"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...

I am pleased to announce that we have initiated a search to fill two open eXtension fellowships focused on health and well being. The work of the fellows will broadly focus on building the capacity of the Cooperative Extension System to ensure that all people have an equal opportunity to experience optimal health and well being across the lifespan. Much of this will be accomplished through a Connect Extension subgroup where fellows will work as a team to foster identification and sharing of...

Diabetes is one of the most common and costly chronic conditions, a leading cause of death in the US, and a risk factor for severe illness from COVID-19. Thus, strategies to prevent diabetes are essential for protecting the health of the nation. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) is a partnership between public and private organizations aimed at reducing the prevalence of diabetes through evidence-based, cost-effective interventions that promote weight management through healthy...

Click here at 1 PM ET on September 24th to Enter The Chat! According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) a health disparity exists when one group bears a higher burden of illness, injury, disability, or mortality relative to another as a result of conditions closely linked to social, economic, or environmental disadvantage. Conversely, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) defines health equity as a desired state where “everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as...

Managed by CDC’s Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support , the Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) is a training program for early-career public health professionals who have a recent college degree and an interest in public service and public health. Throughout the two-year program, associates complete a comprehensive training curriculum and work at a host organization to gain hands-on experience that will serve as the foundation for their careers in public health. The...

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...

If you haven't visited the Health and Well-Being subgroup in the last several days, you will notice a brand new look to the welcome page the next time you log in. The first thing that you will now see is a listing of twelve affinity groups where you can connect with others who share a specific area of interest. You can navigate to the the affinity group of interest to you by simply clicking on the corresponding image. One there, you can initiate a discussion around a topic of your choice by...

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!

Thanks for sharing this article and posting this prompt Roger. I absolutely think Cooperative Extension has a unique and critical role to play in helping our communities transition to a well-being economy. Perhaps even an obligation! In fact this is something I looked closely at over the course of my year-long Extension Foundation fellowship back in 2018. My particular focus was on how Land Grants, Extension, and libraries like my own at Cornell might help optimize local and regional food...

High-speed internet service is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. But too many families go without high-speed internet because of the cost or have to cut back on other essentials to make their monthly internet service payments. Lowering prices—including the cost of high-speed internet service—is President Biden’s top priority. In early May 2021, President Biden and Vice President Harris announced that they have secured private sector commitments that will lower high-speed internet costs...

Recently, I attended the Extension-related Appalachian Health Summit in Roanoke, Virginia. There, we joined many other Appalachian states in discussing determinants of health and the challenges our communities face to access and enjoy health, quality care, and well-being. In this blog, I’d like to pose a question to ourselves as Extension services about how overwhelming this quest for health equity must feel. We left the summit very excited about the possibilities and in my case, with a mind...

A 2015 article by McGregor, Coulthard, and Camfield suggests changes in how we develop and evaluate the effectiveness of various policies and programs. While authors contend that " there has been a tremendous upsurge of interest in and initiatives to develop measures of human well-being as a yardstick of societal progress." and suggest that using solely economic measures of progress are inadequate and results in misguided. " The focus on income measures encourages an unbalanced focus on...

Bradford Hill Seminar – Social justice and health equity – Professor Sir Michael Marmot February 15 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm (UK time) All are invited to the hybrid Bradford Hill Seminar: Social justice and health equity Professor Sir Michael Marmot Institute of Health Equity and UCL Department of Epidemiology & Public Health Register to attend Please note this will be a hybrid seminar, with the option to attend in-person (East Forvie Building, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SR) or...

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...

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...

Extension professionals across the nation engage in public health work; however, this work is not always recognized by public health professionals and their professional associations like the American Public Health Association (APHA). Can greater visibility within APHA grow recognition, understanding, and appreciation of Extension’s contribution to public health? Could that, in turn, lead to new partnerships and support for Cooperative Extension? We want to learn more about the extent to...

The Journal of Human Sciences and Extension is soliciting articles for a summer 2025 special issue: Aging in America. The aim of this special issue is to provide human scientists and Extension professionals with research, new or emerging initiatives, creative critical thinking, and innovative practices that will propel aging-related work within a next-generation Cooperative Extension System. Format-free manuscripts are welcome.

The National Urban Research & Extension Center (NUREC) invites you to participate in this Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to determine where there are opportunities for partnership and collaboration amongst research and Extension and the National League of Cities.

From our friends at the CDC Office of Rural Health! We want to make you aware of a new four-part documentary series that was made possible by Bloomberg Philanthropies and is available for streaming on PBS.org and the PBS App. This series, The Invisible Shield , includes discussions on many important topics, including public health infrastructure, public health data, health equity, and more. The fourth episode in the series may be of particular interest to you, as it explores the societal...

The Michigan State University School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) invites applications for a full‐time, 12‐month Continuing Academic Specialist with a 85% extension/outreach and 15% teaching assignment. The desired position start date is May 1, 2024. This position will focus on adaptive strategies to enhance the sustainability and resilience of communities with an emphasis on climate change and development regulation. Activities will include creating educational programs and...

Reminder! Brief, 250 word abstracts are due April 5th for the Journal of Human Science and Extension's Special Issue: Aging in America.