"Now, more than ever, broadband Internet access (BIA) must be recognized as a social determinant of health. Disparities in access should be treated as a public health issue because they affect the health of people and communities where they live, learn, work and play. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates that lack of BIA influences each of the six social determinant of health domains defined by the American Medical Association. It also affects an additional domain, which is particularly...

The source of what the philosopher Immanuel Kant called “the moral law within” may be mysterious, but its role in the social order is not. In any nation short of dictatorship some form of moral compact, implicit or explicit, should be the basis of a just society. Without a common sense of what is “right,” groups fracture and the fragments wander. Science and knowledge can guide action; they do not cause action. No scientific doubt exists that, mostly, circumstances outside health care...

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...

TL;DR: The social determinants of health are gaining the attention on the hill, there is bipartisan support, and there is strong hope that the 117th Congress and the Biden-Harris administration will make progress – particularly regarding health equity. The main driving factor…money.

As Extension professionals working with a variety of audiences it is crucial that we take a good, hard look at our broccoli. That's not a typo; read on to see what I'm talking about!

Excellent to see this - Extension is often uniquely and perfectly placed to act as a 'backbone' organization in Collective Impact initiatives.

Throughout our Extension careers, most all of us have been introduced to a variety of readings that include lists of the characteristics associated with great leaders. On those lists are such things as humility, trust, and vision. But a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review by Jacqueline Novogratz and Anne Welsh McNulty identifies a less commonly mentioned characteristic that may be more important that any. "We see moral courage as the single most important attribute that...

Cooperative Extension is uniquely positioned to be a key leader in advancing community-based initiatives aimed at tackling health inequities in underserved communities. In 2021, the Extension Committee on Operations and Policy (ECOP) adopted Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity & Well-being (Framework) that articulates a vision for this work. Advancing health equity as a core system value across the Extension system is the first of five key recommendations. A case...

Michigan State University Extension is hosting a winter/spring Sustainability Speakers Series. The first speaker will present on Inflation Reduction Act: Funding for Sustainable Energy Upgrades. The session is on January 9, 2024, from Noon to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The complete Sustainability Speakers Series, flyer attached, offers a diverse lineup of sessions addressing critical sustainability and environmental topics. Learn about opportunities to access funding for sustainable energy...

April 22 – 29 is National Infant Immunization Week It highlights the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases. The new Partner Vaccination Toolkit for early care and education providers explains how early care and education professional can help. Together, we can help raise awareness about the importance of vaccines for infants and young children and encourage parents and caregivers to talk their child’s doctor about staying up to date on...