To reverse current trends, we must build broad community capacity in overdose prevention and rescue. These skills are simple to learn and easy to perform鈥攁nyone can do them. This is the foundation of 王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 You Can initiative.

You Can Save a Life

王中王六合彩资料 recently launched the You Can Save a Life (or You Can) campaign at . Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (through the MA Department of Public Health), the You Can suite of resources is designed to build community-wide capacity to reduce deaths from overdose. Through a series of educational and storytelling videos, You Can focuses on disseminating these key messages and skills:

• Anyone can save a life by knowing the signs of an overdose and how to respond.
• Rescue breathing is a free and critical part of responding to an overdose.

The initiative is complemented by:

• Statewide distribution of fentanyl test strips and You Can branded materials to harm reduction providers by the (a program administered by 王中王六合彩资料),
• Training in overdose rescue and prevention by 王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 ,
• Collaboration with the , a life-saving overdose detection resource for people who use drugs, and
• Partnership with advocates and organizations across the state.

You Can Week

王中王六合彩资料 staff tabling at the You Can community event

As with all resources, their effectiveness requires audience awareness.听To spread the word about these powerful tools the You Can team hosted a series of exciting activities to amplify the reach of the campaign during the week of March 4^th:

• Community partners visits. The team visited the community partners who had helped develop the You Can branded materials, such as rescue breathing masks, lighters, pens, wallet cards, and buttons in English and Spanish.
• 王中王六合彩资料 staff training. The team facilitated three overdose rescue and harm reduction trainings, where 94 王中王六合彩资料 staff members learned about the You Can resources and how to reverse an overdose.
• Community event. Over 100 people convened at the You Can Save a Life event in Boston on March 6^th, including providers of harm reduction services and people with lived and living experience of substance use. Attendees explored the You Can website, picked up resources and You Can branded items (including fentanyl test strips), and heard from Stephen Murray and Kimber King of the Overdose Prevention Helpline.
  

  You Can community event at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Boston

Key Lessons from You Can

You Can鈥檚 lessons are simple and powerful.

You can use more safely. If you or a loved one uses drugs, here鈥檚 how to use more safely:

• Always use with someone (if alone, you can call the for someone to be on the phone with you while you use).
• Test your supply with fentanyl test strips.
• Go low and slow. Start with a small amount of the drug and increase a little more at a time.

You can rescue breathe. Overdose happens when too many opioids cause breathing to be slowed or stopped. Rescue breathing simply means giving breaths to someone in a state of overdose to keep their brain and body alive.

• Tip the head back, pinch the nose, and give 1 breath into the mouth every 5 seconds.
• Rescue breathing can be done through a rescue breathing mask, an article of clothing, or direct mouth-to-mouth.
• Used alone or with Narcan, rescue breathing can prevent overdose fatality.
• Learn more: .

You can save a life.听If someone overdoses while using drugs, here are the steps to respond:

• Call 9-1-1.
• Give 1 dose of Narcan (if you have it).
• Perform rescue breathing.
• If they don鈥檛 wake up after 3 to 5 minutes, give them a 2^nd dose of Narcan.
• Keep rescue breathing until they wake up or help arrives.

Take Action

You Can is a celebration of the power of individual action and community commitment to stopping these preventable deaths.

As a public health organization, 王中王六合彩资料 is committed to addressing this public health crisis by:

• Educating our staff on recognizing and responding to overdose,
• Understanding harm reduction and how it applies to our public health work,
• Challenging the harmful narratives that perpetuate drug-related stigma, and
• Helping organizations build capacity to address substance use and harm reduction needs.

We invite our partners to join in our commitment. Below are actions we can all take to build our own capacity to reverse overdose.

• Engage with a resource on the .
• Order rescue breathing masks and other You Can materials on the .
• Get trained on overdose rescue by the .
• .

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鈥淭his听gift is an incredible recognition of the collaborative work 王中王六合彩资料 does with our community partners and clients to transform practices, policies, and systems to enable individuals to thrive in more equitable and just communities,鈥� said Steven Ridini, 王中王六合彩资料 CEO and President. 听鈥淚t is our staff鈥檚 passion, vision, and tireless commitment – over the decades and today – that set the stage for this tremendous opportunity. Thanks to this gift, 王中王六合彩资料 can expand our impact in centering community voices to address health and racial equity.鈥�

We are deeply grateful to MacKenzie Scott and Yield Giving for sharing our vision of healthy people thriving in equitable and just communities.

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Background

Leaders in the neighboring towns of Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts knew youth mental health was a key concern in both communities. Using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), leaders asked 王中王六合彩资料 for a joint community health assessment (CHA) and community health implementation plan (CHIP). Youth mental health was on the list of topics to explore.

Approach

After reviewing data and speaking with local leaders, 王中王六合彩资料 confirmed the concern about youth mental health. Our approach, centered in our Health Equity Framework, considers the voices not at the table. In this case, our team worked with local leaders to engage young people for whom mental health was a concern. 王中王六合彩资料 spoke with youth to hear the issues most impacting their lives and to understand the changes they wanted to see in their communities.

Impact

王中王六合彩资料 heard from young people in two formats鈥攆ocus groups and key informant interviews. In focus groups, young people shared their experiences with mental and behavioral health. Of this project鈥檚 nine focus groups, five included youth or parents of youth. Six of 17 interviewees held experience or expertise in working with youth. These experiences later informed each town鈥檚 community health improvement plan.

