July 20, 2021
The Community Health Corner
According to the CDC, community health uses science-based approaches for the greatest health benefit to the greatest number of people by addressing social, economic and structural drivers that impact health. Changes in policies, systems and environments, settings are among the most effective ways to tackle big health issues. Being healthy is not just about individual choices, it’s also about the conditions that influence everyone’s health.
AVAILABLE NOW: Kansas: Stronger Together is a crisis counseling program developed to provide mental health and wellness support to all Kansans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides a free, anonymous crisis counseling assistance line to all Kansans by calling 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24/7 and provides crisis counseling through Kansas community mental health centers, and is administered by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and the Kansas Division of Aging and Disability Services and has been extended through December 30, 2021. More information about COVID-related mental health resources is available through KDHE’s mental health resources toolkit.
PARTICIPATE NOW: The growing use of telehealth and telemedicine has revealed that reliable internet access is an essential service. On July 13, Consumer Reports launched “Let’s Broadband Together” asking consumers to submit their internet bills and download speeds to a national database that researchers and consumer advocates will use to analyze what American families pay for internet access and what their money buys them. In 2018, the Pew Research Center found that at least 60 percent of rural residents have said high-speed internet is a problem where they live.
To participate in the campaign, consumers are asked to share a monthly internet bill showing cost of service, to complete a speed test, and to fill-in a short survey. The entire process is estimated to take about seven minutes.
APPLY NOW: For the past 6 years, KIDS Network has been certifying Safe Sleep Instructors (SSIs) in Kansas through the KIDS Network SSI train-the-trainer program. Thus far, over 200 certified SSIs have educated over 6,000 professionals and 4,000 families. The KIDS Network with the KU Center for Infant Birth and Survival are offering the 8th Biannual Safe Sleep Instructor (SSI) Certification training in Wichita, Sept. 23-24. The training prepares certified Safe Sleep Instructors (SSI) to educate parents and caregivers, childcare providers, health care professionals, and other community members about safe infant sleep practices. Application deadline: August 6, 2021. Letters of Acceptance will be emailed no later than August 12, 2021. Training registration: $500. Early bird registration, if received by July 23, 2021: $450. Apply here.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu.