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The Collective for Health Equity and Well-Being

Cooperative Extension’s Collective for Health Equity and Well-Being is a community of Extension personnel and their partners united by their shared commitment to advancing health equity and well-being. Members work together to support the implementation of Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being (2021) to ensure that all people can be as healthy as they can be.

Tagged With "Communities"

Blog Post

Driving System Change Forward

Roger Rennekamp ·
In the new report Driving Systems Change Forward , authored by the Urban Institute and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco , you’ll read key lessons from multi-site networks from across the country about what it takes to advance systems change forward by shifting power and promoting racial equity. Join us for a free virtual coffee chat on August 31 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET with one of the report authors— Corianne Scally —from the Urban Institute and contributing...
Blog Post

How can we communicate in a fun and effective way?

Ashley Yaugher ·
Communication is a topic that is on our minds a lot more than usual these days. Whether you’re struggling to communicate effectively with the family members you’ve been stuck inside with for months, trying to find ways to connect with far away loved ones , or just finding yourself more stressed out and not as good at getting along as you usually are , we’ve got some ideas on how you can use fun to create more effective communication. Harness the Power of Play Use Family Game Night to Improve...
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Re: How can we communicate in a fun and effective way?

Roger Rennekamp ·
Great ideas for reducing stress while having fun.
Blog Post

Celebrating "Can Do" Spirit on National Rural Health Day

Jennifer Grizzard Ekzarkhov ·
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day. National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America, gives us a chance to bring to light the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face, and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural...
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Re: Celebrating "Can Do" Spirit on National Rural Health Day

Aaron Weibe ·
Thank you for sharing this!
Blog Post

COVID-19 and Rural Communities: Protecting Rural Lives and Health

Roger Rennekamp ·
You may be interested in this report examining the impact of COVID-19 in rural America, presenting data on case rates and mortality, prevalence in diverse rural communities, and health conditions contributing to severe cases of COVID-19. The report includes a discussion of issues of socioeconomic vulnerability, healthcare access, and public health compliance and offers actions to address disparities, including increasing access, supporting livelihoods, and considering social determinants of...
Blog Post

Engaged Communities Make Strides in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic

Theodora Amissah ·
The opioid epidemic is a national issue impacting communities across the country. It was declared a public health emergency in October 2017. Communities have mobilized at the national, state, and local level to address the problem, and Cooperative Extension has partnered with them in their efforts. The drivers and impacts of the opioid crisis in communities are complex and require a multi-level response. We employed a stakeholder engagement methodology, the SEED Method , to create...
Blog Post

Initiating Cross-Sector Partnerships to Advance Population Health

Roger Rennekamp ·
Social determinants of health are the factors beyond individual behavior that impact the health status of individuals and communities. When these determinants disproportionately affect some groups in ways that are unjust or unfair, health inequities exist. One way to address the negative influences of these determinants is through collaborative partnerships. Community leaders like Extension professionals can initiate and develop cross-sector partnerships to collaborate with other...
Comment

Re: Initiating Cross-Sector Partnerships to Advance Population Health

Deborah John ·
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the social-environmental factors that set the context for human behaviors and behavioral disparities that impact the health and well-being of individuals and populations. When socio-environmental resources (and risks) are disproportionately distributed among groups of people in ways that are persistently unjust or unfair, health inequities exist and disparities measurable. One way for Extension (a public sector, cross-disciplinary, multi-level system)...
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Re: Initiating Cross-Sector Partnerships to Advance Population Health

Roger Rennekamp ·
Great contribution, Deborah! There are many different roles that Extension professionals can play in multi-sector coalitions including member, convener, facilitator, fiscal agent, connector, broker, or coach.
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Re: Initiating Cross-Sector Partnerships to Advance Population Health

Joseph Sepp Sprietsma ·
Excellent to see this - Extension is often uniquely and perfectly placed to act as a 'backbone' organization in Collective Impact initiatives.
Blog Post

Belonging and Civic Muscle - A Vital Condition, An Extension Opportunity

Gina ·
When viewing the vital conditions framework, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the categories and get lost in thinking about your role in changing any one, or many of the conditions in the community. But, if we look at the conditions as an opportunity to speak to the work that we do as a system, it becomes something that feels right in the work that we do day in and day out, and maybe is the least "measured" in the people counting, and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs surveys many of us do...
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Re: Belonging and Civic Muscle - A Vital Condition, An Extension Opportunity

Roger Rennekamp ·
Thanks for this great article, Gina. When residents of a community develop a sense of agency and the skills to lead change they can make great things happen.
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Re: Belonging and Civic Muscle - A Vital Condition, An Extension Opportunity

Cindy Fitch ·
Great reminder of why our work in Extension is important at all levels.
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Re: Belonging and Civic Muscle - A Vital Condition, An Extension Opportunity

Sue Schneider ·
So well said! Extension is in the perfect position to support communities as they build this critical foundation. We need to adapt our reporting systems for including these stories and capturing the outcomes of the systems change work that we are involved in.
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Re: Belonging and Civic Muscle - A Vital Condition, An Extension Opportunity

