November 28, 2023
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.
The State of Climate Change: Recently, the Biden-Harris Administration released the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5). The report is the most comprehensive analysis of the state of climate change in the United States, providing authoritative, decision-relevant information on how people across the country are experiencing climate change, the risks we face now and will face in the future, and actions underway to reduce carbon pollution and build resilience. For more information, a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is available here.
Addressing Social Determinants of Health: The White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is releasing several resources to help support federal agencies, states, local and tribal governments to better coordinate health care, public health and social services. Specifically, the White House is releasing the first ever U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health. To accompany this, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing a Call to Action to Address Health Related Social Needs, and a Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework. This builds on the Administration’s work to advance health equity by acknowledging that peoples’ social and economic conditions play an important role in their health and wellbeing.
This Holiday Season Is a Great Time to Focus on Health: The best ways to prevent most chronic diseases are to eat healthy, be physically active and avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol use. During the holidays, individuals may find it challenging to adhere to healthy practices or initiate new ones. However, with a bit of foresight and planning, one can navigate through the busiest season of the year armed with strategies to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Learn more here.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu.