The National Council for Behavioral Health is pleased to announce that they are currently accepting applications to become implementing sites of teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA). This new version of Mental Health First Aid specifically for teens is an evidence-based training that was brought to the United States in partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. It teaches high school students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades how to identify, understand and help their friends...

By: Chapel Taylor-Olsen, BA, Health & Wellness Coordinator & Dr. Ashley Yaugher, Health & Wellness Faculty, HEART Initiative; Utah State University Extension The opioid crisis has been claiming thousands of American lives per year for decades. Now, this healthcare crisis is colliding with a new threat sweeping the world: the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. This article reviews the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on Americans; unique impacts on people with opioid use disorder...

The U.S. adult obesity rate tops 40 percent; highest ever recorded. COVID-19 related food insecurity puts more Americans at risk for obesity or worsening obesity. Demographic trends and the conditions in people’s lives have a large impact on their ability to maintain a healthy weight. Policy solutions include expanded access to nutrition support programs and creating more opportunities for people to be physically active. Read the State of Obesity 2020: Better Policies for a Healthier America

Applications are currently being accepted for a health promotion specialist who will provide technical assistance and support to an Extension-wide project to promote the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines. The successful candidate may be a current LGU employee who's services will be supported by a full-time buy-out of their professional time or service contract beginning April 1, 2021. See the position announcement immediately below for additional information. Position Announcement: Vaccinate...

Applications are currently being accepted for a Health Promotion Specialist for the Cooperative Extension Immunization Education Project who will provide technical assistance and support to an Extension-wide project to promote the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines. The successful candidate may be a current LGU employee who's services will be supported by a full-time buy-out of their professional time or service contract beginning April 1, 2021. See the position announcement immediately below...

Authors: Dana DeSilva, PhD, RD, ORISE Health Policy Fellow, and LT Dennis Anderson-Villaluz, MBA, RD, LDN, FAND, Nutrition Advisor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Adults’ dietary patterns often reflect habits that they established during childhood and adolescence. Sometimes, this means carrying unhealthy habits into adulthood — but it’s never too late to make changes. Health educators can use the Dietary Guidelines for...

I am happy to share the Request for Applications (RFA) for seven additional land grant institutions to become a part of the Well Connected Communities Initiative. National 4-H Council through the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeks to showcase land grant universities that are modeling how Cooperative Extension is already working in new ways to implement the five high-level recommendations included in Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and...

Has your land grant institution implemented an innovation that has accelerated Cooperative Extension’s work to advance health and well being? If so, we want to help you tell that story of innovation and the difference it is making in your state. The Well Connected Communities Initiative, administered through National 4-H Council with the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will provide seven land grant universities with $25,000 each to perform a case study of a successful...

Nearly 100 individuals participated in a virtual listening session held recently to gather advance input into the upcoming White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to be held this September. The listening session was hosted by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy and the Board on Human Sciences of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) with support of the Extension Foundation. The majority of the participants were state-level coordinators of...

Register HERE for the September 22, 2022 Project Info Session The EXCITE national program team is happy to announce the EXCITE program is continuing! The CDC, NIFA, and the Extension Foundation will support projects in our LGU Cooperative Extension communities to address adult immunization education. This opportunity is open to all Land Grant institutions regardless of previous EXCITE participation. As a reminder, EXCITE is a nationwide response by U.S. Cooperative Extension made possible...

What is the future role of Extension, and how does the Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being help guide Extension's work? On November 15, 2022, six presenters from LGU's across the country shared how their institutions are building capacity to implement the recommendations contained in the Framework. Topics included multi-disciplinary collaboration, the need for clear and relevant data, and aligning Extension work with existing health initiatives at the state and national level.

The 1890 Universities Foundation collaborated with the Extension Foundation to implement the system-wide program, Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE). EXCITE addresses barriers and increases confidence about COVID-19, flu, and other vaccinations among rural and medically underserved audiences and informs CDC, USDA-NIFA, Cooperative Extension, and health partners about how best to implement public health programs to reduce health disparities. EXCITE...

The University of Kentucky is pleased to announce two new health-focused faculty positions with significant Extension responsibility. The first is an Assistant/Associate Extension Professor in Community and Family Health. Visit https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/458642 . The second is an Assistant Clinical Professor in Mental Health and Well-Being. See ttps://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/458638 . The review of applications will begin on May 1, 2023 with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2023.

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...

The Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) seeks to add 1-2 program coaches for the adult immunization education program from June 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024. See the application and a pply here. Applicants should have knowledge of public health and have some experience relative to Cooperative Extension based at Land Grant Universities. This position will be part of the EXCITE program team and will serve as an online coach for 5-7 Land Grant...

Hello there! We are delighted to extend a special invitation to Game On: Equitable Development Leadership Academy across our networks. We are seeking young leaders and promoting equity in their communities and the Extension professionals supporting their team. This groundbreaking project is sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and facilitated by Sophia Rodriguez and members of the Solvable team. In this time of unprecedented health, social, economic and environmental crises, the Well...

Increasing Physical Activity Among Older Adults August 16th, 2023 2 - 3 PM ET Register Here This webinar will introduce the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults and summarize key strategies to increase physical activity among older adults. Additionally, this webinar will highlight Move Your Way® resources that Extension professionals can use to promote physical activity in their work. Register at the link above to receive a...

It’s almost time for the school bells to ring and students to return to their classrooms. The American Red Cross offers these tips for making sure your student is safe as they head back to school for the upcoming year. 1. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports distracted walking can be dangerous, even deadly. Teach your students to not text or talk on the phone while walking. 2. Stay far from the curb . When students wait for the school bus, tell them to stay far away from the traffic on...

The Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) Program has received additional funding to enhance immunization education within Cooperative Extension communities. EFNEP programs have been awarded funds to educate underserved and rural audiences about the CDC’s Bridge program and other adult immunization opportunities, aiming to close gaps across all adult immunizations. This new phase will further integrate immunization education into Extension programming. By...