Deborah John ·
Possible indicators for including in planning and producing narrative "stories" and outcome/impact "reports" of social and community change across vital conditions, including belonging and civic muscle, align nicely with a social justice lens. Indicators of change include access (equity & inclusion-who does/doesn't have access & why), agency (intentions and choices), advocacy (voice and skills), and solidarity actions (participates and work toward) for change. The processes of...
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Re: Belonging and Civic Muscle - A Vital Condition, An Extension Opportunity

Amira ·
Thank you for this post! @Deborah John , I'm not able to access the educator resource you shared with the link, not sure if others had that issue too. Can I look for it online? What's it called?
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Re: Belonging and Civic Muscle - A Vital Condition, An Extension Opportunity

Deborah John ·
@Amira, thanks for letting me know! The Social Justice Lens Booklet is available for download at: https://www.bctf.ca/classroom-...justice-lens-booklet
Blog Post

Learn to Work with Communities to Implement Crime Prevention Strategies

Marie Ruemenapp ·
Are you, or would you like to be, working with communities on crime prevention strategies? This is your opportunity to learn strategies to do this. Michigan State University Extension has been working with faculty in the MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) and the MSU National Charrette Institute (NCI) to develop training for Extension professionals and communities on how to do crime prevention through placemaking and environmental design. The program is called Placemaking...
Blog Post

Healthy Communities and Rural Community Development

Kerry Gabbert ·
Healthy, thriving communities support healthy individuals. The Reimagine Rural podcast series features rural towns experiencing positive change, through local voices.
Blog Post

Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sophia Rodriguez ·
In my role as a Well-Being and Equity Project Manager, I am working to co-create a process for youth and adults to promote equitable development in their community by partnering with Cooperative Extension. I’d like to take a moment to ponder some of the ways Cooperative Extension currently shows up in this movement for societal progress. It is time we deeply question the ways we promote and discourage equitable development in our work, for perpetuating the status quo hurts communities and...
Comment

Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Roger Rennekamp ·
A great thought-provoking article. We must all work together to transform in ways that ensure the future of Cooperative Extension.
Comment

Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Rick Schumann ·
I am relatively new to Extension and come at it from the Master Gardener Volunteer side. I will say that your article mirrors my experience with the organization very well. There are a lot of great people working hard to make a difference but the structure and culture of CES make that an uphill battle. I fear that if Extension doesn’t address these issues soon, their relevance is going to be diminished greatly. That would be a tragic waste of what could be a very good thing given some...
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Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Kerry Gabbert ·
Sophia, thank you for sharing this. I agree, deep reflection and addressing some uncomfortable truths can lead us towards our aspiration to advance equity as a core system value.
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Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Elizabeth Irons ·
Thank you so much for this article. I agree there is passion and dedication everyday within CCE. But the accepted culture and the inherent creation of silos prevents a lot of good things from happening. With many times, gaps being closely related to the lack of effective, inclusive communication leading to unwillingness to collaborate on projects, programming and mission.
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Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Cindy Fitch ·
Wow! You really got to the heart of Cooperative Extension in this thought-provoking essay. Our traditions can enrich our experiences but can present barriers to participation for others who are not part of our traditional audiences. I hope that we as leaders in this organization can develop a habit of reflection and self-knowledge that will allow us to adapt to a changing society and remain relevant. I am confident that we will do so.
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Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Lindsey McConnell-Soong ·
Excellent synopsis of our current situation and suggestions for moving forward - thank you! This is right in line with the conversations my teams are engaged in as we consider our approach to systems level change.
Blog Post

Toolkit and Workshop for Building Confidence as a Trusted Messenger!

MelaniePugsley ·
Getting to the Heart and Mind of the Matter: A Toolkit and Workshops for Building Confidence in Being a Trusted Messenger of Health Information REGISTER HERE Attention all Extension professionals and community partners involved in health-related work! Enhance your communication skills and gain new tools that will help you be a trusted messenger of health information in your community! Join the Washington State team for a three-part workshop series: Getting to the Heart and Mind of the...
Comment

Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Tracy Morgan ·
I would love to talk Sophia!!
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Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sheila G ·
Well said!
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Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Zahrine Bajwa ·
so true and so relevant we all struggle with these issues would love to continue this discussion but with some plan of action
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Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Carrie Backman ·
Thank you for this. It definitely resonates with me, especially around silos and needing more two-way communication. Thought provoking read!
Comment

Re: Cooperative Extension: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Former Member ·
This article is a ray of sunshine in written form. I appreciate the author's ability to uplift and motivate. Watermelon Game

About the Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation was formed in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators. Today, the Foundation partners with Cooperative Extension through liaison roles and a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to increase system capacity while providing programmatic services, and helping Extension programs scale and investigate new methods and models for implementing programs. The Foundation provides professional development to Cooperative Extension professionals and offers exclusive services to its members. In 2020 and 2021, the Extension Foundation has awarded 85% of its direct funding back to the Cooperative Extension System, 100% of funds are used to support Cooperative Extension initiatives. 

This technology is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation. For more information, please visit extension.org. You can view the terms of useat extension.org/terms.

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