"For society to function, people must believe in the institutions meant to serve them. They need to know that the government is acting in their best interests, that businesses are operating ethically and efficiently, that nonprofits are improving their communities, and that the media is delivering timely, accurate information. Trust creates the conditions for these organizations to carry out their missions (Aspen Institute). A recent article by Aspen Institute's Executive Director Maureen...

The American Hospital Association Center for Health Innovation provides emergency response and disaster preparedness resources that are designed to strengthen and reimagine the nation's emergency management system. More specifically, the CLEAR Field Guide for Emergency Preparedness is designed to advance our nation’s emergency management system by breaking down knowledge silos, bolstering the public health infrastructure, diversifying health care integration and more deeply integrating...

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...

Hear how twelve land-grant universities across the nation are utilizing Cooperative Extension's National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being to ensure that all people have an equal opportunity to experience lifelong health. Presenting on Tuesday, November 15 in a lightning round format (five slides in seven minutes) are the University of New Hampshire, University of Florida, The Ohio State University, Kansas State University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of...

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...

Don't miss the opportunity to lean more about Cooperative Extension's National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being. This framework was approved by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) in 2021 and was designed to serve as a roadmap for advancing the health-focused work of the Cooperative Extension System. The framework is organized around three core themes: health equity, social determinants of health, and working through coalitions to increase community health...

CDC's Influenza Division posted the first full FluView report of the 2022-2023 flu season. The report shows flu activity is increasing across most of the U.S. Flu activity is highest and increasing the most in the southeast and south-central parts of the country.

Walk Across Arkansas is an 8-week online group exercise program that has been changing the lives of rural and urban participants, one step at a time. Read more to learn how this program is being implemented by the University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service…

The National Institutes of Health, the nation's medical research agency and the world's largest source of funding for medical research, is soliciting applications as part of Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS) Program's Community-Led, Health Equity Structural Intervention Initiative. The Research Opportunity Announcement (ROA): Community-Led, Health Equity Structural Intervention (CHESI) Initiative (OTA-22-007) will support the development, implementation,...

AmeriCorps recently announced a new round of funding for Public Health AmeriCorps ! Public Health AmeriCorps, launched in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a $400 million investment to engage new communities and individuals in public health, recruiting and building a new workforce ready to respond to the nation’s public health needs. Last year, over 80 organizations were awarded a total of more than $60 million. Funding is open to nonprofit, faith-based,...

On September 28, 2022 the Biden-Harris Administration will host the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health — and there is still time to get engaged. The Conference will bring together Americans from all walks of life to help accelerate progress to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and reduce disparities. Together, we can build a healthier and more equitable future for our nation. Here are some ways you can get involved: Watch the Conference live —...

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...