Prevent.
Promote.
Protect.
Public Health at the Crossroads
2007 Community
Health Conference
September 26, 27, 28, 2007
Program
Keynote & General Session Speakers
Patrick M. Libbey – Thursday
Executive Director of NACCHO
Patrick M. Libbey is the executive director of the
National Association of County and City Health Officials
(NACCHO), the national voice of local public health
serving nearly 3,000 local public health agencies
nationwide. Under his leadership, NACCHO supports
efforts that protect and improve the health of all people
and communities by promoting national policy, developing
resources and programs, seeking health equity and supporting effective local public health practice and systems. Prior
to joining NACCHO in September 2002, Libbey — who
has 28 years of local public health experience — was the
director of the Thurston County Public Health and Social
Services Department in Olympia, Washington.
Prevent. Promote. Protect.
Public Health at the Crossroads
– keynote address
Local governmental health departments — unlike police,
fire and emergency response — lack a visual identity that
is universally known. Like other public services that
quietly ensure safety and respond in times of crisis, it is
time for public health to be visible and understood by all.
NACCHO — the National Association for County and
City Health Officials — has designed a new logo
and message for use by governmental public health
departments to help establish a community identity.
Establishing a community identity can help us figure out
where we are going by encouraging us to take stock of
where and who we are now. Patrick Libbey, executive
director of NACCHO, will discuss the new public
health brand and challenge us to think about some
of the big issues contributing to the sense that public
health is currently at a “crossroads”: issues including
the operational definition of a functional public
health department, voluntary national accreditation,
and the trend toward regionalization. This session will
offer a thought provoking and energizing message
for those involved in public health.
General Session – Friday
Deputy State Chaplin Major John Morris,
Minnesota Army National Guard
The Challenge of
Reintegration and the Role
of Communities in Supporting
Returning Veterans
that go awry? What is the role of leadership? How do
you choreograph the dance so that everyone’s role is
clear and the production is seamless? How does a
leader set the stage, create the right mood, and set the
parameters? Back by popular demand, Dr. Janet Porter
will describe the essential elements of effective
partnerships and provide some easy “1-2-3 steps”
to follow. Your next partnership can be like
“Dancing with the Stars”!
Closing Session – Friday
Thousands of men and women of the Minnesota
National Guard and Reserve are bravely serving our
country in the middle east. Many will return home with
new social, emotional and medical issues. With their
families, they will face the challenges of putting their
lives back together. In his presentation Chaplin Major
John Morris will discuss how reintegration services for
military members and their families are at the heart of
each community. This is not a state agency or military
“problem” to fix; it requires the contributions of all
communities. Chaplin Morris will outline the issues
affecting many of our returning veterans; describe
strategies and opportunities to provide support;
and will discuss the role of communities in supporting
returning veterans.
General Session – Friday
Janet Porter, PhD, MBA, Dana Farber Cancer
Center, Harvard University
Shall We Dance?
The Secrets to Leadership
for Effective Partnerships
To move the bar on any health outcomes, it takes more
than a village; it takes lots of partners dancing to the
same beat. So, what do we know about the fundamental
principles that distinguish good partnerships from those
Tou Ger Xiong, Diversity Consultant,
Comedian, Storyteller, Rapper, and Actor
Teaching Culture
through Laughter
“Teaching Culture through Laughter,” is a one-man
show that combines humor, folklore, movement, and
rap music into a high-energy performance that educates
about cultural diversity and breaks down stereotypes.
As a Hmong storyteller, comedian, and hip hop artist,
Tou Ger Xiong will take you on a journey of his life
from the jungles of Laos, to the refugee camps of
Thailand, and to the public housing projects of America.
This session will examine how Hmong and other recent
refugee communities view the Western health and social
service system. The presentation will help participants
to be more culturally aware, sensitive, and responsive
to the needs of refugee and immigrant communities.
Tou’s stories are touching and will leave you reflecting
about your own beliefs, regarding cultural diversity,
long after the show is over. Its message is, “As much
as we are different, we are alike.”
Conference Goals
As a participant you will:
Community
Health Awards
Pre-Conference
Activities
Community Health Awards
and Reception
Wednesday,
September 26, 2007
• Learn more about the new national
public health brand identity —
Prevent. Promote. Protect. — and
what you can do to help promote it;
Recognition of the accomplishments of local public health
staff and county commissioners has long been a highlight
of the annual conference. This year’s awards ceremony and
reception will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2007;
from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Examine the current state
of “public health at the crossroads”,
while envisioning where we should
go from here;
This year, the awards presented will be:
Pioneer Room
• Award for Outstanding Dedication to Local Public Health
• Commissioner’s Award for Distinguished Service
in Community Health Services
• Jack Korlath Partnership Award
• Jim Parker Leadership Award
• Community Health Services Certificates of Recognition
SCHSAC Executive
Committee meeting
• Discuss the roles and responsibilities
of public health leaders, and consider
what can be done to support and
nurture the next generation of leaders;
• Discover how to go “beyond the
yellow ribbon” by hearing about the
support activities planned for veterans
returning from Iraq, and what your
community can do to help; and
• Think creatively about the growing
diversity in our Minnesota communities, while learning how to engage
and partner with all of our neighbors
in ways that promote and support
community health.
12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Lobby
Conference registration
desk open
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
A celebration reception will immediately follow the
awards ceremony.
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Lakeshore 1 & 2
SCHSAC meeting
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Community Health Awards
and reception
6:15 p.m.
Lakeshore 3 & 4
Awards ceremony
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Dining Room
Reception (including hot and
cold appetizers; cash bar)
Prevent. Promote. Protect. Public Health at the Crossroads
Concurrent Sessions – Series A Descriptions
A-1
*
Location:
Lakeshore 2
Conference
Schedule
Public Health Emergency Response: Who’s Ready, Willing and Able?
Thursday,
September 27, 2007
Presented by Dr. Daniel Barnett and Natalie Semon, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public
Health, with Jane Norbin, St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health
This session focuses on a research project carried out in the Twin Cities metro area, with the Center for Public
Health Preparedness at Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, on the ability and
willingness of the public health workforce to respond in an emergency.
6:30 – 7:15 a.m.
Physical activity sessions
6:45 – 8:00 a.m
Dining Room
*
A-2
Location:
Lakeshore 1
Creating Effective Boards and Committees
Presented by Catherine Rasmussen, and Michael Liepold, University of Minnesota Extension
This session will model a “core training” to enhance leaders’ capacity to facilitate effective public meetings
to help create effective boards and committees.
Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Lobby
Conference registration desk open
8:00 – 8:15 a.m.
A-3
Location:
Lakeshore 4
Apples to Apples: The Environmental Health Knowledge Management
Project as a Data Sharing Model
The Centre
Presented by Jennifer Miller, Minnesota Department of Health, with Laura Scheinoha, Olmsted County Public Health
Come have fun learning about the Environmental Health Knowledge Management Project! This session will
discuss the project, and Minnesota inspection and enforcement data.
Marcia Ward – 2007 SCHSAC
Chair, Winona County
Commissioner
Conference welcome
8:15 – 9:45 a.m.
A-4
Location:
Paul Bunyan 1
Fond du Lac Public Health: Innovative Strategies for Holistic Health
Presented by Danielle Le Bon Gort, Nate Sandman and Holly Kostrzewski, Fond du Lac Public Health Nursing
The Fond du Lac Public Health Department boasts many unique and culturally-specific programs that target
American Indians and their distinct health needs. This session will highlight some maternal and child health
programs, a smoking cessation program, and an injury prevention program.
Responding to Asthma as a Public Health Problem: A Countywide Initiative
A-5
Location:
Paul Bunyan 3
Denotes County
Commissioner Track
*
Presented by Julie Kilpatrick, Washington County Public Health, with Erica Fishman,
Minnesota Department of Health
This session will focus on Washington County’s effort to improve asthma self-management, reduce
environmental triggers of asthma in the homes of children and raise community awareness about asthma.
The Centre
Keynote address – Patrick Libbey
Moderator – Maggie Diebel,
Community and Family Division
Director (MDH)
9:45 – 10:05 a.m.
The Centre Break
10:05 – 11:05 a.m.
Concurrent sessions
Series A
A
Concurrent Sessions – Series B Descriptions
B-1
Location:
Lakeshore 2
*
B-2
Location:
Lakeshore 4
B-3
Location:
Lakeshore 3
B-4
Location:
Lakeshore 1
B-5
Location:
Paul Bunyan 1
Kids Fight Back Against Obesity
Presented by Mari Jo Lohmeier, St. Joseph’s Area Health Service, with Park Rapids Middle School
students: Molly Preiner, Leah Mienert, Jessica Dennis, Zach Lohmeier, Paula Guajardo, Megan Alden,
Carson Christianson, and Michelle Ford
With the support of an obesity prevention grant from MDH, a Park Rapids hospital hired students to design
and implement a campaign to get kids in their school more active. Park Rapids eighth graders will tell their
story and lead session attendees through the steps of designing and implementing a physical activity campaign
for middle schoolers.
Response to a Hepatitis A Outbreak: Lessons for the Community and Public Health
Presented by John Schuh, Susan Monsen, and Julie Isenberg of Lincoln, Lyon, Murray and Pipestone
Public Health Services and Bob Moline, Murray County Commissioner
This session will highlight the coordinated and comprehensive response to the Slayton, MN Hepatitis A
outbreak. Successful response to this incident was dependant upon communication, planning and drill
exercises between state, regional and local partners.
Informing Public Health Policy through Community-based Story-Telling
Presented by Emily Wang, Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, with Elaine Salinas,
Migizi Communications, Clarence Jones, Southside Community Health Services, Vee Phan Nelson, CAPI,
and Farhiya Farah, Somali Community Organizer
In this session the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support and its community partners will
share their new intergenerational story-telling effort and discuss how story-telling is being used to inform
health policy and program development work.
Future Directions in Children’s Mental Health: Opportunities for Local Public Health
Presented by Dr. Glenace Edwall, Minnesota Department of Human Services, with Mary Jungwirth,
Countryside Public Health, and Jean Larson, Minnesota Department of Health
This session will identify new developments in the delivery of mental health services for young children
and their families, and will identify opportunities for local public health to provide leadership for making
changes in the community.
Conference
Schedule
Thursday,
September 27, 2007
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Concurrent sessions
Series B
B
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Dining Room
Lunch and networking
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Concurrent sessions
Series C
1:15 – 4:30 p.m.
The Centre
C
3hr
special
Applying Quality
session
Improvement Tools to
Achieve Public Health Results
NOTE: Pre-registration required; your
name badge will indicate participation.
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Poolside
What’s in Your Crystal Ball? Perspectives on Leadership from Minnesota’s
Emerging Local Public Health Leaders
Ice cream social and resource
table viewing
Presented by Wendy Kvale, Minnesota Department of Health, with Sheri Altepeter, Polk County Public Health,
and Stephanie Graves, City of Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support
This panel presentation will discuss the issues faced by emerging leaders in Minnesota’s local public health
departments. Panelists will discuss how they use collaborative leadership skills in everyday public health work,
and will outline some challenges facing public health leaders in the next few years.
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Concurrent sessions
Series D
D
From the Ground Up: Community Gardens are More than Gardening!
Conference
Schedule
Presented by Kirsten Saylor, Green Institute, with Peto Chang, St. Paul Eastside Community Garden,
and Ruth Murphy, Community Design Center
Community gardens are one of the few activities where people of all backgrounds, abilities, languages, and
ages can work side-by-side. Participants can expect to: gain knowledge of what a community garden is and
how they operate; learn the physical and mental health benefits of community gardens to gardeners and the
community; and find basic guidelines and resources for starting or supporting a community garden.
Thursday,
September 27, 2007
Concurrent Sessions – Series C Descriptions
C-1
Location:
Lakeshore 2
*
C-2
Location:
Paul Bunyan 1
C-3
Location:
Lakeshore 1
Funding Public Health: It’s a Hard Sell
Presented by Carol Berg, Minnesota Council of Health Plans and UCare Minnesota, Mary Manning,
Minnesota Department of Health, and Julie Myrhe, Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis Community Health Board
Adequately funding a community’s public health activities is critical for usual as well as crisis situations.
Panelists will discuss effective messages for this challenging and complex issue.
Working from Within: Health Promoters in the Field
Presented by Gloria Contreras, Federico Rivera, and Shannon Pergament, Promotores de Salud –
Centro Campesino, Inc.
