Advancing Equity & Change - Summer 2020
Racism is and has always been a public health crisis

Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones has spent many years teaching Americans about racism. As she describes, “Racism is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks (which is what we call "race"), that unfairly disadvantages some individuals and communities, unfairly advantages other individuals and communities, and saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources."

Racism, not race, is a risk factor for disease . COVID-19 has put health disparities front and center - exposing racism in all its forms in the US. Acknowledging that racism is at work in ways seen and unseen in our clinics, programs, and agencies is important. We must be and do better to make sure that all women receive quality, patient-centered, and comprehensive care. Below are resources to support learning about racism and how to take steps towards anti-racist practice.
The month of June marked 51 years since the Stonewall Riots set the LGBTQIA+ movement into motion. This includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual or Allied individuals with common experiences of discrimination. While many positive changes have happened over the years, there is more work ahead in securing equitable, quality care, especially for members of the LBGTQIA+ community who are black and brown.

Where to start? Review and under stand Gender Spectrum & Terms. The American Psychological Association has created a great resource to under stand  best practices surrounding gender identity, gender expression, key terms, and recommendations.  

Many LGBTQIA+ individuals have had negative health care experiences and have a difficult time finding a health care practice that is inclusive and accepting. Here are some ways to create an LGBTQIA+ welcoming practice:

  • Provide brochures and educational material about LGBTQIA+ health concerns
  • Post a nondiscrimination statement near the check-in desk
  • Display posters about LGBTQIA+ health care needs or resources
  • Make your intake forms inclusive: Check out the The Fenway Institute Sample New Patient Intake form for ideas
  • Ensure your staff receive training on culturally-affirming care for LGBTQIA+ individuals
  • Recruit and retain LGBTQIA+ health care staff—this includes having inclusive benefit packages that ensures same-sex partners are treated equitably
  • Ask your patients how you are doing and what you could do better
  • List your practice in The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) Provider Directory so LGBTQIA+ patients can find you when looking for quality care free of discrimination

There are many excellent resources for learning more about the needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Encourage your team to spend time learning. Consider using staff meetings as a place where people can discuss how they can apply what they learned.

Webinars:

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Partner Events
Join North Carolina's Mountain Area Health Education Center for live streaming events:

Doing Better Together to Equitably Advance Reproductive Health and Wellness Webinar Series with a Focus on Innovation, Quality Improvement, and Interprofessional Collaboration,
Jul 23–Sep 30, 2020 Click to register.

2020 Women’s Recovery Conference: Raising Resilience through Authenticity, Sep 2–Sep 4, 2020. Click to register.
"See" you at AMCHP 2020

We are excited to try our hand at a virtual booth. Members of our team will be available during the exhibitor hours if anyone wants to stop by! Come visit and let us know what you've been up to. We have plenty of resources to share! Click to view AMCHP schedule and virtual exhibit booth information.
Save the Dates!

The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center will be joining with our project to present a webinar on providing inclusive care on Tuesday, August 18 th  12-1 pm (EST).

Kay Johnson will lead a webinar on supporting policy and systems collaboration to advance women's health on September 11, 2020 at 3pm ET. Click to register.
A new Women's Health Practice Bulletin was released this Spring. The guide covers many wellness topics with the goal of improving the content and delivery of preventive visits. The guide offers a quick update for all women's health practitioners!
It's a New Book!

Authors from six countries contributed to a just released book on Preconception Health and Care: A Life Course Approach . Co-edited by Jill Shawe (UK), Eric Steegers (Netherlands) and Sarah Verbiest (US), this work provides the most current information on pre-pregnancy health considerations from epigenetics to chronic conditions, violence, infections, fertility, and environmental exposure. Now available from Springer Nature Switzerland in print and e-book!
If you have been feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or down, you are not alone.
Feeling off mentally or emotionally right now is more common than you think, and there are ways to help manage your mental health. Mental health and wellbeing are crucial components to your overall health. Here are some screening tools and resources to find support.
ABOUT HRSA IM CoIIN PRECONCEPTION PROJECT: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UF3MC31239-Providing Support For The Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (CoIIN) To Reduce Infant Mortality. The grant amount totals $1,494,993. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.