October 11, 2022
Community Health Corner
Community health uses science-based approaches for the greatest health benefit to the greatest number of people by addressing the social, economic and structural drivers that impact everyone’s health. The National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being recommends using community development practices to ensure that every person has the opportunity to "attain his or her full health potential," and no one is "disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances." The following tools and resources can be used to improve health equity and well-being working with communities to achieve the nation’s Healthy People 2030 objectives.
READ NOW: The State Child Death Review Board, which is a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency volunteer board organized by law within the attorney general’s office to examine trends and patterns that identify risk factors in the deaths of children, from birth through 17 years of age, recently released its 2022 report which is available here. The report includes lists of determined causes of 365 child fatalities from 2020. The greatest number of deaths was due to natural causes (e.g., cancer, congenital conditions, COVID-19), and unintentional injuries such as motor vehicle crashes. The number of drug-related deaths rose to 16 in 2020, up from five in 2019. There were 11 fentanyl deaths in 2020, after reporting no fentanyl deaths in the previous four years. Additionally, 26 deaths were determined to be suicide deaths, eight of which were age 14 or younger. A journalistic summary of the report is available from the Kansas Reflector.
ACTION NOW: After the birth of a child, mothers often experience changes in their physical and mental health which may lead to complications for themselves and their babies. The Fourth Trimester Project has resources to help mothers navigate these changes and know when to seek help. UNC-Chapel Hill has led the way in the development of 4th Trimester resources.
Also related to the health and well-being of the nation’s children, HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau has also released their newest National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) report. HRSA (Health Resources Services Administration) also has a 24hr Mother’s Mental Health Hotline to help mothers before, during and after birth of their child. Call 1‑833‑9‑HELP4MOMS. Promotional materials are available here.
REGISTER NOW: KFMC Health Improvement Partners is hosting the multi-state inaugural Kansas Health Equity Summit, October 28, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Topeka. In the wake of the pandemic, health equity has become a mainstream topic of public health, health care and extension action. The one-day, in-person event which is designed to bring together equity leaders and champions from across Kansas to connect, strengthen, and accelerate our collective efforts. Register for $120 here.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu