Furthermore, a draft of the proclamation was shared with a Board of Supervisors member who was a former chair for one of Lake County’s Tribal communities, who further infused the proclamation by adding language that centered Lake County’s seven Tribal Nations.  

Leila’s next goal is to share the proclamation throughout the community, and she hopes that it will encourage individuals to learn about the diverse communities of Lake County-regardless of population size. Leila goes on to share that she hopes that this proclamation will, “open people’s minds to bridging differences and uplifting commonalities, –building connections and dismantling the idea that Lake County is not a diverse place.” 

Lastly, Leila shares that her advice for others interested in engaging in similar efforts is, “if you find allies in the work, and people who are passionate about what you’re trying to put forward, build on that and the passion that others have.”  

Congratulations to Leila and Lake County! 

To watch the Board of Supervisor’s Proclamation Video, click here.  

For more questions or to connect with Leila Romero, email her at Leila.Romero@lakecountyca.gov.  

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander

Heritage Month

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Heritage Month recognizing the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast, and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) announced the 2024 National AANHPI Heritage Month Theme: "Advancing Leaders Through Innovation''. This year's theme is a continuation of the "Advancing Leaders'' series that began in 2021. 

To learn more about AANHPI Heritage Month and the rich histories of AANHPI communities, check out these resources: 

• Uplift and dive into the AANHPI diaspora that includes Afro-Asian communities and identities. Read The Deep Roots of Afro-Asia. 
• Expand your library with the following must-reads:  
  • Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong 
  • The Making of Asian America- A History: by Erika Lee 
  • American is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan  
  • Racial Melancholia, Racial Dissociation: On the Social and Psychic Lives of Asian Americans by David L. Eng and Shinhee Han 

To learn more about the history and origins of AANHPI Heritage Month click here.  

Mental Health Awareness Month

The purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month is to learn more about the millions of Americans who are currently facing mental health challenges. This can include having open conversations about mental health and conditions in order to eradicate stigma, learning more about different mental health conditions, and exploring different ways to take care of one’s own mental health.  

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is focusing on Mental Health Awareness Month by offering classes for parents and families of those experiencing mental illness challenges, support groups, and the official Helpline that offers peer support and referrals for those who call in. NAMI is also offering a Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit with graphics, social media suggestions, and fast facts about NAMI.  

There are many important causes we can learn about and advocate for in May of 2024. Please take a look at other major movements, such as World Maternal Health Day, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Deaf Awareness Week, and many more!  

Latest News & Program Reminders

May 14, 2024:  

TA Office Hours: Data Equity Principles by the Central California Public Health Consortium 

Office Hours will be held from 12:30-1:30pm. Register Here. 

Join us to in diving deeper around Training, Development, and Support from CDPH’s Organizational Assessment for Equity Infrastructure. 

Our definition of Training, Development, and Support is as follows: Provide opportunities for staff to learn and discuss equity topics and incorporate their learning into practice. 

The month of May’s office hour will feature presentations from Tulare County Public Health and Sonoma County Department of Health Services. Our presenters will share their experiences, challenges, and successes related to this competency. 

This is an opportunity to learn from your peers, ask questions, and engage in smaller group discussions! 

PLEASE NOTE, REGISTRATRION IS REQUIRED. 

Coming Soon! 2024 Organizational Assessment for Equity Infrastructure 

The Equity TA Team will be launching the Organizational Assessment in June 2024! In past years, 59 out of 61 LHJs have participated in the Assessment, and we are so excited to launch the assessment again in 2024! To learn more about past cycles of the Assessment, including reading through the assessment, exploring 2022 and 2023 results reports, and a Q&A about the assessment, please visit the Organizational Assessment webpage on the CDPH website. Please stay tuned for further details on the assessment launching webinar and more. 

New Research Brief from California Center for Rural Policy

California's Rural North: Public Health Workforce Recruitment and Retention 

Public Health (PH) workforce challenges that have persisted over the past two decades continue to be prevalent in the field today. They highlight the critical significance of recruitment and retention efforts, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation is especially dire in rural areas, where staff shortages exceed those in metropolitan areas. This brief aims to identify the root causes of public health workforce attrition and provide evidence-based strategies to address workforce loss in rural areas. 

To read the new brief, visit the CCRP website.  

Job Posting: Director of Capacity Building- Closing 5/3 

Human Impact Partners is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the field of public health to center equity and build collective power with social justice movements. They are currently looking for a Director of Capacity Building to join their team:  

Director of Capacity Building Responsibilities: 

• Leadership, fundraising, and strategy: Provide organizational leadership, develop and implement a fundraising strategy, and be a strategy thought partner to the organization and staff 
• Programmatic design and implementation: Lead, manage, and implement complex, multi-year projects and programs with partners 
• Team and staff coaching and support: Provide feedback and supervision to our team of facilitators and trainers, and maintain strong relationships with other bodies of work at HIP 

To learn more about the position and for information how to apply, please visit the job posting here, by Friday, May 3, 2024 at 4pm Pacific Time / 7 pm Eastern Time

 Or contact HIP Co-Director Lili Farhang at: lili@humanimpact.org with questions. 

Funding Opportunity: Community Level Innovations for Improving Health Outcomes Closing 5/15  

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) is accepting applications for projects to demonstrate that community-level innovations that reduce barriers related to social determinants of health (SDOH) can increase use of preventive health services and make progress toward Leading Health Indicator (LHI) targets. LHIs are a subset of high priority Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) objectives selected to drive action toward improving health and well-being. 

Funding Details: 

• Grant opportunity MP-CPI-24-001 
• OMH anticipates the availability of $8,000,000  
• Up to 14 awards  
• Ranging from $475,000 to $600,000 annually 
• Period of performance of up to 48 months 

For information on program requirements, please contact the program office representative: Paul Rodriguez at paul.rodriguez@hhs.gov 

To view grant opportunity, click here. 

Homebase Webinar Series June 5th, 10, 12th 

Wednesday, June 5th | 10:00 am – 11:30am 

Webinar Series: Overview of CoC & CE 

Join Homebase for an educational webinar on Continuums of Care (CoC) and Coordinated Entry (CE). Discover the fundamental components of homeless systems of care, including the structures and lead roles in the community. Learn and explore opportunities for cross-sector collaboration between public health and homeless service providers. The presentation will help better equip you to engage with and become part of a compassionate community committed to ending and preventing homelessness in California! Homebase, a nonprofit technical assistance provider to local CoCs will be the lead presenter. Bring questions and challenges you and/or your staff have had engaging in cross-sector efforts. 

Evite link: Meeting Registration - Zoom 

Monday, June 10th  | 11:00am – 12:00pm 

Webinar Series: Best Practices from DPHs 

Join homebase for a webinar on Cross-Sector Best Practices from Departments of Public Health (DPH). Hear from multiple DPHs as they share their work at the cross-sector of public health and homelessness. Hear about strategies for overcoming common barriers, challenges, and opportunities in deepening local partnerships and cross-sector approaches to improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. The presentation will help you gain insights into strengthening relationships and collaboration between your DPH and local Continuums of Care (CoCs)/homeless systems of care. 

Evite link: Meeting Registration - Zoom 

Wednesday, June 12th | 9:30am – 10:30am  

Webinar Series: Overview of ECM & CS 

Join Homebase for an educational webinar on Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Support (CS). Discover how new Medi-Cal benefits can provide comprehensive care coordination and housing-related services to Medi-Cal members with complex health needs, especially people experiencing homelessness. Homebase will be the lead presenter, a nonprofit technical assistance provider to local continuums of care (CoCs). The presentation will equip you to grasp the significance of ECM/CS and their impacts on individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness within California's broader health care system.  

Evite link: Meeting Registration - Zoom 

Training of the Month 

Western Region Public Health Training Center Series, 

 Mental Health Mini- Talks 

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, our newsletter wanted to bring attention to a series of 4 trainings focused on Mental Health from the Western Region Public Health Training Center. Most of the trainings are around 1 hour and registration to view the recordings can be found at the links below. We hope these trainings allow you to take a moment to reflect on your mental health and capacity as a public health worker and that you learn some strategies to protect your mental health this month.  

1. Coping Strategies for Public Health Professionals 

                 a. “The first session of our mental health mini-talks will focus on self-care and   

                     coping strategies, particularly for public health and healthcare professionals

                     dealing with burnout and fatigue while addressing the pandemic.”  

2. Organizational Wellness for Public Health Departments 

                a. “The second session of this year's mental health mini-talks will focus on

                     strategies that can improve wellness when implemented at an organizational

                     level, examining both environmental, design, and policy level considerations for

                     employers.” 

3. Hispanic/Latinx Mental Health - Note- this training is ~1 hr 45 min 

                a. “Mental health and mental illness are often stigmatized topics for the

                      Latinx/Hispanic communities, compounding the existing institutional and

                      systemic barriers that already impede access to mental health services. This

                      iteration of our Mental Health Mini-Talks will help identify factors that impact

                      Latinx mental health and will address ways health professionals can support

                      this population.” 

4. Trauma Informed Public Health Practice 

                a. “The final of our mental health mini-talks will focus on trauma-informed practice

                    for public health professionals. With the stress of the last two years of the

                    pandemic, understanding a trauma-informed approach is an increasingly critical

                    skill for those that provide services to communities.”  

Register today: NACCHO360 Conference 

Detroit, Michigan, July 23-26 

NACCHO360 is the largest convening of local health department leaders and public health professionals in the United States, offering the opportunity to learn, network, and share experiences and best practices across local health departments. This year’s conference will be in Detroit, Michigan, on July 23-26. The 2024 conference theme is, "Heard it Through the Grapevine: Public Health Partnerships, Collaboration, and Innovation.” 

Attendees, both on-site and watching via livestream, will learn how to adopt effective practices, engage with federal and state partners, and gain insights from public health experts.  

To learn more or to register for the 2024 NACCHO360 Conference, Click here. 

Resources