In place of a lengthy report, the 王中王六合彩资料 Team developed one-page infographics for each of the three priority areas identified by youth and adults during the assessment process. The towns shared these digestible findings on their websites. Abby Atkins, Managing Director of Community Health Assessment, commented on this approach: 鈥淭he infographics highlighted key data and plan elements so the towns can easily communicate the process, priorities, and plans for the future.鈥�

Following the assessment, 王中王六合彩资料 and town residents鈥攊ncluding youth鈥攃ollaboratively developed a shared three-year community health improvement plan. They also created a detailed annual action plan to guide efforts in the first year of plan implementation.

Reflections

This collaborative endeavor demonstrates the drivers behind some of our key approaches. Below, we reflect on how this project benefited from amplifying voices, diverse perspectives, and collaboration.

• Amplifying Voices. Youth, school officials, and parents shared their experiences with the pressure to succeed, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the influence of social media. Based on these findings, members of the planning teams developed objectives to normalize and increase access to mental health support. Hearing directly from those most impacted by the issues helped the towns craft short- and long-term plans to address their most salient community needs.
• Diverse Perspectives. We encourage our 王中王六合彩资料 staff and supporting teams to bring their unique identities, geographies, skills, and experiences to all projects. In addition to strategic support, staff on this project brought experiences of working with youth, exploring health inequities, and a focus on mental health. Diversity within the project team improves results by reducing the potential for groupthink and bias.
• Collaboration. We define collaboration as intentionally and respectfully leading, partnering, and following to strengthen relationships, uplift different voices, and build trust. As a partner, we supported the collaboration between the towns of Andover and North Andover through a combination of advisory, assessment, and planning services. We followed each town鈥檚 lead as they finalized community stakeholders to engage in the assessment and planning processes.

Rather than providing standardized strategies or predetermined answers, 王中王六合彩资料 brings expertise in facilitation, listening, and empathy to ensure we are centering the voices of those most impacted. Our strategies are thoughtfully designed to amplify the voices of those closest to the issues, strengthen relationships, and co-create healthy, equitable communities where all can thrive.

Learn more about the Andover/North Andover CHA-CHIP in our case study.

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Below, we share highlights about each of the awardees. For full awardee project descriptions, click here.

Partnership/Collaborative Establishment Awards

Impact of Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) Collaborative Upon Social Determinants of Health of Low-Income Individuals in Rural Southwest Virginia

Dr. Matthew Loos

Matthew Loos, MD, FACS, MBA
Ballad Health, in partnership with Appalachian School of Law 鈥� Virginia Tech 鈥� STRONG Accountable Care Community

Despite the establishment of numerous MLPs throughout the U.S., there are few published studies on the impact of MLPs on healthcare and outcomes. This collaborative project establishes an Advisory Council to collectively study and develop MLP best practices for programmatic and coordinated community response. We anticipate the data will illuminate how health-harming legal needs are impacted through MLP intervention with free legal services to address social determinants of health (SDOH).

Centering Black Voices: An Exploration Of Current And Historical Black Breastfeeding Experiences In Their Own Words

Sara Rothenberg, MPH
Eastern Virginia Medical School, in partnership with The Consortium for Infant and Child Health 鈥� SonShine and Rainbows Lactation 鈥� From the Start Holistic Doula Services 鈥� #757Breastfeeds

The project seeks to address and uproot structural racism that underpins maternal and child health inequities by centering Black voices, building community capacity, and decolonizing breastfeeding research.听 Through sustainable, respectful collaboration, this project will lay the groundwork for future research, publication, and more effective public health strategies for advancing maternal child health equity.

(Project team, L to R: Sara Rothenberg, Jasmine Kittrell, Nichelle Clark, Tierra Lingsley)

Advancing Health Equity through a Regional Coalition for Reducing Opioid and Substance Use

Dr. Shuntay Z. Tarver

Shuntay Z. Tarver, PhD, MSW
Old Dominion University, in partnership with African American Creative Community Series 鈥� James Barry Robinson Institute 鈥� Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board

There is a critical need in Virginia to reduce opioid and substance use (O/SU) and overdose related deaths. The project seeks to advance health equity with the development of a culturally-informed, data-driven regional coalition. The desired outcome is to decrease O/SU and overdose-related deaths among Black and low-income families within the cities of Norfolk, Hampton, and Newport News, VA.

(Project team, L to R: Tamika Lett, Latiesha Handle, Chaniece Winfield, Jason Sawyer)

Research Awards

Keep People Covered: Analyzing the Medicaid Unwinding and Redetermination Process through a Person-Centered, Racial Equity Lens

Freddy Mejia
The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, in partnership with Sacred Heart Center 鈥� Peter Paul Development Center 鈥� Virginia Poverty Law Center 鈥� Virginia Community Voice

Freddy Mejia

In April 2023, Virginia will begin to review all Medicaid enrollees鈥� eligibility, a process called 鈥渦nwinding鈥� and start ending coverage for those found ineligible. The unwinding process will require enrollees to update contact information and submit all required paperwork in a timely fashion. Caught in the middle of this process are approximately 160,000 individuals and families who remain eligible but are most at risk of losing coverage because of administrative hurdles and/or language access issues. The current administration in Virginia has not shared its posture on the Medicaid redetermination process. This is concerning to advocates due to national research from the Department of Health and Human Services. Research estimates children, Black, and Latino individuals are most likely to be disenrolled while still being eligible for coverage.

At the core of this project are three goals:

• First, through research and analysis, act as a watchdog that brings accountability and an equity focused lens on a complex process that may leave individuals and families uninsured on account of technicalities.
• Second, drive education efforts to help as many people as possible weather the 鈥渦nwinding鈥� storm and preserve their health insurance.
• Third, leverage the research to change systems to improve the current redetermination process in the moment and create better health access programs, processes, and communications in the future.

Using a participatory research approach combined with analysis of data from EnrollVA and state agencies, and advocacy action we can achieve both meaningful research findings and changes in public policies. We plan to create and maintain a real-time dashboard that can inform decisions during the three year period. Additionally, we will disseminate findings with strategic communications and coordinate with our partners including members of the Collective Work coalition focused on racial justice and the Health Equity Action Leaders program.

Uncovering Immune Inflammatory Axes of Racial Disparities Linked with Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnant Women

Sepideh Dolatshahi, PhD
University of Virginia

Dr. Sepideh Dolatshahi

Obese Black women experience an increased risk of inadequate Gestational Weight Gain (iGWG) compared to White women within the same BMI groups. Importantly, obesity and iGWG are both associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, which in turn predispose the newborn to a myriad of early-life health complications. As such, concurrent higher prevalence of iGWG and obesity in non-Hispanic Black women points to distinct profiles of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) that separately drive these risk factors to birth disparities.

The proposed study aims to dissect these two hypothesized distinct pathways of racial disparities from the root/trunk (SDoH) to the middle branches (perturbed baseline immunity and the immune remodeling) to the outer leaves (adverse clinical outcomes) of the tree. While sparse attempts to stratify the contributors to obesity and iGWG as they relate to pregnancy outcomes have been published, these studies are essentially lacking in the Virginia. Moreover, African Americans have been underrepresented in immunological studies of pregnancy.

To address these limitations, we will use innovative systems biology and data-driven statistical modeling approaches to examine a unique cohort of racially diverse pregnant women of Virginia. By combining SDoH information with high-plex maternal and placental measurements, we anticipate that we will identify novel social and immune axes that may inform the design of preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies that will improve pregnancy outcomes.

王中王六合彩资料 the Trust

The Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust, founded in 1981 by Robert M. Jeffress in memory of his parents, is guided by its mission to benefit the people of Virginia and their research in chemical, medical, or other scientific fields. Since its founding, the Jeffress Memorial Trust has been a steadfast benefactor in support of scientists and research across the state of Virginia supporting mathematical modeling/simulations and analytics in bioinformatics, astrophysics, mathematical biology, drug development, and material science. To further the mission of the Jeffress Trust to benefit the people of Virginia, the program was changed in 2022 to the听Jeffress Trust Awards Program in Research Advancing Health Equity.

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Figure 1. Dana LeWinter, former Director of Municipal Engagement, CHAPA

Organizations such as the are working to improve the availability and affordability of housing in Massachusetts. In the spring of 2023, we asked Dana LeWinter, the former Director of Municipal Engagement at CHAPA, about the organization鈥檚 approach to this important work.

Affiliated with CHAPA for nearly 20 years, Dana鈥檚 aim has been to move housing policy forward. After working as a CHAPA intern in 2004, she returned in 2009 to manage the Collaborative for two years. In 2018, she came back to CHAPA to transform local housing policy through an exciting initiative described later in this post. Dana is now the Chief of Public and Community Engagement at Massachusetts Housing Partnership.

The Start of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)

In 1967, a small group of community leaders established CHAPA. Their mission remains the same as it was then鈥攖o encourage the production and preservation of affordable housing. CHAPA鈥檚 work is guided by the belief that everyone should have safe, healthy, and affordable housing. The defines affordable housing as when 鈥渢he occupant is paying no more than 30 percent of gross income for housing costs, including utilities.鈥�

And, according to Dana, affordable housing solutions must fit residents鈥� needs and budget. Healthy housing looks different depending on people鈥檚 varying needs. This includes the standard definition of healthy housing鈥斺�攁s well as appropriateness for family size, mobility needs, and access to essentials like grocery stores, pharmacies, and public transit.

Addressing the Root Causes of Housing Inaccessibility

One of CHAPA鈥檚 approaches to increase affordable housing in the Commonwealth is to reduce racial patterns of segregation in Massachusetts communities. , much of which can be attributed to the historical practice known as redlining seen in Figure 2.

鈥淩EDLINING: A discriminatory practice that consists of the systematic denial of services such as mortgages, insurance loans, and other financial services to residents of certain areas, based on their race or ethnicity. Redlining disregards individual鈥檚 qualifications and creditworthiness to refuse such services, solely based on the residency of those individuals in minority neighborhoods; which were also quite often deemed 鈥榟azardous鈥� or 鈥榙angerous.鈥欌�� ()

This harmful practice has left many Black families unable to build generational wealth the same way that white families have, producing and perpetuating a racial homeownership gap.

In addition to redlining, exclusionary zoning practices have also contributed to the Massachusetts housing crisis by preventing new homes from being built and limiting the types of housing that can be built in certain communities. To expand those who can access affordable housing, CHAPA is currently supporting the , which aims to create more housing opportunities for people who have historically been excluded. The 175 communities with stations outside of Metro Boston must zone at least one district 鈥渙f reasonable size鈥� for multi-family housing near stations. This zoning mandate will not require building new homes but rather and make it easier for more housing to be built. For example, the zoning mandate moves municipal zoning decision-making from groups of people who often don鈥檛 represent the broader needs of their community to the residents who will be most impacted by these decisions. .

Dana sees CHAPA鈥檚 constellation of approaches as crucial to advancing housing equity. 鈥淸T]here’s a tendency, I think, for folks to want to see one thing as the solution,鈥� Dana explained. 鈥淚s it rental assistance? Is it zoning changes? Is it state funding or one of these things? But it really does have to be this holistic approach, and that’s the attitude that we try to take at CHAPA, to put all those tools towards our efforts.鈥�

Changing Local Housing Policies through the Municipal Engagement Initiative

Housing infrastructure and policy across the Commonwealth is highly variable. 鈥淲e have 351 cities and towns here in Massachusetts that all have their own form of government. They have their own zoning and planning boards,鈥� Dana shared. 鈥淎nd if we can’t move forward actions at that local level, we’re never going to meet our real housing needs as a state.” Advocacy efforts throughout the state can benefit from sharing their resources and best practices for driving housing policy change in their communities. CHAPA鈥檚 (MEI) serves as a resource for residents throughout Massachusetts. MEI informs Massachusetts residents about housing policy and increases learning across coalitions.

Figure 3. Lily Linke and Dana LeWinter at the MACHHA Funds showcase in October 2022. Via @foot_notes_pod on Twitter

Created six years ago to target local housing policy, MEI is one of CHAPA鈥檚 largest programs. The impact of their work can already be seen at the local level. To date, MEI participant communities have (1) passed inclusionary zoning, which requires affordable units to be set aside when new market-rate development is built, (2) created Housing Trust funds, (3) passed housing production plans, and (4) advocated for their town-owned land to be set aside for affordable housing. Not only have these wins happened in individual towns, but Dana believes that MEI has created broader impact by emphasizing the importance of having adequate, diverse housing opportunities in every community.

MEI is funded in part by the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging (MACHHA) Funds, a collaborative project of the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) and 王中王六合彩资料 (王中王六合彩资料). Figure 3 shows Dana and colleague Lily Linke in 2022 at the MACHHA Funds showcase event holding their poster illustrating MEI鈥檚 impact.

CHAPA: Fostering Diverse, Sustainable Communities Through Planning and Community Development

MEI is just one of CHAPA鈥檚 many programs, all designed to improve housing access. Collectively through their portfolio of programs, they aim to create 200,000 new homes by 2030. Achieving this goal drives progress toward more equitable housing and social outcomes throughout Massachusetts.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Reena Dixit, former BU Activist Fellow, for her role in concept development and interview facilitation, as well as Christine Gordon-Davis and Erna Alfred Liousas for their editing support.

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Connection to others is a vital component of recovery and harm reduction. In this post, we explore the concept of connection through the lens of 王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 Helpline Champions Program.

The Need: Getting to the First Call

When our Screening and Information Specialists answer a call or message, they lay the foundation for connection; a real, live person responds to every inquiry. They take the time to understand a caller鈥檚 needs. The next step is for the specialist to offer referrals to appropriate services. At that time, the caller must take a step toward further connection by reaching out to those service providers. Each of these actions require enormous courage. We are here to help.

Many people who could benefit from helpline services are hesitant to make the initial call. One of the most powerful ways to overcome the many barriers to calling a helpline is with the encouragement and support that comes from a familiar and trusted source. This is where the Helpline Champions come in.

The Approach: The Helpline Champions听Program

Helpline Champions are a group of exceptional individuals. They reach out in simple yet powerful ways within their communities to increase use of harm reduction services, substance use treatment, and recovery support services in and . As trusted members of communities often disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic, Champions are uniquely positioned to reach people wherever they are. Through efforts like street outreach, youth engagement, and programs for those who are justice-involved, the Champions create human connections, reduce stigma, and promote more equitable access to substance use services.

Beyond community and cultural connections, many of our Champions have lived and living experience of substance use and recovery. Sharing their stories can provide a vital sense of belonging, support, and hope to anyone in need, allowing them to see what is possible. Champions with 听lived experience know how to navigate services and supports essential for harm reduction and recovery. This knowledge is a valuable resource to others who may be actively using or seeking treatment, and for their loved ones.

Creating Connection for our Champions

What makes someone a Champion? Many Helpline Champions have been long-time advocates for people using substances or experiencing substance use disorders. The Helplines launched the Champions program to more formally acknowledge these community experts and offer a semi-structured space to connect with other advocates working toward the same goals. Champions meet monthly to share ideas, network, learn, and fill their cups. By connecting with others doing similar work, Champions can avoid duplication of services and learn about work happening in communities outside their own.

Connecting Back to the Helplines

The Champions program informs the efforts of our Helpline outreach teams and helps us improve the information in the referral systems that our Specialists use. This work augments the reach of, and value delivered by the Helpline. Champions ensure that people know the Helpline is available as a resource to connect them to a spectrum of services and supports, from harm reduction services to treatment programs and other recovery resources.

Hear from our Champions

The Helpline Champions are changing the way people and communities view recovery, providing the connection people need to remain safe regardless of where they are on their journey.听Hear from a few of our amazing champions:

鈥淭he unique role that the Champions play in our communities is the ability to address barriers as well as provide information on a broader scale which allows for solutions. Therefore, closing the gaps ultimately allowing the communities to see the changes, which has increased collaborations.鈥�

鈥�Dr. Karen White (she/her), Addiction Recovery Specialist, T.E.E.C.H (Transforming, Educating, and Empowering Children and Humanity) Foundation, IL Helpline Champion.

Dr. Karen White has seen the effects of drugs firsthand 鈥� in her family and community. .鈥�

鈥淏eing a Champion has fueled my interest more in helping individuals with addictions. I am working on becoming a LADC [licensed alcohol and drug counselor] so that people of color can see folks that look like them in treatment facilities when they take that step to start their recovery journey.鈥�

鈥�Aishea Henry (she/her), M.A., C.R.C., Mental Health Counselor, Massachusetts Rehab Commission, Malden, MA Helpline Champion.

鈥淚 love being a part of a community that values and respects human dignity and human rights. Harm reduction and overdose prevention strategies are in an uphill battle right now, in terms of people understanding their benefit and necessity 鈥� so I love being a part of a community that aligns with my views and is doing something to get it more accessible and mainstream. If I can have any part of that 鈥� I am in.鈥�

鈥�Julia Bentley (she/her), MPH, Senior Project Coordinator, MASBIRT TTA, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit; MA Helpline Champion

鈥淏eing a community advocate and working with individuals and families who are challenged by substances can be emotional, but Champions learn how to cope with those things, protect their mental health, and keep going. We serve a purpose, and the Champion program helps to affirm that and keep us going.鈥�

鈥�Aisha Esquivel (she/her), founder, #breanaland project, IL Helpline Champion.

Aisha lost her eldest daughter to substance use. She鈥檚 turning her pain into purpose.

Get Involved

Not every state or community has a Champions program, but anyone can become a Champion in their own community! Champions come from many different backgrounds, each bringing their own unique experiences to the role. These include but are not limited to:

• People actively using substances
• People in recovery 鈥� early and long-term
• Providers/referrers
• Young adults
• Concerned and affected family members and friends
• Coalition members
• Recovery coaches
• Peer support specialists
• Retirees
• Faith leaders

If you live or work in IL or MA and would like more information, please visit the or the .

Another way to get involved is to become a Screening & Information Specialist for the Helplines! 王中王六合彩资料 is always looking to expand our team of full- and part-time Specialists. Visit our Careers page for more information.

For more information on our substance use helplines, check out the resources below:

• Blog post: Help is always here: the critical role of helpline services (2022)

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Since 1991, the Smith Family Foundation has supported 218 scientists with research funding totaling $50.4 million. 王中王六合彩资料 has partnered with the Foundation since the inception of this work, providing expert grantmaking and biomedical research consulting to optimize their investments and impact. In 2021, the Smith Family Foundation asked us to ideate new methods of researcher support, beyond financial grants. This inquiry led to the launch of a foundational communications training initiative. Through targeted scientific communications training and coaching, this endeavor equipped researchers with skills to convey their scientific ideas in clear and engaging ways. This project resulted in the production of a compelling, professional video for the researchers. The videos feature each researcher using their elevated communication skills to shine further light on the significance of their work.

We are thrilled to present the first cohort of videos featuring the Smith Family Foundation鈥檚 early-career biomedical grant recipients. These videos showcase the talent and groundbreaking research undertaken by these exceptional researchers.

Excellence Awardees

The mission of the Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research is to launch the careers of newly independent biomedical researchers with the goal of achieving medical breakthroughs. Excellence awardees explore fundamental questions about biology using approaches spanning disciplines such as biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering.

Alleviating antifungal resistance to strengthen agricultural resiliency

Sibongile Mafu, PhD, 2018 Excellence Awardee
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts 鈥� Amherst

Fungal diseases are a growing threat to plants, animals, and humans in a myriad of ways. Dr. Sibongile Mafu wants to understand how plants adapt to their changing environments and use that knowledge to ensure the sustainability of our food system. 鈥淯nderstanding that enables us to be able to build more resilient plants that are going to be able to adapt to the different climate changes and other challenges we may be facing.鈥�

Investigating the boundaries of biology by observing shapeshifting parasites

Lillian Fritz-Laylin, PhD, 2019 Excellence Awardee
Associate Professor of Biology, University of Massachusetts 鈥� Amherst

According to Dr. Lillian Fritz-Laylin, over 99% of organisms in our world are underexplored. She and her lab are evaluating the shapeshifting mechanisms of two specific parasites to find out if existing scientific knowledge applies to these parasites鈥攐r if they are governed by a completely different set of rules.听 鈥淲e get to see something that nobody鈥檚 ever seen before. It鈥檚 intoxicating.鈥�

Determining the trajectory of COVID-19 pathology via nasal swab

Jos茅 Ordov谩s-Monta帽茅s, PhD, 2019 Excellence Awardee
Research Faculty, Division of Gastroenterology, Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital

Dr. Jos茅 Ordov谩s-Monta帽茅s and his colleagues did not know that they would be studying SARS-COV-2 when this work began, as it didn鈥檛 yet exist. Their work evolved to study the differences in the nasal cells collected through the nasopharyngeal swabs used to diagnose COVID-19 infections, yielding fascinating results.

Using microbes to prevent and treat disease

Babak Momeni, PhD, 2017 Excellence Awardee
Assistant Professor of Microbial Systems Biology, Boston College

Not all microbes are disease-carrying enemies, according to Dr. Babak Momeni. From bench science to mathematical modeling, his lab is exploring microbial interactions and how they might be useful in the prevention and treatment of antibiotic resistant illnesses.

Investigating the intricacies of cancer cell division

Amity L. Manning, PhD, 2017 Excellence Awardee
Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

鈥淭here鈥檚 still so much we don鈥檛 understand about how cells divide,鈥� says Dr. Amity Manning. She and her colleagues are working to understand the details of cell division as well as how this process goes awry. Their findings could inform the development of powerful cancer therapies.

Understanding the human brain through the neural patterns of fruit flies

James Jeanne, PhD, 2019 Excellence Awardee
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, Yale University

Dr. James Jeanne believes that the future is bright for people who have lost brain function. His lab is striving to break the 鈥渘eural code,鈥� making it possible to interface with the brain. And they鈥檙e doing it by examining the neural networks of fruit flies.

Transforming treatment for drug-resistant cancer

Bryan Q. Spring, PhD, 2017 Excellence Awardee
Professor of Biomedical Physics, Northeastern University

Professor Spring鈥檚 calm approach impacts both the energy in his interdisciplinary lab and his vision for the future of oncology.

Odyssey Awardees

The Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award was created in 2017 to fuel creativity and innovation in junior investigators in the early-stage research. The Award supports the pursuit of high impact ideas to generate breakthroughs and drive new directions in biomedical research. Odyssey awards fund high-risk, high-reward pilot projects solicited from junior faculty in the Greater Boston area.

Investigating how mechanical forces regulate the function of proteins

Wesley P. Wong, PhD, 2019 Odyssey Awardee
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

鈥淢y lab develops ways to look at, visualize, and manipulate molecules in order to understand how they work and how they fail with disease,鈥� says Dr. Wesley Wong. Their findings may lead to new treatments for a variety of diseases, including cancer and diabetes.

Examining how the brain-gut connection relates to digestive disorders

Meenakshi Rao, MD, PhD, 2020 Odyssey Awardee
Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital

The digestive system has its very own branch of the nervous system. Dr. Meenakshi Rao鈥檚 lab aims to expand our understanding of how it works to inform the diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders. 鈥淢y hope is that we can build on some of these observations we鈥檙e making in the lab and apply them to advancing human health in very tangible ways.鈥�

Exploring how nature optimizes cellular function

Gene-Wei Li, PhD, 2016 Excellence Awardee and 2020 Odyssey Awardee
Associate Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

鈥淥ftentimes, what makes a cell have a disease is the amount of proteins that are dysregulated,鈥� says Dr. Gene-Wei Li. This is why he and his lab are working to glean information from genomic data to better understand protein production and cellular function.

The science of limb regeneration

Jessica Whited, PhD, 2013 Excellence Awardee and 2019 Odyssey Awardee
Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University

Over 2 million Americans have undergone limb loss. Nonetheless, prosthetic technology is still too limiting for Dr. Whited鈥檚 taste. Her lab鈥檚 study of salamanders could lead to the ultimate innovation鈥攆ull limb regeneration.

The Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research and the Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Awards continue to launch careers and fuel creativity and innovation in early-career researchers. We are proud to showcase this innovative capacity building project and look forward to following the exciting research careers of these inspiring grantees.

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Advocacy serves as a catalyst for building power within communities, challenging oppressive systems, and advancing equity. Significant amounts of federal, private, and philanthropic dollars are available to invest in the resources that address systemic disparities, support community-led initiatives, and enable community-led decision-making. Shifting power to those impacted leads to healthier and more equitable communities.

This post introduces the concept of power, the importance of building sustained power within communities, and the example of using federal funding to support community transformation efforts.

Figure 1: Expressions of Power. Source: Foundations of Community Engagement. Based on the Sustaining Community blog. www.engagementforequity.org.

Defining Power and Its Implications for Health and Racial Justice

Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, 鈥淧ower, properly understood, is the ability to achieve purpose.鈥� Power is an inherent element of society, influencing our lives in profound ways. Power influences our institutions, systems, and policies. The many expressions of power, as discussed in the blog and reflected in the , help us to imagine power鈥檚 potential to achieve just or harmful outcomes. Health and social inequities including access to quality healthcare, education, employment opportunities, and safe environments are the result of power being used to oppress groups of people. Oppression, by nature, benefits one group over another through systematic subjugation. Figure 1 calls this 鈥減ower over,鈥� and states it is built on control and fear. 听On the other hand, every individual holds the 鈥減ower to鈥� act in any number of ways and possesses the 鈥減ower within鈥� to imagine change and improve on the present. Effective advocacy that builds power is the expression of 鈥減ower with,鈥� the power that emerges when people come together and share resources and ideas toward a common cause. It is this 鈥減ower with鈥� — this collective action –that holds the greatest potential to address the root causes of health inequities and lead to systems transformation.

Advocacy鈥檚 Role in Building Power

This post is inspired by the Center for Evaluation Innovation and the California Endowment 鈥�” report. 听鈥淧olicy wins,鈥� a concept from this report, refers to traditionally celebrated indicators of success in public health and social justice such as securing funding, passing legislation, or changing local regulations. These wins alone often fail to address the systemic conditions underlying health and social disparities. They are also susceptible to attacks and reversals. However, 鈥減ower-wins,鈥� 鈥� as introduced in Advocacy that Builds Power 鈥� goes a step further. They involve sustained efforts to equitably meet the needs of impacted communities. Power wins are developed and informed by impacted communities, centered in strategic planning, grounded in addressing root causes and inequity. Power wins are characterized by continuous effort. While policy wins are certainly important, it is critical to examine and pursue advocacy strategies that are required for long-term change and systems transformation.

