March 4, 2025
The Community Health Corner
Submitted by Stephanie Gutierrez
The National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being recommends using community development strategies and health literacy programs to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. The following resources help us improve well-being for all, and achieve Healthy Kansas 2030 and Healthy People 2030 objectives.
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Webinar: Mark your calendars! On March 11, 2025, at 3:00 pm EDT, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps is hosting a webinar previewing their 2025 Annual Data Release. This year, they’re introducing a new model of health that highlights how policies, laws, budgets, and culture—known as structural determinants—shape community health. The webinar will feature new tools, resources, and evidence-based strategies to help communities drive change and improve health equity. Register here.
National Nutrition Month: Every March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors National Nutrition Month to help people make informed food choices and develop positive eating habits. Join the conversation by using the Academy’s social media toolkit, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate resources, or U.S Food & Drug Administration’s nutrition education materials. Be sure to also use our very own Dietary Guidelines toolkit for professionals in both English and Spanish. Finally, share our consumer-friendly MyHealthfinder nutrition resources and Move Your Way healthy eating stories with your community.
CDC Reports a Nearly 24% Decline in U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths: The CDC has released new provisional data showing a nearly 24% drop in drug overdose deaths in the U.S. for the 12 months ending in September 2024—the largest single-year decline since 2020. This decrease is attributed to expanded access to naloxone, improved substance use treatment options, and stronger public health initiatives like CDC’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. However, overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, reinforcing the need for continued prevention efforts. To learn more about the latest data and overdose prevention strategies, visit the CDC’s Overdose Prevention website: What CDC is Doing | Overdose Prevention.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu