Health Care

Workforce Updates

October 2023

Health Affairs event to focus on structural racism in health care

“Tackling Structural Racism In Health” is the theme of the October 2023 issue of Health Affairs. The issue provides new research and perspectives on the politics of racism and how it is ingrained in health research and society.

Health Affairs will host an virtual forum on Tuesday, October 3 at 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at which panels of distinguished authors and experts will present their work and engage in discussions on topics including:

• Politics and the Legacy of Racism
• Use Of Race And Ethnicity Data
• Documenting Racism, and
• Responses to Racism

Click here to register.

RMAPI Employment Prototyping Summit to focus on employment for Black men

On October 11 at 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at MCC's downtown campus, RMAPI will host an Employment Prototyping Summit, focused on innovative solutions in the space of employment for Black men in our community. Participants will engage in lively discussions, attend an informative workshop on Human Centered Design, and gain valuable insights into the solutions we build together.

Click here to learn more and to register.

Institute for Human Services hosting two DEI trainings in October

Getting comfortable with DEI: Where do I start? On October 10 at 2 - 3:30 p.m., this interactive session will introduce participants to the ARC of Racial Justice, a model developed by author, Jemar Tisby. ARC stands for Awareness, Relationships and Commitment. During the session, participants will discuss ways to increase awareness and build new relationships while also developing their own personal plan and commitment to dismantling racism. 

Developing strategic plans through a DEI framework On October 11 at 2 - 3:30 p.m., participants will be introduced to a comprehensive framework that identifies organizational focus areas and internal and external players, along with the stages of development necessary to work through to achieve transformed and equitable environments.

Virtual dementia education series for health care professionals is underway

The Alzheimer's Association Chapters of New York State and the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center are again offering their virtual dementia education series for health care providers. Click the links in the session names below to register:

• October 17 at noon - Palliative Care & Dementia
• November 8 at noon - TBI, Aging & Dementia
• December 7 at noon - Frontotemporal Dementia: Review of Differential Diagnoses & When to Refer

Eleversity symposium to highlight National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Observed each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees. This year’s national theme is "Advancing Access and Equity.” As we work to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, we also recognized there are also barriers for other individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic circumstances and gender. Eleversity will host the virtual Right Talent, Right Now Conference on October 31 at 9 - 11:30 a.m.

Click here to register.

EPI offers Seizure Recognition and First Aid Training Opportunities

No-cost training is available to nonprofits, businesses, community groups, and more on seizure recognition and first aid from Empowering People’s Independence (EPI).

Seizures and epilepsy are common – 1 in 10 will have a seizure and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy (reoccurring seizures), yet knowledge of seizure first aid in the general public is extremely low. EPI's trained educators can tailor presentations to address a variety of needs and audiences, with the goal to provide safe, practical advice that decrease the fear and stigma surrounding seizures. Presentations are available in-person, via Zoom, or on-demand.

Learn more at https://www.epiny.org/epilepsy/epilepsy-education/

UAlbany School of Public Health to offer full MPH scholarships

The University at Albany School of Public Health has received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to provide full scholarships to incoming Master of Public Health (MPH) students who will join the Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Training Program.

Students selected for this program will receive full scholarships for the MPH program plus a Health Disparities or Maternal and Child Health certificate, special training to enhance their ability to address health disparities and current and emerging public health crises, and dedicated career development resources to facilitate their entry into the public health workforce.

Click here to learn more about eligibility, requirements and selection. 

FLCC launches new Direct Support Professional Program

In partnership with New York State Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and SUNY, Finger Lakes Community College Workforce & Career Solutions is launching the new Direct Support Professional Program, which includes NYS’s newly required National Association of Direct Support Professional credential.

Grants are available to cover the cost for those who qualify. Not only does funding offset tuition costs, but there are also incentive funds for those who successfully complete and get nationally certified. 

Click here to learn more.

WNY R-AHEC offers self-study course on social determinants of health

In October, Western NY Rural-Area Health Education Center will be offering a new self-study course focused on social determinants of health. This course provides a broad overview of the non-clinical factors in rural communities that impact health outcomes. While there is an emphasis on rural communities, anyone can benefit from this course. There are continuing education credits available. Click here to pre-register.

The first 100 registrants can take the course for free.

Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc. (WNY R-AHEC) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Boards for Social Work (#SW-0685), Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health Practitioners (#MHC-0268) as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, physical therapists and assistants, occupational therapists, and assistants, and licensed mental health counselors.

NYATEP's Workforce Academy for Policy and Advocacy application now open

Applications are now open for the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals' Workforce Academy for Policy and Advocacy. Applications are due on October 13, 2023. The academy will guide you through the ins-and-outs of the federal and state political, legislative and budgetary processes and provide a candid take on New York politics. The 2023-2024 Workforce Academy for Policy & Advocacy will be a mix of hybrid and in-person sessions, providing 20-25 participants from across New York the opportunity to participate both virtually and face to face at NYATEP’s headquarters in Albany. 

Who should apply
Mid-high level workforce professionals (i.e. 3-5 years' experience; serving in a leadership position within your organization; and have the opportunity to influence the policy-engagement/ advocacy activities at your organization). All accepted applicants MUST have an active NYATEP membership to participate.

Webinar to focus on succession planning for rural health leadership

On October 17 at 3 - 4 p.m., the National Rural Health Association will host "Strategic succession planning for leadership in today's rural health landscape." With the landscape changing rapidly due to shifts like remote care adoption, new payment models, and changing reimbursement paradigms, the importance of succession planning cannot be overstated. 

Objectives:

• Understand the unique dynamics of leadership transitions in rural healthcare.
• Engage with succession planning techniques specifically designed for rural contexts.
• Outline clear, actionable steps to fortify leadership succession plans for long-term resilience.

Click here to register.

Community Wellness Summit registration open now open - click image below

SUNY Corning Community College offers HR lunch & learn series

The Workforce Education & Academic Pathways team at SUNY Corning is offering weekly lunch & learns on a variety of HR topics:

• October 5 - Hiring for Success: Effective Recruiting to Onboarding
• October 12 - Managing the Employee Experience
• October 19 - Managing Employee Conflicts
• October 26 - Leading Across Cultures & Generations
• November 2 - Effective Delegation Skills
• November 9 - Balancing Priorities: How to Successfully Manage Tasks, Deadlines, and Expectations.

Sessions are held on Thursdays at noon via Zoom. Each session costs $99, or $500 for the entire series. 

Click here to learn more.

Community engagement opportunity: City of Rochester's Pillars of Hope program

Pillars of Hope are local African-American and Latinx professionals who volunteer to visit Rochester City School District schools, share their experiences and provide positive support to the students. Pillars of Hope reconnect our communities' role models with our community's children by sharing a simple message of hope: “We’ve done it, and so can you.” 

A Pillars Team “adopts” an elementary or middle school and implements activities for the purpose of: 

• Instilling and increasing the love of learning. 
• Sharing their personal journeys in pursuit of their own education. 
• Sharing strategies to overcome challenges. 
• Imparting knowledge regarding their various career options. 
• Supporting the school’s teachers and administration. 

Click here for the Volunteer Application Form.

To learn more about Pillars of Hope, contact the Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Education Initiatives at (585) 428-7192 or by email at pillarsofhope@cityofrochester.gov.

Resources available for health departments through the Public Health Infrastructure Grant 

The Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) is a groundbreaking investment that supports critical public health infrastructure needs of health departments across the United States. Funding from this grant will help ensure that every U.S. community has the people, services, and systems needed to promote and protect health.

In Fall 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), and Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) historic grants to support state, local, and territorial health departments through the PHIG grant. Together, these national partners will collaborate with public health agencies in their efforts to modernize data systems, recruit and retain a skilled public health workforce, and address longstanding public health infrastructure needs.

This website, produced by the national partners, supports jurisdictions in their drive to modernize the nation’s public health systems. Visitors can explore technical assistance offerings, view resources to accelerate their work, and see stories of impact from the PHIG grant in communities.

Local Exploring Racism groups forming in October

Another round of Exploring Racism Groups is beginning in October 2023. Exploring Racism Groups provide an opportunity for organizational leaders to grow in their knowledge about racism, understand their own biases and perspectives, and become an antiracist by taking action to promote racial justice, and to break down the structures of racism in their own spheres of influence.

The program is offered in 12 90-minute facilitated sessions and cover a variety of issues including:

• Bias, prejudice and self-deception
• Black experiences of life
• White experiences of life
• Recognizing forms of racism
• Anti-racism engagement

There is no fee for participation. Click here to learn more and to register.

Recording available - Interprofessional Simulation: Communication is Key

The Health Workforce Technical Assistance Center's recent virtual meeting Interprofessional Simulation: Communication Is Key is now available for viewing on demand. During this interactive discussion, Dr. Penny Briese discussed the process of designing and running an interprofessional simulation-based learning experience (SBLE) aimed at facilitating communication between long-term care, emergency medical services (EMS), and emergency department (ED) healthcare providers.

Health Leadership Fellows application now open

Applications are now open for Cohort 11 of the Health Foundation of Western & Central New York's Health Leadership Fellows program. Applications are due on November 21, 2023. The goal of the Health Leadership Fellows Program is to develop and strengthen a diverse network of collaborative leaders with organizations and systems that serve young children and older adults in western and central New York. 

Virtual information sessions will be held on October 16, October 17, and November 7.

Who should apply
The program is designed for current leaders of health-related nonprofit organizations, safety-net organizations and public agencies that address the needs of older adults or young children impacted by poverty, ideally including a commitment to racial and/or socioeconomic equity. Applicants must be in leadership roles, with tenure of at least five years in a management role, and have a strong commitment to and involvement with their local community.

People who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or from other under-represented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Monroe County workforce program scan now available from RochesterWorks

This summer RochesterWorks conducted a local scan to canvass, assess, and analyze the existing capacity of the Monroe County workforce development system. Funded with the support of the ESL Foundation, this project provides a comprehensive inventory of the resources available in the local workforce system.

The primary intended audience is the continuum of stakeholders that make up our workforce system, including individual workforce preparation organizations, training providers, community-based agencies, and anyone else who provides some level of support to communities underrepresented in our labor force.

Click here to access the workforce inventory. Data can be sorted on a variety of variables, such as industry sector, target populations served, and program type.

Please share your health care workforce updates

If you have a training opportunity or workforce update you'd like us to share, you can send it to melissa.pennise@commongroundhealth.org, and we will add it to the next newsletter.

Please share this newsletter with others in your organization who might benefit and encourage them to sign up to receive it. 
https://www.commongroundhealth.org/newsletter-sign-up