A significant avenue for facilitating community advocacy and power wins is through federal funding initiatives. An example of this is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA has the potential to serve as a powerful tool in addressing health and racial disparities by emphasizing and demonstrating the value and impact of engaging residents in decision making about community investments. ARPA POWER (People Organizing and Working for Equitable Recovery), an 王中王六合彩资料 initiative supported by the Barr Foundation, invests in power-building advocacy efforts that may lead to short-term 鈥渨ins鈥� and pave the way to sustained efforts that equitably meet the needs of impacted communities. As the Advocacy that Builds Power report explains, 鈥淸w]hen organizing is not at the center of the work, wins can be achieved, but the amount of power expansion that occurs might be limited.鈥� ARPA POWER raises awareness and provides direct support to grassroots efforts, enabling communities to shape public investments supported by ARPA dollars and drive meaningful change.

For instance, in areas such as the Berkshires and the City of Everett, 王中王六合彩资料 has allocated financial resources, dedicated staff time, and offered infrastructure support, all while sustaining long-term organizing and advocacy efforts.

• 

  Figure 2. Everett youth celebrate their $1M allocation

  In Everett, the city government recently voted to allocate $1M to a youth-led participatory budgeting process. 王中王六合彩资料 provided coaching to the youth organizers on organizing tactics and municipal leader engagement, support with communication tools, and best practice research related to participatory budgeting.

• In the Berkshires, 王中王六合彩资料 provided technical and logistical support to a coalition of community-based organizations. The collective effort created an infrastructure to support organizations who historically have not had the capacity to compete for significant grant funding, and now offers technical assistance and a funding 鈥渃learinghouse鈥� website for diverse sectors.

The Path Forward: Building Community Power

Transforming inequitable systems requires employing strategies that are designed to build community power. We envision a future where public health investments are guided by equitable community engagement. Equipped with the necessary knowledge, resources, and tools, everyone 鈥� from advocates to community-based organizations to municipal employees and elected officials 鈥� can challenge inequitable systems and foster lasting change.

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Background

The CHI framework as we know it rose to prominence in the mid-1990s by way of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Using Performance Monitoring to Improve Community Health (). Later, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) spurred the IRS to introduce new regulatory requirements for tax-exempt organizations. This included implementing regular community health needs assessments and implementation plans () and the introduction of accreditation for local and state public health departments ().

王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 staff has a long track record of supporting CHI processes in many hospitals and health departments. Health departments and care providers alike maximize the benefits of CHI work when they invest in the full cycle of the process. The benefits of this approach are further explored in Life After the CHIP: Measuring success through data, reporting, and accountability (webinar) and Beyond Compliance: Maximizing investment in community benefit implementation strategy (toolkit).

王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 Approach to CHI Work

The image above illustrates 王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 six step approach to CHI work. The steps are:

1. Assessment
2. Prioritization
3. Planning
4. Implementation
5. Monitoring
6. Evaluation

Each of these steps builds upon the previous step, creating a comprehensive and intentional process with health equity at the core. Community engagement is the essential element at each phase of the CHI process. Integrating community engagement and leadership ensures health equity is a focus and outcome of CHI work.

As our framework demonstrates, 王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 approach to CHI reflects a deep commitment to equitable community engagement. To quote a recent post on this topic:

For equitable community engagement to occur, communities closest to the pain or those most affected by inequities must be engaged to define the roots of the problem, illuminate the insidious ways that systems do not work for them, and build transformative solutions. This type of engagement requires power shifting, where decision-makers deeply listen to, collaborate with, and defer to communities.

From Community Engagement, Mental Models, and Systems Transformation

Sticking Points

CHI work often stagnates after planning. Four of the most common reasons include:

• Inadequate time and resources
• Insufficient community engagement
• Unclear systems of accountability
• Lack of integration with practices and systems

Does this describe your institution? Here are a few practical strategies to support completion of the CHI cycle:

Inadequate time and resources.

Community engagement is rarely (if ever) the only initiative underway at any moment. Like any other effort, community engagement work vies for limited resources. Even if financial resources are not a limiting factor, time certainly is. Strategic plans only last for three to five years, and organizational and community leaders have competing priorities; additionally, CHI work is often added to plates without adjusting other priorities. What do you do when your team or institution does not 鈥� or cannot 鈥� allocate sufficient time or resources to conduct deep, continuous community engagement?

• STRATEGY: Provide sufficient resources (including dedicated time and funding) for staff and community leaders conducting CHI work.

  Community members are essential to successful CHI work. Engagement starts at the beginning; it both informs and integrates with the methods and approaches outlined in the assessment, continues as appropriate through each phase, and influences planning for the next round of the cycle. Ensure that you factor in fair compensation for the time and the lived experience of community members and the staff who work with them. This means meeting residents where they鈥檙e at and when they鈥檙e available, providing translation services, and rebalancing responsibilities鈥攄uring AND beyond the assessment phase.

Insufficient community engagement.

Improving community health requires deep, authentic, sustained community engagement. By limiting your engagement to the people that you work with regularly in the assessment and planning processes or relying on secondary data, you are likely missing the voices of those most impacted. Offering limited options for participation or failing to follow up in future phases can damage relationships with the community. How can you deepen your community engagement work efficiently and effectively?

• STRATEGY: Create varied and recurring opportunities for power shifting and decision making.

  Community engagement that considers the different needs within the community can increase the likelihood of your CHI work creating impact. Identify opportunities for sustained engagement throughout the process, such as multiple community meetings at a variety of times (considering varying work and caregiving schedules of participants). Collaborate with existing coalitions and community groups to reach folks in places where they already congregate.

  Ultimately, the community should strongly influence the selection of priorities based on what is important and relevant to them, as well as the development, implementation, and improvement of the strategies put into place. Use the to explore how you might lift up community voice and incorporate public participation strategy.

Unclear systems of accountability.

Generating community impact requires collective effort within complex institutions and among diverse stakeholders. Typically, a single unit is not responsible for all parts of the CHI process. However, the work can end up falling on the shoulders of one individual or department, or tasks can be lost in the shuffle of unclear systems of accountability, drastically limiting your potential impact.

• STRATEGY: Coordinate communication among partners.
  

  When partner engagement is done well (authentically and sustained), your hospital or health department will not be solely responsible for all CHI work. Careful coordination of communication and outreach is needed when there are multiple stakeholders responsible for the plan. Defining roles at the project outset, as well as setting a schedule for regular monitoring and reporting are critical steps to ensuring accountability, continuous buy-in, and impact.

Lack of integration with practices and systems.

Hospitals and health departments often struggle to implement a plan that is not sufficiently integrated with their other work, does not have internal and external investment and support, and is not regularly monitored and reported.

• STRATEGY: Integrate with existing practices and systems.

  Thoroughly integrating CHI work with other critical work will ensure that the work gets done. Identify areas where CHI work intersects with existing practices and systems. Look into other initiatives happening in your community and identify places where you might collaborate on data collection, engagement, dissemination, and more. Considering existing avenues can streamline your work and build stronger partnerships with anchor institutions and community members.

Conclusion

The CHI process offers an opportunity to create healthy, equitable communities. Authentic, sustained community engagement throughout the CHI process is critical to success. Pour the time, dedication, care, and feeding into your process and the impact will be worth the effort.

Learn more about 王中王六合彩资料鈥檚 CHI work and team.

Want to borrow our lens? Connect with us.
Suggested citation: Community Health Improvement Lens (2021), illustration by 王中王六合彩资料. /services/chi.

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王中王六合彩资料 condemns these attacks on trans people.

Trans rights are human rights. Trans people deserve happiness, safety, autonomy, health, and life.

We are committed to supporting and protecting the health and safety of our trans colleagues and loved ones. Our goal is for 王中王六合彩资料 to be a safe and affirming workplace 鈥� whether in-person or virtual, for all individuals to be able to show up as their full selves. A place where all belong, are valued, and can gather in community and in all 王中王六合彩资料-held spaces. Externally, we aim to transform the places and spaces where our trans colleagues and loved ones are unsafe simply for being themselves. Now more than ever, we must show up for each other.

OUR JOURNEY & ACTIONS

Our work to dismantle the transphobia behind the systems and current legislative efforts begins internally. 王中王六合彩资料 is investing resources and time in a thoughtful approach to create a trans-inclusive environment. Our response is being led by trans staff and supported by organizational leadership. This strategy includes:

• Individual: Affording time during the workday and/or additional time off for staff members to engage in self-care, connect with others, reflect, and recover during crisis times.
• Interpersonal: Creating accessible spaces, such as affinity groups, for trans staff members to connect with others who share trans identities without having to out themselves to cis staff in the organization.
• Organizational: Committing organizational resources to dismantle institutional transphobia through policy changes and staff education and skills development.
• Structural: Committing organizational resources to support trans-led grassroots organizations and our staff鈥檚 capacity to advocate for trans social, political, and economic rights in their local communities.

As we uncover the ways in which transphobia operates at 王中王六合彩资料, we must be responsive to additional challenges, such as:

• How do we intentionally and regularly check-in with trans staff members who are disproportionately affected by these injustices without creating more burden and trauma?
• How do we explore and interrogate our individual and collective understanding of gender, especially our leaders鈥� roles in creating a trans-inclusive environment?
• How do we ensure that appropriate financial and human resources are allocated to sustain our anti-transphobia efforts during uncertain economic times?

CALL TO ACTION:

As a public health organization and an employer, we recognize the urgency of this work. We have a responsibility to support trans staff internally and to create safe and healthy communities for trans people. 听We call on other organizations to join us in these actions:

• Ensure your workplace is , both in-person and virtually.
• Examine your for places where transphobia may be reinforced and address key policies that support a trans-inclusive environment.
• Research that is in place or being proposed in your regions of the US.
• Provide financial or other resources to who are fighting to protect trans people from legislative and personal attacks.

As we continue our journey, we invite you to join us in supporting and protecting the health and safety of our trans community. This will look different across organizations and collaborations. The most essential components to this work require that it be (1) trans-led, (2) trans-centered, (3) organizationally supported, and (4) addressed with urgency and care.

Committed to action,

Steven Ridini

President & CEO

鈥淚 genuinely hope that… anti-trans folks someday experience the joy and liberation of being comfortable in your own skin enough to know that the liberation of others is no threat to you.鈥� – Charlotte Clymer, Activist

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