FREE COURSE FROM SPRC: Locating and Understanding Data for Suicide Prevention

Course Description
Effectively preventing suicide requires an understanding of who is attempting and dying by suicide, where the problem is most severe, and under what circumstances attempts and suicide deaths occur. But how do you find the data you need to answer these questions and others? Locating and Understanding Data for Suicide Prevention presents a variety of data sources that are useful for finding information about suicide deaths, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation. This course also explains key concepts that will help you better understand the data you find.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Define and understand the difference between suicide deaths, suicide attempts, suicide ideation, and risk and protective factors for suicide.
• Explain key terms that are essential to accurately interpreting data and making meaningful comparisons; this includes counts, rates, and trends.
• Identify some commonly used and readily accessible online national data sources, and the type of data that is available from each source.
• Identify some alternative data sources that may be available in states and communities, the type of data available from these sources, and considerations when approaching organizations and agencies for these data.
• Think critically about the strengths and limitations of a given data source.

Audience
This course is open to anyone. We highly recommend it for any professional involved in national, state or community suicide prevention.

Course Length
This course can be completed in approximately two hours. You do not have to complete the course in one session. You can exit the course at any time and return later to the place where you left off.

Certificate of Completion
To receive a certificate of completion, you must do the following online:  complete each lesson, pass the posttest (passing score is 80% or higher), and answer the feedback survey questions. 

You can earn a certificate of completion once per year for each course.  We do not offer continuing education credits for any of our courses.

Click here to enroll

FREE Conference National Conference on American Indian/Alaska Native Injury and Violence Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Indian Health Service are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the National Conference on American Indian/Alaska Native Injury and Violence Prevention! The conference will bring together tribal, federal, and state injury prevention practitioners, injury researchers, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders with a goal of Bridging Science, Practice, and Culture to reduce the disparity of injuries among American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Conference Registration

Visit the conference website to register. Registration is free for all attendees. The website contains links to the abstract submission portal, hotel room block, and an overview of the conference agenda. Registration is open through July 15 and is limited to 250 attendees, so be sure to register soon.

Conference Hotel

The conference will take place at the Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel, and you can visit the website to make reservations for the group rate of $181/night. This rate is available beginning on Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 28. Make reservations early, this group rate is only guaranteed through July 1.

Submitting an Abstract

The abstract submission portal is open through Friday, May 24. Click here to submit an abstract for the conference. Abstracts will be accepted for the following conference tracks:

·        Community and Culture

·        Innovative Strategies and Emerging Issues in AI/AN Injury and Violence Prevention

·        Linking Clinical and Community Injury Prevention

·        Program Development and Implementation

·        Program Success, Evaluation, and Continuation

·        Violence and Intentional Injury Prevention

CDC: Newly Available Falls Data

 

Fall Deaths Increase among U.S. Adults Aged 75 Years or Older

A letter published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that the number of fall deaths among U.S. adults aged 75 years or older almost tripled from 2000 to 2016. The study analyzed nationally representative vital statistics data and found that the rate of fall deaths increased among all age groups, but increased the most among the oldest age group. Key findings were that:

• Fall deaths increased substantially from 8,613 in 2000 to 25,189 in 2016.
• Age-adjusted mortality rates among adults aged 75 years and older increased significantly.
  • For men, from approximately 61 per 100,000 in 2000 to 116 per 100,000 in 2016.
  • For women during that time, the increase was from more than 46 per 100,000 women to 106 per 100,000.

Falls result in increased injuries, deaths, and healthcare costs, but are preventable. CDC’s STEADI initiativeoffers a coordinated approach to implementing the American and British Geriatrics Societies’ clinical practice guideline for fall prevention. STEADI consists of three core elements: Screen, Assess, andIntervene to reduce fall risk by giving older adults tailored strategies.

Psychoactive Medication Use among Older Community-Dwelling Americans

A recently published CDC article in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA) found that in 2013 more than half of all older Americans used at least one psychoactive medication known to increase the risk of falls. The most frequently used medication classes were opioids, benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and anticonvulsants. Medication use is considerably higher than previous reports from 1996 using the same data source. Among most psychoactive medication classes observed, women had higher usage than men did.

Healthcare providers including pharmacists play a vital role in managing older adults’ exposure to psychoactive medications. Medication management can optimize health and reduce older adult falls.

Additional Resources:

• Stand STEADI Videos – See how healthcare providers and public health professionals across the country are using STEADI in clinical practice.
• Coordinated Care Plan - Offers primary care providers, practices, and healthcare systems a framework for implementing a STEADI-based, clinical fall prevention program to manage their older patients’ fall risk.
• Evaluation Guide - Describes key steps to measuring and reporting on the success of implementing a STEADI-based clinical fall prevention program.

Webinar: Overcoming Opioids

Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids like fentanyl have skyrocketed since 2013 in addition to a growing number of overdose deaths from prescription opioids and heroin. Despite significant efforts to address the opioid crisis, our country continues to struggle with this epidemic due to the highly addictive nature of these drugs and barriers to treatment, including stigma and lack of access. Leaders in the public and private sector are working to overcome these challenges to advance progress in their communities.

