MPH Newsletter, Vol. 9
WE USE DATA TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES…
We hope that your ‘back-to-school’ season has been going smoothly, whatever this looks like for you and your family!
Heat waves swept much of the globe this summer, forest fires are on ongoing issue, and hurricanes are having devastating effects; climate change and its impacts are at the forefront of all of our minds. The question of how climate change affects human health is complex, and expands beyond extreme weather. In this edition of our newsletter, we will share some of the things our team has been discussing regarding this topic.
As always, our focus this month is to collect and transform data into actionable and usable results. Reach out to us anytime to learn more about community health needs assessments and CHIPs/implementation strategies! Set up a FREE discovery call with us here.
Stay healthy,
Stephanie, Allie, & Elissa
Coming Up…
As much as we enjoyed our summer break, we can’t wait to get back to learning alongside you all.
Whether you’re interested in joining us to share ideas about evidence-based strategies, resources, and programs to address community health needs, or you just want to connect and share lunch with other professionals, see you on September 20th from 12-1pm EST!
Did You Know?
“Climate change has caused widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people that are unequally distributed across systems, regions and sectors.”
As the above linked report highlights, climate change will impact different communities in different ways, to different extremes.
According to the report, the Earth is likely to cross a critical threshold for global warming within the next decade. Drastic shifts away from the use of fossil fuels must occur to prevent the planet from overheating to a dangerous level.
PUBLIC HEALTH NEED SPOTLIGHT
In response to the drastic effects of climate change on health, many communities are recognizing the importance of identifying environmental conditions as health indicators, and are measuring their impact on population health.
To learn more about this topic, we recommend reading the annually published Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. This publication tracks 43 indicators of population health in relation to climate change, and provides an update on the most up to date global evidence in these areas. After reading the most recently published 2022 report, you will have a clear idea of global health priorities in relation to climate change and a list of references for your assessment.
TIPS & TRICKS OF THE MONTH
Want to integrate reporting on indicators of health related to climate change into your community health assessment, but not sure where to start?
The Healthy People 2030 objectives from the US Department of Health and Social Services, include 6 objectives related to environmental conditions. The linked literature review covers prominent evidence about the effects of environmental conditions on the health of Americans, and provides a basis for the selection of the objectives. Many of these objectives (and other possible environmental-related health effects) could be relevant in your community!
public health organization spotlight
This month we want to put the spotlight on the US Climate and Health Alliance! This national volunteer network of health and public health organizations addresses the threats of climate change to health through advocacy, education, and collaboration. They also make recommendations to integrate health and equity into climate solutions and policies.
All are welcome to apply to join this network to receive information about ongoing work and to get involved in working groups, events, and more!
mph favorites to share with you…
This month, Stephanie recommends listening to the many talks and researching the story of Sophia Kianni. She is the founder of Climate Cardinals, the world’s largest youth-led climate non-profit, and is the youngest United Nations advisor in US history.
Live in the city/don't have a large outdoor space, but still want to enjoy a night sitting around a campfire? Check out Backcountry Bonfires. This handy little portable campfire allows you to enjoy your our mini campfire, while being extremely safe and preventing forest fires. Along with educating the community, the company donates a portion of profits from every unit sold to various forest fire prevention & management initiatives.
Wondering what you can do as an individual to reduce your personal use of fossil fuels and re duce your carbon footprint? Check out this article from the National Resources Defense Council!
WHAT OUR TEAM IS THINKING ABOUT THIS MONTH…
Reflect and share your thoughts with us on our social media platforms below
- we would love to hear from you!