), HIV Surveillance, and STD Prevention grants.

The abrupt termination of these funds will directly and immediately impact the work of multiple programs within the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) as well as the work of local health agencies, tribal public health and community partners who receive funds from these awards through MDH. MPHA believes that a strong public health system includes a robust public health workforce, effective programs for urban and rural communities, and efficient data systems. These necessities, among others, are weakened by this retraction of planned funds from the CDC.

On February 12, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted the states’ emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO). Following a status hearing on February 18, the court extended the TRO through March 12, 2026, while the case proceeds.

MPHA continues to monitor for further actions of grant terminations that impact our public health infrastructure and effectiveness. We acknowledge the increased strain of funding uncertainties across our field, and in the communities they serve. These increased burdens are in addition to existing high demands of regular public health work for many of our colleagues.

MPHA recognizes the urgency of restoring public health funding not only for Minnesotans, but all Americans. We know that health and disease does not stop at state lines.

We will watch this situation closely and notify you, our MPHA members, when there are important times for us to raise our collective voice in support of public health.

In Health,

MPHA

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/infrastructure-phig/about/index.html
https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/02/12_PublicHealthGrants.asp
https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2026/phig021226.html
The order and the court’s reasoning are available here and here. The publicly accessible court docket is available at: State of Illinois v. Vought, 1:26-cv-01566 – CourtListener.com.

A Message from the MPHA President-Elect

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 03:32:23 GMT

Greetings Public Health Colleagues,

Throughout much of January, Minnesota was in the media spotlight and the center of a highly-politized national debate because of Operation Metro Surge, the tactics used by immigration enforcement officials, and the killing of two protesters by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in separate Minneapolis events. We chose to write a letter to the American Public Health Association and other state affiliates to bear witness to what was happening in our community, focusing particularly on the experiences of our members where immigration enforcement activities have been most intense.

By speaking up, our association is not taking a stance on the much broader and more complex issue of immigration policy. We are focusing on the harm caused by ICE tactics in our community and using our voice to put action behind our Statement of Solidarity with Immigrants in Minnesota, our association’s mission to “to create a healthier Minnesota through effective public health practice and engaged citizens,” and our commitment to advancing health equity.

We are not alone in feeling a professional responsibility to speak up. Just a few days ago, a group of Minnesota physicians wrote about “what fear can do to the health of a community" in a commentary piece published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The challenges they name, including patients missing appointments, delaying care, experiencing heightened mental health symptoms, and lacking nutritious food, are consistent with what many members of our association have described and speak to the large and growing needs that we – as a field – are called to respond to in order to protect and improve the public's health.

We have a strong foundation to build upon. We have immense expertise across the state, a culture of volunteerism and civic engagement among our residents, and a strong history of working effectively across sectors to the benefit of the communities we serve. We will need to draw on these strengths as we meet emerging challenges and as we continue to navigate the dramatic changes in funding and federal policy impacting our field. We will also need to remind ourselves that prioritizing our own well-being is not a luxury but a necessity.

As a statewide association, our experiences are not homogenous and the needs of our local communities are not the same. We bring different lived experiences to our association, work in varied professional roles, and have developed unique skills and areas of specialization. And that richness of experience is expertise is what strengthens our message when we stand together to advocate for the health and well-being of all Minnesotans.

In solidarity,

Melanie Ferris
President-Elect
info@mpha.net

MPHA Letter to APHA - Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Activity in MN

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:37:50 GMT

Dear MPHA Members & Friends,

Recently our colleagues in the American Public Health Association (APHA) asked about current events in our beloved state. This document was prepared to provide information requested by APHA regarding federal immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) activity in Minnesota. It summarizes reported observations, community experiences, and public health concerns shared by local partners, health care providers, and public sources. The information reflects conditions as understood at the time of writing and is provided for informational and educational purposes to support awareness and dialogue among public health professionals.

January 27, 2026

To our American Public Health Association Colleagues, We are sharing the below information from Minnesota to: 1) work in partnership in communicating current events in our state and 2) coordinate with APHA to amplify a response with other state affiliates.

Over the last few weeks, thousands of armed, masked federal agents have come to Minnesota. Their aggressive tactics, meant to intimidate, are causing incredible harm, leading to palpable tension and fear across our community. As public health professionals driven to promote and protect the health of all people and their communities, we have a duty to speak up. We are asking you to encourage your members to contact their representatives to demand restraint and a halt to ICE activities that are violating constitutional and human rights, harming the health and well-being of people living in our state and across the nation.

Neighborhoods in our state, such as in St. Paul’s East Side, have been targeted by ICE since at least November. It is the scale and severity of operations and the use of observer’s video recordings that has increased our awareness and response now. Many people became aware of the ICE presence in Minnesota following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents and subsequent protests. While photographs of direct confrontation between ICE agents and protestors are often the photos that accompany news stories, these incidents are only part of the story of what is happening in communities across our state.

While activity is highly localized, it is common to see ICE agents, masked and with military gear, in our neighborhoods or their vehicles, typically with dark-tinted windows, patrolling. They move through residential neighborhoods, business districts, and also near schools and places of worship.
There are multiple examples of ICE agents being aggressive while making arrests, such as taking a teenager away from his job at Target, pulling people out of their cars, tackling people on the street, breaking down residential doors, or ramming their cars into vehicles to create an accident in order to question and arrest a driver.
ICE agents have been accused of pointing firearms at people who pose no threat, spraying chemical irritants, breaking car windows, and using force against bystanders and observers who are recording interactions to help ensure human rights are not violated.
Racial profiling is being used to question people on the streets about their immigration status and demand proof of citizenship. Their sweeping actions have led to legal, documented citizens, including Native American residents, being detained and unreachable to their family and friends. There have been reports of agents going door to door in areas with large immigrant populations, demanding entrance without warrants, or breaking down doors at incorrect addresses. In addition, ICE has targeted immigrant residents, including long-term refugees and citizens, for old, minor offenses
ICE agents have patrolled near emergency department entrances and entered hospitals, sometimes without warrants, where they have remained present during patient care, at times handcuffing patients to their beds or denying visits from family.

The reckless and broad tactics being used by federal agents, including actions that have led to lawful residents being unlawfully detained, are contributing to fear and safety concerns for residents across the state. Because of concerns about racial profiling, people of color are asking for accommodations to work remotely and are carrying proof of citizenship anytime they leave their home. Businesses have posted signs and locked their doors to deny consent to unwarranted searches. Health care clinics report people cancelling appointments and have raised concerns about people delaying or avoiding care for both physical and mental health needs. Schools in Minnesota have created online learning options for students who do not feel safe coming to school, and are holding recess indoors when ICE agents are present in the neighborhood.

Deportations have occurred under every administration. However, no other administration in recent history has chosen to deploy an occupying presence and repeatedly use hateful rhetoric and misleading language to characterize all immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers as hardened, violent criminals on this scale. We acknowledge that, across our diverse membership, there may be wide variation in how people feel about immigration policy. However, as an association, we feel strongly that – regardless of those nuanced differences – we can stand firm in our opposition to the reckless, aggressive, and violent tactics being used by the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. Further, we can only anticipate that the outcomes of this enforcement operation, and the actions that become normalized, will shape what happens in other parts of the country.

While the primary aim of the letter is to encourage you - our public health colleagues - to speak up against the harm being perpetrated by Operation Metro Surge, the story would be incomplete if it focused only on the constitutional and human rights violations occurring in our state. Saidiya Hartman, Black American scholar, wrote, “Care is the antidote to violence.” And that is also what we see so clearly in Minnesota. We are coming together to raise funds, deliver food, provide rides, alert people to the presence of ICE, peacefully protest, and bear witness. The community organizing taking place is not only being led by local advocacy organizations, but by hyper-local groups of residents who are finding ways to help address needs as they emerge. It is through these efforts that we remain hopeful.