The final part in our four-part Defying Despair series, this webinar will discuss ongoing efforts to increase access to evidence-based treatment and guide people on a path to recovery, including:

• An overview of the federal government's opioid response in light of current trends in substance use and overdose rates
• A health plan's whole-person approach to treating the underlying causes of opioid use disorder as well as overdose
• Steps taken by governors and state agencies to reduce the flow of opioids and to transform pain management

Click here to register

Job Opportunity: Early Childhood Systems Coordinator

Job Opportunity: Early Childhood Systems Program Coordinator   Tri-County Health Department- (Full-time) - (Englewood/TBD)   What we do: Promote, protect and improve the lifelong health of individuals and communities in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties through the effective use of data, evidence-based prevention strategies, leadership, advocacy, partnerships and the pursuit of health equity. In short we strive to provide optimal health across the lifespan for the populations we serve.   What You’ll Do: The Early Childhood Systems Program Coordinator will be responsible for daily planning, development, implementation and management of a portion of the Title V Maternal Child Health Block Grant focused on early childhood development. Through partnerships with internal and external partners, this position will ensure that developmental monitoring, screening and referral best practices are implemented across the three counties through meeting facilitation, outreach, training and technical assistance. This includes participation and leadership on local, state and community boards and committees, and other community outreach activities related to Early Childhood program activities and responsibilities. Key activities of this position will include: Build and maintain productive working relationships with key early childhood system partners and ensure continued family and community engagement across the work. Convene and facilitate two early childhood work groups in an effort to improve the coordination of early childhood systems in the respective counties. Work collaboratively to ensure the work is aligned across partners and communities. Coordinate and provide early childhood development monitoring, screening, and referral best practice training and technical assistance to early childhood system partners. Requirements You’ll Need: Requires the minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public health, child development, nursing, public administration, human services or a related field. Master’s Degree preferred. Requires a minimum of three years related work experience working with a diverse group of partners toward a shared goal. Must possess a valid driver’s license. Knowledge of early childhood development, early childhood systems, Life Course Model, trauma-informed care and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) Familiarity and experience with the principles and practices of coalition building and developing community partnerships. Experience with implementation of educational and presentation methods for diverse population groups Knowledge of the principles of program planning and an understanding of program evaluation. Knowledge of the social determinants of health, social-ecological model and health equity. Basic computer, Internet and spreadsheet functions and resources Hiring Process: Step 1: Apply at our Careers Page: https://www.tchd.org/751/Careers.  Please include a cover letter and resume with your application.   Step 2: We will review your application and if you match our needs we will call you for a phone interview. If not, you will get an email. Step 3: If you pass the phone interview, we will schedule an onsite interview. If not, you will get an email. Step 4: Onsite interview. This may happen more than once and with multiple people. Step 5: If you pass the onsite interview, a position may be offered.  If not, you will get an email. Step 6: Welcome to the Tri-County Family!

Apply for this Position

Job Opportunity: Good Business Colorado Director of Policy

Good Business Colorado is hiring a Director of Policy! 

More information about the job below.

Job Description

Good Business Colorado (GBC) is seeking a full-time Director of Policy. This individual will be responsible for planning, executing and evaluating the organization’s policy activities. They will shape, articulate, and advance GBC’s work to build a strong economy, thriving communities and a sustainable environment.  The Director of Policy will work with the Executive Director, staff, board, GBC members, and partner organizations to develop effective policy proposals and advocate on their behalf with legislators, executive branch staff members, the media, and the general public. 

The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of Colorado politics. They should be fluent in the legislative process, hold relationships with a wide network of state decision makers, and be familiar with the Colorado business lobby landscape. They must believe that triple bottom line business owners and entrepreneurs have an important role to play in the policy arena, and share a commitment to building Good Business Colorado into an influential organization that commands the respect of elected officials, fellow business organizations, the media, and the general public.  

This position offers an excellent leadership opportunity. With a focus on building relationships with responsible business owners, community leaders, and elected officials, the Director of Policy will play a central role in demonstrating how the same triple bottom line principles that lead to business success can be applied to the policy realm to produce equally great results.  

Job Opportunities: Tri-County Health Department

Tri-County Health Department has two openings just posted. Both positions are full-time and are 100% grant-funded with guaranteed funding at least through July 2021.

For more information and to apply, please click here.

Health Education Specialist – This is an entry-level position focused on community education and partnership-building activities (known as “foundational activities” in our grant). This position will focus 40-50% of time in Elbert County. Requires a Bachelor’s Degree and one year of relevant experience (internships and volunteer work would count). Hiring salary range for this position’s job classification is high 40s.

Chronic Disease Prevention Specialist – This person will work with community partners to promote and implement evidence-based tobacco control policy in communities, schools, and other settings. Requires a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s preferred, and 3-5 years of relevant experience. Hiring salary range for this position’s job classification is mid-50s.

TCHD now uses an online application system. Those interested can visit our website to view the job descriptions and submit an application. https://www.tchd.org/688/Careers