Report: Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations

A report titled Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations has been released and is now available for download.  Underserved populations face persistent, systemic barriers to accessing oral health care, and this report covers the health disparities, access issues, and barriers to care faced by these populations.

Download the report: Oral Health Access Report Brief (PDF)

Grant Opportunity: Women Helping Others

The WHO Foundation: Women Helping Others supports grassroots organizations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico that serve the overlooked needs of women and children. The Foundation provides grants of $1,000 to $40,000 for critical health programs and social services projects that give women and children the knowledge and tools they need to improve their lives. Examples of funded programs include food and shelter for the homeless, healthcare for the poor, after-school programs, career training for under-employed women, positive programs for young girls, and domestic violence prevention programs.

Eligible organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years. (The Foundation will consider funding projects of an original or pioneering nature within an existing organization.) Applications are due on September 6, 2011. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the application criteria and download the application form.

Summit County Community Forum

Colorado HealthStory believes that nothing is more important than your health and the health of your family. But the decisions you make as a community shape the health and health care experiences of individuals living here.

You are invited you to join Colorado HealthStory at a community forum to hear the health stories of fellow Summit County residents and join the conversation about health in your community.  They have gathered first hand accounts from you and your neighbors--patients, community advocates, doctors, nurses, and other residents--and now they want to share them with you, along with some community health data.

Date: Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: Senior & Community Center, Fremont Room
Address: 151 Peak Blvd., Frisco, CO

Refreshments will be served.

Clinic "Toolkit" for Safety Net Clinic Week 2011

Celebrate Safety Net Clinic Week 20ll!

CLINIC “TOOLKIT”

In an effort to raise awareness of Colorado's health care safety net providers, we encourage your clinic to participate in the second annual Safety Net Clinic Week, August 22-26, 2011. Sponsored by ClinicNET & the Colorado Rural Health Center, the week is devoted to educating the public and policy makers about these vitally important health care clinics - Community-Funded Safety Net Clinics (CSNCs) and federally certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs.) We have created a “toolkit” to help clinics participate in Safety Net Clinic Week 2011. Included in the “tool kit” are many easily customizable pieces, click on each to open:

·        Safety Net Clinic Week Short Overview and Logo (content for your website, blogs, social media, newsletters, email signatures...)

·        Letter to the Editor (for submission to your local paper)

·        Safety Net Clinic Week Invitation (consider inviting city, county, or state officials and local business and community leaders to visit your clinic during Safety Net Clinic Week. *see helpful links below)

·       Safety Net Clinic Week Fact Sheet (include with any invitation extended and in addition to specific information about your clinic, use as speaking points during Safety Net Clinic Week)

·        Safety Net Clinic Week Press Release (submit to your local media.)

·        Governmental proclamation (request a proclamation from your city and/or county)

ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center will be doing a general statewide press release and extending invitations for site-visits to our congressional delegation and targeted outreach to certain state legislators and other officials.  Please let us know if you do schedule any visits for Safety Net Clinic Week. We would like to provide you with further support for visits.

*Links to Identify your Elected Officials:

Ø  Identify your U.S. Representative, State Senator, and State Representative

Ø  Identify your County Commissioners

Ø  Identify your members of local government municipalities

If you have any questions, concerns or ideas please contact Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org

Behavioral Health Care Workforce Summit August 4th

Thursday, August 4 ~ 8:30am-4:30pm

PPA Event Center   2105 Decatur St., Denver, CO 80211

Think you have something to say about our behavioral health care workforce? Then register now for Mental Health America of Colorado's upcoming INTERACTIVE Summit! Learn about projects from around the state, but most importantly, come be a part of the discussion to shape the future of our workforce!  To see the detailed agenda for the day, please click here.  Highlights will include: Dennis Mohatt, member of The Annapolis Coalition on the National Behavioral Health Workforce Steering Committee and Director of WICHE's Mental Health Program, will discuss national trends;  The emerging role of consumers and families in mental health care; Networking with state departments, behavioral health providers, advocacy groups, community health organizations, consumer and individuals in recovery and their familes; Innovative programs and ideas around integration and training in Colorado!

BHH Learning Collaborative: Building Public Will to Achieve Access to Health July 25 Webinar

Title: BHH Learning Collaborative: Building Public Will to Achieve Access to Health
Date: Monday, July 25, 2011
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM MDT
Presenter: Scott Downes, Senior Project Director, The Colorado Trust

The Colorado Trust, in partnership with The Colorado Health Foundation, recently launched a grant strategy aimed at increasing the awareness, understanding and support necessary to help achieve access to health for all Coloradans. A core component of this public will-building strategy is effective messaging and communications about health coverage and care in a persistently challenging environment.

Scott Downes will share learnings from the early stages of the public will-building strategy, including an overview of the project, a look at who’s involved and what they’re doing, and a summary of findings from public opinion research.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/22390220

Facilitating Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Seminar Sept.13-14 in Denver

Taught by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) staff that developed the new standards, NCQA's Facilitating Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Seminar in Denver Sept.13-14 will present tools to help your clinic become a recognized patient-centered medical home. Their program staff will be available to assist with questions participants may have regarding the application process, ISS tools, etc.