Academic Partnerships to Foster Multidirectional Learning and Reinforce our Health Center Workforce
Partnerships focusing on improving the health of individuals and communities through alliances among academic associations and health centers are essential to develop workforce innovation projects, serve as a conduit for public health workforce activities, and enhance population health education for medical, nursing, and public health students. This webinar explored the academic partnerships developed by a health center in San Diego, CA, and how these practices helped to recruit, train, and retain its workforce.
Acting on Climate Change for a Healthier Future: The Role of Health Centers
The health community recognizes the climate crisis as an existential threat to humanity and human health, requiring immediate and effective action across all sectors. Health centers are the first point of contact intended to provide comprehensive and coordinated health services and contribute to both climate change adaptation and mitigation via preventive health measures and integrated health services. This webinar series, presented by NNCC and the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH), explored health hazard exposures and their impacts on the health of vulnerable populations.
Addressing Health Disparities for LGBTQIA+ People and People with HIV in Public Housing
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and The National Center for Health in Public Housing held a webinar on addressing health disparities for LGBTQIA+ people and people with HIV in public housing. In the first session, Dr. Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research at The Fenway Institute and Jose Leon, Chief Medical Officer at National Center for Health in Public Housing, discussed the prevalence of health disparities in public housing that the LGBTQIA+ community faces and provided insight on how health centers can address these disparities.
Bridging the Medical Technology Gap: The Impact of New Technology on Diabetes Management
High-tech devices such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) can be effective tools to help diabetes patients manage their blood glucose, but access to these technologies, as well as the education and support necessary to successfully use them, remains a challenge for patients served by health center programs. Being familiar and up to date with diabetes technology is essential to successfully improve diabetes management among underserved populations. In this webinar by NCHPH, participants discussed blood glucose monitoring devices, compared insulin delivery systems, and explained the use of digital health technology for people with diabetes.
Conquering Diabetes Therapeutic Inertia: Patient Engagement Strategies
Early blood sugar (blood glucose) management leads to better health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. But therapeutic inertia—or delays in advancing treatment—can keep people from reaching their A1C goals. Having the right conversations during health center visits can help patients overcome this inertia and get patients’ A1C where it needs to be. In this NCHPH webinar, we defined therapeutic inertia, discussed tips to engage patients in their diabetes management, and reviewed self-assessment tools and conversation guides on therapeutic inertia.
Community Health Worker (CHW) Workforce Development: Methodologies for CHW Use in Addressing the SDOH in Vulnerable Populations
Evidence increasingly emphasizes the importance of the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in supporting the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in vulnerable populations. This is particularly true for health and housing partnerships and their associated supports. In this webinar, Dr. Kevin Lombardi from NCHPH, Jason Amirhadji from HUD and our FQHC partners at Albion Community Health Centers discussed the frameworks, methodologies and promising practices that guide efficient, effective and person-centered care using CHWs.
Data Discovery, Behavioral Health and Public Housing Communities
The burden of behavioral health conditions on individuals in traditionally marginalized communities is significant. These conditions impact health center patients in a variety of ways that are cumulative, insidious and often difficult to address. In this webinar, we sought to gain a greater understanding of the behavioral health burden on community health centers through data visualization. Specifically, using interactive maps we examined the main metrics related to behavioral health, the social determinants of health and their interaction. Using this understanding we discussed data-driven interventions and program creation efforts that can be used to better address the behavioral health burden in your community.
Don’t Forget the Feet When Educating Patients About Their Diabetes Management!
Diabetes is a serious and potentially deadly disease that requires major lifestyle changes. In addition to healthy eating and exercise habits, diabetics must monitor their blood glucose, administer insulin when necessary and care for their eyes and feet. Foot problems are a leading cause of hospitalization for people with diabetes, yet the feet are often forgotten in the day-to-day management of the disease. In this webinar, we discussed why people with diabetes have problems with their feet, summarized tips for foot care, and reviewed a checklist for foot examination.
El Rol de los Promotores de Salud en la Detección Equitativa del Cáncer de Mama
NCHPH and NNCC hosted a webinar that explored the intersection between breast cancer interventions, social determinants of health, and the use of health promoters (promotoras) in care settings.
Enhancing Healthcare Access for Special Populations Through Telehealth and Home Visitation Services
Hosted by the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium and the National Center for Health in Public Housing, this 2-part webinar series discussed promising practices in home visitation and telehealth as ways to support improved access to comprehensive primary care for communities with high levels of disability, and isolation, lack of adequate transportation, and other social drivers of health that contribute to health inequities, particularly residents of public housing.
In the first session, we examined how home visitation can be integrated into the provider panel to expand access for aging and disabled patients residing in public housing. In the second session we addressed the benefits of telehealth, recent changes to utilization, and how to implement telehealth services to expand access in health centers.
Exploring Promising Practices on Diabetes Management and Prevention
In 2021, health centers reported over 2.8 million patients that were diagnosed with diabetes and over 91,000 among Public Housing Primary Care grantees (HRSA, 2022). This data signifies the need to explore what strategies health centers are implementing to improve the overall diabetes health outcomes for their patients. In this webinar by the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH), we presented a collection of promising practices on diabetes management and prevention strategies with the purpose to improve medication adherence, health literacy, access to health care and more. The webinar also highlighted our most recent diabetes publication and describe how to navigate and find promising practices on the NCHPH website.
Food Decision Making and its Effects on Sugar Control
The foods and beverages that people consume have a profound impact on their health. The scientific connection between food and health has been well documented for many decades. In this webinar, panelists reviewed health center obesity data, discussed and list healthy food choices, and reviewed interventions to help health center patients in food decision making.
The Impact of Public Health Emergencies on Community Mental Health: Preparation and Response
The burden of preparation and response to Public Health Emergencies is expected to be a prominent aspect of health center operations for the foreseeable future. In this webinar, Dr. Kevin Lombardi MD, MPH, the NCHPH team and Tom Vu from La Maestra Community Health Centers presented an epidemiological perspective of the effect of PHEs on the provision of behavioral/addiction services. Additionally, in this session we examined the impact of these events on the mental health and wellbeing of traditionally underserviced communities, with special attention given to Residents of Public Housing and HUD-assisted families. The material covered in this webinar was high-yield and pragmatic, with a focus on validated screening/organizational tools, processes and promising practices to manage patient and community needs during PHE’s. Session format included case studies and discussion portions designed to illicit a meaningful, enjoyable and collective interdisciplinary learning experience.
Improving Cultural Competence and Humility in Diabetes Care
The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that, by 2050, non-White populations will account for over 50% of the population for the first time in American history. With an increasingly diverse patient population, it has become more important than ever for PCPs to be able to connect with patients of different racial and ethnic backgrounds to provide effective, high-quality care to all patients. In this webinar the National Center for Health in Public Housing discussed the importance of cultural competence and humility in diabetes care.
Lead Screening and Housing Partnerships: Leveraging Resources to Improve Population Health
Lead poisoning is a serious and debilitating condition that impacts some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Because of this, there has been a resurgence of government and non-government interest in and support for lead screening and housing remediation initiatives that can benefit health centers, housing agencies, public health entities and their constituents. In this session, Dr. Kevin Lombardi, the NCHPH team, and our government/non-government partners discussed the funding opportunities and partnership frameworks that are available to address this issue in both the health and housing domains.
Lived Experiences: Health Disparities For LGBTQIA+ People and People with HIV In Public Housing
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and The National Center for Health in Public Housing held a webinar on addressing health disparities for LGBTQIA+ people and people with HIV in public housing. In this session, a panel of community members will share their lived experiences in public housing and the challenges they faced in receiving health care.
Partnership for the Future: Health Centers and Maternal Child Health Home Visiting Opportunities
In this three-part webinar series hosted by the National Nurse-led Care Consortium (NNCC) and the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH), viewers can expect to learn about improving maternal and child health equity with home visiting program partnerships and health centers. This series explores opportunities for health centers to develop partnerships with home visiting programs shown to improve maternal and child health outcomes, promote health equity, and reduce health disparities.
The first session covered trends in the current landscape of Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) funded programs and where existing and future partnerships with health centers are possible. In session two, participants heard about community health centers’ return on investment (ROI) and increased patient health outcomes after home visiting integration. And the third session showcased strategies for creating action and sustainability plans to implement a home visiting partnership for interested health centers.
Poverty, Housing and Stigma: The Profound Effects of the Social Determinants of Health on Addiction Management
In the coming years, FQHCs and PHPCs are expected to take an increasing share of the country’s addiction management caseload. This is particularly true of health centers serving disadvantaged populations.
In this webinar, the National Center for Health in Public Housing team presented an epidemiological perspective of addiction management with a focus on the impact that housing, poverty, and historical marginalization has had on the lived experience of residents of public housing and other marginalized groups.
Additionally, through the lens of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), we examined the models, practices, and care interventions which can assist FQHCs and PHPCs in supporting addiction management programs and promoting the staff and patient experience at their organization.
Preparing the Health Center Workforce for the Post COVID-19 Era
The first priority during the COVID-19 pandemic was crisis response and emphasizing health, safety, and essential services. Now is the time for health centers to turn their attention toward concerns over staffing shortages in primary care, which is a public health crisis. This webinar was intended for health centers to discuss strategies to address the evolving staffing shortage challenges after COVID-19.
Ready to Respond: Behavioral Health and Addiction Management Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the frequency of addiction and behavioral health conditions observed by FQHC’s and PHPC’s. Moreover, many aspects of the COVID-19 response and recovery complicated the treatment of existing patients and increased the number of individuals seeking care.
In the webinar, the National Center for Health in Public Housing team looked at the models and practices used by health centers to manage patients and organizations in that complex environment. The content focused on promising practices, workflow management, and recent industry advancements. Additionally, from the perspective of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), the patient experience was examined by reviewing case studies and real-world examples with a focus on demographic disparities and the experience of Residents of Public Housing.
Removing Barriers and Facilitating Access: Improving Health Care Access for People with Disabilities
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability, and 1 in 5 of them did not have a routine check-up in the last year. Disability inclusion allows for people with disabilities to take advantage of the benefits of the same health promotion and prevention activities experienced by people who do not have a disability. Challenges to community integration for people with disabilities also need to be addressed through innovative integrated care programs in the community. This webinar explored health centers’ and public housing authorities’ initiatives to improve access to primary care and addressed social determinants of health affecting people with disabilities.
Screening for Colorectal Cancer: A Patient Centered Approach to Improving Marketing and Promotion
Screening is an essential tool in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Nearly 2 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with colorectal cancer per year, a significant proportion of these cases could be prevented or diagnosed sooner in screening was more widely utilized by the public.
In this webinar, Dr. Kevin Lombardi and the NCHPH team took a practical, epidemiological view of the promotion and marketing of colorectal screening services. The session included a review of validated promising practices, screening tools and marketing procedures that have been shown to increase rates of colorectal screening in populations of FQHC patients.
Special attention was given to the cultural, linguistic and social conditions that increase screening use in patients from traditionally medically underserved communities and the clinical and workforce management processes that lead to more patient-centered care. The session format included case studies and discussion portions designed to illicit a meaningful, enjoyable and collective interdisciplinary learning experience.
Screening for Public Housing Community-Specific Safe Sleep Risks
Sleep-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity in infants, a relationship which disproportionately impacts residents of public housing. In this webinar, we reviewed how health and housing are independent and specifically how this interdependence can lead to higher risks of sleep-related injuries in infants. We presented an overview of key interventions and resources that can be used to manage this risk.
Screening for Safe Infant Sleep Habits in Public Housing
Sleep-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in infants, this is disproportionately true for traditionally marginalized groups, including residents of public housing. In this webinar, we reviewed the current epidemiological landscape of sleep-related injuries, emerging trends and screening tools that can be utilized to improve early intervention. We also presented an overview of key interventions and resources that can be used to improve outcomes in achieving safe sleep habits.
Stories from the Field: How Health Centers are Addressing Health Disparities for LGBTQIA+ People and People with HIV in Public Housing
In this webinar by NCHPH and the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, we featured health centers who have developed best practices for addressing this challenge and shared lessons learned from the field.
Strategies to Improve Staff Retention in Health Center Settings
The rate of staff turnover at health center facilities is staggering and was exacerbated by the complexities and stressful circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the important implications of staff turnover, health centers have made significant attempts to understand its underlying reasons and devise solutions to decrease it. This webinar explored many strategies to improve staff retention in health center settings.
Traditional Food, Culture, and Diabetes in the United States
Members of ethnic and racial populations living in the United States experience unique challenges in preventing or managing their diabetes, including language barriers, cultural beliefs, and traditional foods, particularly among first generation immigrants. This webinar examined cultural perspectives of immigrants and ethnic minorities that influence their dietary self-management and identified interventions to enhance a healthy diet to manage diabetes and prevent serious complications.
Tobacco Cessation for Homeless Individuals and Public Housing Residents: A Brief Review
This webinar presented by National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) and National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) focused on introducing clinicians, health educators and CHWs to the rationale for doing smoking cessation with public housing and homeless individuals served by health center programs. This webinar also provided information on the seven FDA approved cessation medications as well as proven behavioral counseling techniques to help individuals stay quit permanently.
Tobacco Cessation: From Evidence to Practice
This webinar presented by NHCHC and NCHPH focused on the epidemiology of tobacco use behaviors, tobacco-related inequities, and culturally-relevant tobacco use interventions and ways to integrate them into practice.