On behalf of the members of our affiliate association, we appreciate you taking action to inform your members, people in your state, and your Congressional representatives about what is really happening in Minnesota and to call for de-escalation and an end to the use of enforcement tactics of intimidation that are contributing to harm. We encourage our affiliates to contact their representatives in the Senate to vote against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill as written and to provide oversight requiring DHS to rein in the tactics being used by ICE and other immigration enforcement departments that are creating harm and threatening the public health of our communities.

Take Action Here

In Solidarity,

Merry Grande, Executive Director, admin@mpha.net
Tyler Pyle, MPHA President
Melanie Ferris, MPHA-President Elect

Importance of Voting to Health

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Minnesota’s local elections are Tuesday, November 4th - make a plan to vote today!

By Sunniva Berg, MPHA Intern for Health Equity and Policy & Advocacy Committees

Did you know that local elections are decided by much smaller margins than state and federal elections? Your vote matters!

Join Sunniva Berg, MPHA intern and other MPHA members for a virtual coffee chat to discuss the connections between voting and health, and what local elections you are paying attention to. Register for the event on October 3, 2025 here!

Importance of Voting to Health

Local elections affect many aspects of your everyday life, including but not limited to public health, housing and zoning decisions, sanitation and water quality, public transit, libraries, and school curriculum and funding.

The American Public Health Association believes that “removing barriers to voting and working to ensure inclusive voting systems are essential to advance health equity and improve health and well-being for all”. Additionally, in 2022, the American Medical Association released a statement (Support for Safe and Equitable Access to Voting H-440.805) that “acknowledges voting is a social determinant of health and significantly contributes to the analyses of other social determinants of health as a key metric”. The Institute for Responsive Government’s report on the Health and Democracy Index further analyzes the links between higher rates of voting and healthier communities. MPHA has recognized the importance of voter registration and participation for years; including with our member approved resolution on Voter Registration and Participation.

Voter Turnout

In 2024, Minnesota was the state with highest voter turnout at 75.9% (behind Washington, DC at 79.5%). However, local elections on non presidential and congressional election years have significantly lower turnout and sometimes end in ties! In 2023 (the last off year), registered voter turnout was 31% in the City of Minneapolis, and a little over half of registered voters in Duluth turned out for their competitive mayoral race and city council races in 2023.

In 2020, some of the top reasons that registered voters didn't vote were, “Did not like candidates or campaign issues” (17.6%), “Too busy, conflicting schedule” (13.1%), “Illness or disability” (13%). Voters with disability reported barriers to voting at a higher rate than those without a disability –20% to 6%.

Furthermore, a recent study led by Dr. Ross Arena published in Public Health in Practice found that there’s an association that “suggests poor health may be a powerful contributor to lower participation in the voting process”. Their findings indicate that “both health status and measures of social vulnerability may be important drivers of voter turnout”.

It is important to acknowledge the ways voting may be inaccessible to people, including the physical accessibility of polling places, language barriers, housing instability, and voter ID rules. Voting can be difficult if someone has an inability to register or does not know how to register to vote. Voting itself can also be difficult and confusing, be it the language on a ballot or navigating the voting location. In Minnesota, we are fortunate to not require an ID if your registration is current and active. Here and below are resources for checking your voter registration and for a guide for encouraging your friends and family to vote in November elections.

Why vote in local elections?

Voting in local elections is especially important this year. Federal funding cuts will likely significantly affect state and local jurisdictions budgets. Having a strong stance for public health at the local level could mitigate harms that can result from these budget cuts. It is important that we elect leaders who will prioritize public health and understand the ways that school, city, and county policies affect constituents' health. Local elections can include, mayor, city council, township, school board, judicial, parks and recreation board, sheriff and more.

Researching and following local elections can be challenging. General definitions of elected local officials' roles and functions can be found here. The city council and mayor often influence public health, including its budget, priorities and departments within the city. You can use the resources linked below to research candidates and the most pressing issues in your city or county. News organizations like the Minnesota Star Tribune, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Sahan Journal, and the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, along with local news stations and newspapers throughout the state, may post articles discussing candidates’ positions on issues in the coming month and may be a good place to start your research.

Races to Watch in your Community

MPHA encourages you to vote, but to first research candidates' perspectives on public health policies before voting. Below and in the “voting resources” section are some additional resources to assist you!

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State provides information on the next election, if one is scheduled, polling place location, list of candidates and questions on your ballot.

The League of Women Voters Minnesota offers nonpartisan resources on candidates by your location. Recordings of local candidate forums and future dates are also available along with information on how to research candidates.

MPHA has included a list of topics and questions that can help guide you . These are questions you could ask if you attend a candidate forum in your community, and may help guide your research of candidates and their policies. This guide has been adapted from MN SOPHE’s 2022 guide for candidates.

MPHA encourages you to vote, but to first research candidates' perspectives on public health policies before voting. See the resources below!

Voting resources

Register to vote in MN or update registration
Polling place finder which includes a list of candidates and questions on your ballot
Questions for candidates - adapted from MN SOPHE
Guide for encouraging your friends and family to vote
League of Women Voters Vote411
League of Women Voters MN candidate forum dates and recordings
League of Women Voters how to research candidates
Local campaign finance reports - who is funding the elections

Important Dates

September 19, 2025 - Early voting begins. Details on how to vote here.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 11:59 p.m - Online registration deadline
Tuesday, Oct. 14., 2025 5 p.m. - Register by mail deadline
Tuesday, Nov. 4., 2025 - In-person registration deadline. You can register at your polling place with an ID too.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - Voting Day! Polls open 7 am to 8 pm.

If you are interested in diving deeper into our non-partisian work of the interconnectedness between democracy & health, please email Merry admin@mpha.net to be connected to MPHA's MN Health and Democracy Partners workgroup.

$880 billion Medicaid Cuts: Implications for Minnesota’s Public Health

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 21:03:14 GMT

$880 billion Medicaid Cuts: Implications for Minnesota’s Public Health

The fight over Medicaid is intensifying as Congress approved $880 billion in cuts over the next decade, with far-reaching consequences for Minnesota’s public health landscape. While the details have to be worked out, advocacy becomes a key tool to shape the ultimate outcomes. Medicaid provides essential coverage to one in five Americans, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. However, proposed reforms—such as block grants, work requirements, and funding reductions—could dramatically impact access to healthcare, state budgets, and health equity.

Why This Matters to Minnesota

Minnesota has been a leader in Medicaid innovation, using its expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to increase access and improve health outcomes. However, the proposed cuts could:

Threaten coverage for nearly 1.5 million Minnesotans, particularly low-income adults and children.
Strain rural hospitals, as Medicaid supports over 50% of births and 62% of nursing home residents and 42% of long term care.
Increase financial pressure on the state, which may need to compensate for federal funding losses or limit enrollment and services.

Polling indicates that 77% of Americans support Medicaid, with even conservative-leaning voters expressing concerns about cuts. As the debate unfolds, public health professionals in Minnesota must be prepared to advocate for sustainable funding, defend access to care, and support affected populations.

The MPHA Policy & Advocacy Committee is committed to being a strong voice in ensuring Medicaid remains a vital safety net. As legislative battles continue, we will inform and urge you with tools and tactics to engage in advocacy, educate policymakers, and support community health efforts.

Stay informed. Stay engaged. The future of public health depends on it.

How to promote diversity within the law: Resources for racial equity advocates from OBI

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Sharing advancing racial equity resources from the Othering and Belonging Institute:

We know that many of you are struggling to navigate this new and evolving legal and political environment with regards to what's permissible and what's not concerning policies at your organizations to promote diversity. To hopefully clear up some of the confusion we've just updated our legal guidance document we published two years ago to help racial equity advocates and DEI practitioners advance their goals within the bounds of the law.

This revised and expanded guidance is your first stop to answer all of your questions about what is possible and what is not, and how to adjust or adapt to this new environment. In addition to an expanded guidance, we have created a pithy new FAQ to directly and succinctly answer the most difficult legal questions you may have.

View Legal Guidance Document

Read FAQ

A Public Health Approach to Building Mental Wellness and Resilience in the Face of the Climate Crisis

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:47:26 GMT

A Public Health Approach to Building Mental Wellness and Resilience in the Face of the Climate Crisis

Rising extreme weather events are worsening anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. With a national shortage of mental health professionals, a public health approach is crucial. This guide offers strategies for community-based, trauma-informed initiatives to strengthen collective resilience against climate-related mental health impacts. Explore and share this resource with your networks.

Urgent Request for Stories on Executive Orders

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:30:00 GMT

January 30, 2025

Dear MPHA Members and Friends,

As you likely know, the American Public Health Association (APHA), along with the National Council of Nonprofits, Main Street Alliance and SAGE, filed a lawsuit against the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directive that halted the distribution of all federal funds and grants that includes financial assistance “for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.” The suit was filed on Tuesday afternoon by Democracy Forward. Right before it was scheduled to go into effect at 5pm, a judge stayed the order and set a time on Monday, February 3rd, for the case to be heard in full.

What can you do?

First, APHA's lawyers are asking us to help gather information and stories about the impact of this freeze on the public's health in the short- and long-term. This is an urgent request - response is needed by Friday, January 31, 11 am CT.

Do you (or does anyone you know) have a federal grant that serves the public and would you be willing to share information about the impact of the freeze? APHA created this Google form to gather information to share with their lawyers.

Share Impact with APHA by Jan 31, 11 am

Secondly, the MN Council of Nonprofits (MCN) is also collecting stories to measure the impact. Please feel free to share your stories there as well. This information will help MCN communicate with federal and state leadership about the negative impact of this freeze.

MCN Federal Grant Freeze Form

For more information on Executive Orders affecting nonprofits, please see this chart from the National Council of Nonprofits. The press release on the rescinded order from MCN lists additional actions you can take.

MPHA acknowledges the stress and uncertainties over the past week and a half due to changes at the national level are affecting your families, communities, colleagues and programs. As an independent, non-partisan public health association, MPHA remains committed to supporting you with our mission of creating a healthier Minnesota through effective public health practice and engaged citizens. If there is something specific you need help with, or have ideas to share, please reach out to us.

Merry Grande, Executive Director and Kristin Moore, President

Infectious Diseases Education & Assessment (IDEA) Program updates from 9/9/24 – 1/6/25

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:03:23 GMT

Infectious Diseases Education & Assessment (IDEA) Program updates from 9/9/24 – 1/6/25.

National HIV Curriculum

NEW National HIV Curriculum Podcast episodes explore practice-changing issues and updates in HIV diagnosis, management, and prevention through case discussions, expert interviews, and literature reviews:

Switching ART Regimens: A Discussion – Expert Interview
Disseminated MAC: Evaluation and Management – Case Discussion
Initial ART Regimens Considerations: A Discussion – Expert Interview
Implementation of the New HHS Anal Cancer Screening Guidelines – Expert Interview
Pneumocystis Pneumonia: Management – Case Discussion
The ANCHOR Study: Does Treatment of Anal HSIL Prevent Anal Cancer? – Literature Review

National HIV PrEP Curriculum

New Clinician’s Information Guide: Doxy PEP for STI Prevention helps health care professionals implement CDC’s June 2024 guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP).

National STD Curriculum

NEW National STD Curriculum Podcast episodes explore innovative and significant STD issues and discuss the clinical implications through conference summaries, expert interviews, and literature reviews:

Syphilis: Immune Response & Vaccine Development – Expert Interview
IDWeek 2024: Mpox Updates – Conference Summary
Syphilis: A 2024 Update – Literature Review
Antimicrobial Resistance in STI Pathogens – Expert Interview
STI Diagnostic Testing Options & Implementation – Expert Interview

New Clinician’s Information Guide: Doxy PEP for STI Prevention helps health care professionals implement CDC’s June 2024 guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP).

Hepatitis C Online

NEW Hepatitis C Online Mini-Lectures where national experts discuss clinically relevant topics:

Dreams Of A Beloved Public Health: Confronting White Supremacy In Our Field

Thu, 02 May 2024 20:00:00 GMT

Many MPHA 2024 Conference attendees have asked for the reading of President Dr. Antonia Wilcoxon's remarks. Please read the full article here:

Dreams Of A Beloved Public Health: Confronting White Supremacy In Our Field

By Ryan J. Petteway, Oregon Health and Science University (OSHU), published February 9, 2021 on Health Affairs.org website.

#OnlyOneEarth Practical Guide to living sustainably in harmony with nature

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 15:04:29 GMT

June 5th is celebrated internationally as World Environment Day to call individuals and communities to reflect and take action. This year’s theme, Only One Earth calls for “collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet.” Following shortly after our 2022 Annual Conference Together, for Planet and Community, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the #OnlyOneEarth Practical Guide to living sustainably in harmony with nature. Take a gander today!

The need for diversity in research studies is important now more than ever

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 17:12:01 GMT

The COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to expose the vast disparities present within the United States. While the recent outrage is warranted, it’s something that many public health and medical professionals have been warning about for weeks. In an article from CNN published yesterday, Dr. Monica Peek an internist at the University of Chicago Medical Center is quoted saying:

"What pandemics, natural disasters, economic disasters do is uncover the everyday lived experiences of these structural inequities that communities live with all the time.”

It’s important that amidst all of the current chaos and confusion, all efforts to combat the pandemic are done so through a health equity lens. As a report from the NAACP on Ten Equity Implications of the outbreak reminds us, our government (bolding is my own)“… must ensure necessary policies and practices are in place so that needed information, training, resources, and care are available equitably and reach all people in all communities.”

Images from those on the frontlines of fighting this virus are terrifying and unforgettable. Patients lining up in hallways. Medical professionals with bruises on their faces from their masks, overrun with emotion. Organized chaos. Or maybe just chaos in some places. But as many remind us, it’s important that we look toward to the future. That we have hope; hope is something that can help us get through this. Hope for an effective treatment. Hope for a vaccine.

However, as groups around the world race to find these treatments and vaccines, we can’t forget that clinical trials are another area where racial disparities are rampant. In a review of over 200 trials supporting FDA oncology drug approvals from July 2008 to June 2018, Blacks represented only 3% of trial participants and Hispanics only 6%. The disparities are even more evident in genomic studies that seek to find associations between genetic variations and certain diseases. As of a review in 2018, 78% of people who participated in those studies were of European descent with only 10% being of Asian descent, 2% African descent, and 1% Hispanic descent.

Distrust among these populations is not unwarranted- remember! it was only in 1972 that the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment was finally stopped after 40 years. But it’s important to push for the inclusion of diverse study populations because there are instances where medications don’t work as effectively in certain groups of the population.

Instead of sweeping the lack of diversity in research studies “under the rug”, I have seen more researchers are calling for this to end. And what’s great is that it’s not just young researchers (who are often more diverse themselves). Instead, it’s researchers who are well-known in their fields. This has been incredibly heartening as an early-stage researcher myself.

One effort underway to improve diversity in research is the All of Us research program. The goal of the program is to strive for better health for all of us. It’s a national effort to build one of the most diverse health databases in history through a historic effort to collect and study data from one million or more people living in the United States. Not only can you sign up and participate in the study, but there are also opportunities for researchers (traditional and nontraditional) to get involved. You can learn more at https://allofus.nih.gov/.

It is up to all of us - researchers, public health professionals, medical professionals, and the general public - to push towards greater inclusion. Studies that include diverse individuals - whether that be race, ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics - will ultimately be required to better understand the world around us. How can we learn what will protect all of us if studies don’t include people who look like all of us? And these studies might be more important now than ever before as we fight against this virus. We need to continue to push for inclusion in research studies. If we don’t, it’ll only serve to widen the disparities that are already present.

Written by Kristin Moore, PhD MPH, Cancer Disparities Postdoctoral Fellow, Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School.

This blog post is for the Minnesota Public Health Association's National Public Health Week (NPHW) 2020 activities.

Balancing Work & Life in a Pandemic

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 17:15:40 GMT

I consider my working situation during the COVID-19 pandemic as low stress: I’m working from home with no added responsibilities of caring for loved ones or children (besides a giant black lab). Working in health promotion for a large healthcare system, my focus has turned toward the health and well-being of the employees, the majority of whom are still working onsite in clinics and hospitals. These colleagues are working long hours without breaks, in sometimes traumatic situations. I’m also supporting colleagues who have been sent home to work on desk set-ups that are most definitely not ergonomically sound, while teaching their kid fourth grade at the same time.

However, even though I am grateful for my situation, I can still feel the intense, tumultuous energy of living and working through a pandemic. Our work in public health feels more important than ever, and even harder to step away from. Hours blurs together into one big day/night/workday/weekend. Maintaining work/life balance is…hard.

In public health, we are constantly thinking about the health and well-being of others. However, unless we remember to “put on our own oxygen masks first,” it will be impossible to serve the public in meaningful ways without burning ourselves out. Creating boundaries around our “work” and “life” spheres—and protecting those boundaries—allows us space to ensure we are meeting our own needs in order to continue to show up for others.

Here are some things I’ve found helpful in maintaining those boundaries:

If you’re working from home, stick to a regular schedule. Setting dedicated work hours will help you relax during your downtime. Discuss the schedule with others, not just your supervisor and colleagues but family and friends as well. It will set everyone’s expectations around when you do and don’t work—including your own.
Create a morning routine to establish a sense of normalcy. It can be as easy as shower, teeth, coffee, eggs. Knowing what will happen next, even for one hour, is very comforting when other things around you feel uncertain or chaotic.
Take breaks, if you can, at home and at work. Go outside, read a book, listen to a meditation. Even ten minutes can help restore vital energy and focus. One perk of working from home is the ability to step away to stretch or put your legs up the wall for a few minutes without anyone seeing. If you’re working onsite, download a free meditation app like Headspace or Insight Timer, which provide special content for COVID-19-related stress and anxiety.
Create a ritual around the end of your workday as well. Give yourself something to look forward to each day when work is over.
If you’re working from home, put a physical stop to your workday: close your computer, put your work in a drawer, change your clothes, leave the room and close the door.
If you’re working onsite, find a moment of calm and self-care before you switch into home mode. Run through this checklist: 1. Acknowledge one thing that was difficult today, and then let it go. 2. Be proud of the work you did today. 3. Think of three things that went well today. 4. Check in with your colleagues, are they doing OK? 5. Check in with yourself—what support do you need?
Add an activity you enjoy: go for a run, walk the dog, take a virtual yoga class, or find a kickboxing video on YouTube. Elizabeth Gilbert has a great, 5-minute activity for grounding in the present moment, rather than spinning into an unknown future or ruminating on the past eight hours.
Take it easy on yourself. When life is upended, your level of productivity may be affected—and that’s OK. It’s completely normal to feel scared, sad, angry, grateful and hopeful, sometimes all at once. Remember to give yourself and others grace as we all make our way through this together.

Written by Claire Fleming Sivongsay, MPH, On-Site Well-Being Program Manager, HealthPartners.

This blog post is for the Minnesota Public Health Association's National Public Health Week (NPHW) 2020 activities.

Disability Services in the Time of the Coronavirus Pandemic: You Thought it Was a Crisis Before?

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 17:07:18 GMT

Many people will be surprised to know that nearly 10% of Minnesotans have some form of disability, whether physical, intellectual or developmental.

For those whose disabilities are serious enough to qualify for supportive services, most of them receive financial benefits through Minnesota's Medicaid program, which is funded through both federal and state dollars. The federal agency known as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sets the parameters for states to follow to administer their Medicaid programs, but there is still quite a bit of flexibility, each state’s Medicaid program is different.

CMS has established a series of waivers to allow States to operate certain provisions of their Medicaid programs outside the normal parameters. For people that are aging or have disabilities, there are Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers that make it possible for those who would otherwise qualify for the levels of care provided by institutional settings such as hospitals, nursing homes or intermediate care facilities, to receive supportive services so they can live in home-like settings in the community. Approximately three-quarters of Minnesotans with significant disabilities receive support through HCBS waivers.

These supportive services can be delivered in a person's family home, in a day setting that is different than the person's home, or in a residential setting like a group home or foster home. Delivering these services requires a large number of direct support professionals (DSPs), whose job duties are incredibly variable, complex, and in some cases intimate. Depending on the needs of the person receiving supports, their DSP's responsibilities may include dressing, feeding, toileting, medical care, transferring from bed to wheelchair and back, shopping, driving and escorting to activities.

It may be surprising to learn that these caring professionals are paid very low wages - less than $13.00 per hour on average. With the rate of job growth and unemployment we were enjoying in the US prior to the current pandemic, there was a staffing crisis in Home and Community Based Services. Recruitment and retention of DSPs was very challenging, with half of new DSPs leaving their jobs in less than 1 year (fast food restaurant and retail positions typically paid more). Coupled with the extensive training requirements and regulations providers must follow, and the fact that their reimbursement rates are set by the state legislature, the workforce situation has had provider organizations operating in crisis mode for years.

Enter the coronavirus!

In less than a month's time, an industry that was already in crisis is now unsure of its viability through the next 3 months. Staffing has become even more challenging because many DSPs are either afraid to come to work out of fear of being exposed, or because they may have been exposed themselves and are self-isolating.

That means remaining staff have to work longer hours, including overtime, and in some cases work 24-hour shifts. Day programs, where people would go for services for several hours a day, have been forced to suspend their operations, which means the people are now in their residential programs 24 hours a day, adding to operating expenses, food budgets, and staff time. Shortages of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment for medical care have hit these programs hard as well.

Where will our state's most vulnerable citizens go if these programs don't survive?

There have been some helpful actions taken at the state and federal levels, and some additional funding has been temporarily made available. But the future is still uncertain. The DSPs are not consistently included in lists of essential employees, so some benefits don't apply. Some benefits that have been instituted to support businesses don’t apply to these provider organizations.

The biggest concerns right now at the federal level are that it is not certain that any of the $100 billion Congress appropriated for emergency health and human services as part of the $2 trillion CARES Act is meant for Medicaid-funded providers. And there is still not a final opinion as to whether DSPs are considered health care workers under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and would therefore be exempt from expanded family and medical leave and paid sick leave due to COVID-19.

At the state level, while providers are following the Governor’s executive orders and recommendations from the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health, the biggest need is for an emergency rate increase to help HCBS providers keep up with increased costs of doing business related to the pandemic.

In times of uncertainty and high anxiety, Minnesota is known as a resilient state.

I hope we can all work together to see through this crisis and emerge as a stronger community on the other side. Advocacy organizations in the state, such as the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM), the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation (MOHR) and The Arc are working hard together to secure the necessary resources through legislative action. And in Washington, DC, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) is doing the same with Congress.

We ask the public health community to support us in these activities

Written by Ken Bence, MHA, MBA, Director of Research, Analysis & Policy, AARM (Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota) and MPHA Past President.

This blog post is for the Minnesota Public Health Association's National Public Health Week (NPHW) 2020 activities.