Staff from Promotores de Salud (“the Health Promoter Program”) will present strategies for conducting effective community outreach for health education and disease prevention in rural/migrant Latino communities.
This session will provide an overview of the Health Promoter model, a demonstration of popular education
techniques for health promotion, and guidelines for conducting effective outreach with rural Latinos.
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Poolside
Ice cream social & resource
table viewing
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Concurrent sessions
Series D
D
6:30 p.m.
Dining Room
Informal dinner / networking
Free time activities
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Varies – see folder insert
C-4
Location:
Lakeshore 4
Steps to a Healthier Minnesota: A Sustainable Chronic Disease Prevention Model?
Physical activity sessions
Presented by Judy Voss, Olmsted County Public Health, Patty Bowler, Minneapolis Department of Health
and Family Support, Ann Stehn, Kandiyohi County Public Health, and Rob Fulton, Saint Paul-Ramsey
County Public Health
Panelists from the four Minnesota Steps grant communities — Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and
Willmar — will discuss the Steps to a Healthier Minnesota chronic disease prevention initiative. This
session will also include a discussion on how the Steps model can be adapted to other communities.
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Marina
Pontoon boat rides
• Limited space – pre-register
at conference registration desk
6:05 p.m.
Bear Trap Lounge
C-5
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse
Presented by Jay Jaffee, Minnesota Department of Health
Location:
Lakeshore 3
The misuse and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs is growing rapidly. This session will examine
how this change has come about, as well as which drugs are being abused and why; information about these
drugs and the harm they can cause; and suggestions and resources for preventing their abuse.
Minnesota Twins Night
8:00 p.m.
Paul Bunyan 1
E.C.H.O. Movie Night:
Thank You For Smoking
Concurrent Sessions – Series D Descriptions
D-1
Location:
Lakeshore 2
Cook for Your Life
Presented by Ross Safford, University of Minnesota Extension Nutrition Education Program
Session attendees will learn how the Extension Nutrition Program can work with public health to
provide hands-on education to audiences with limited resources, and will gain insight on how increased
skill and confidence with basic cooking and shopping helps boost self-esteem and overall health.
The Dawning of a New Era: Freedom to Breathe in Minnesota
*
D-2
Location:
Lakeshore 4
Presented by Jane Korn, Minnesota Department of Health, with Lisa Hicks-Ewald, Meeker County
Public Health and Rich Peter, Olmsted County Public Health
With Minnesota’s comprehensive smoke-free law going into effect on October 1, 2007, this session will
provide a timely overview of how the new law will likely affect local public health agencies and their
work with communities. Practical advice will be offered from Meeker and Olmsted county public health
departments based on their experiences in implementing local smoke-free ordinances.
Eliminating Health Disparities Among Latino Youth:
Lessons Learned in a Five-Year Journey
D-3
Location:
Lakeshore 3
Presented by Dr. Maria Svetaz, and Bibiana Garzon, Hennepin Family Care East Lake Clinic
This session will present an overview of the model of Aqui Para Ti (Spanish for “here for you”),
a comprehensive health program for Latino youth at the Hennepin Family Care East Lake Clinic.
The program provides medical and mental health services, health education and nutrition counseling
to Latino youth ages 11 to 24. People attending this session will hear about the challenges faced by
underserved Latino youth and the providers serving them.
Promoting Infant Mental Health in Childcare:
An Untapped Resource for High Risk Families
D-4
Location:
Lakeshore 1
Presented by Michele Fallon, Center for Early Education and Development, University of Minnesota
Childcare serving low-income families has the potential to promote optimal developmental outcomes
for children and healthier parent-child relationships by integrating infant mental health strategies into
everyday practices. This session will provide an overview of basic infant mental health principles and
strategies, and will describe a model for their implementation in childcare, based on five years of practice
with the Baby’s Space Partnership through the Center for Early Education and Development at the
University of MN.
Friday,
September 28, 2007
6:30 – 7:15 a.m.
Physical activity sessions
7:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Dining Room – Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lobby – Registration desk open
The Centre
8:30 – 8:40 a.m. – Opening remarks
Gary Sorenson, Chair, SCHSAC
Conference Planning Work Group,
Cottonwood County Commissioner
8:40 – 9:10 a.m. – General session
Deputy State Chaplin Major John
Morris MN Army National Guard
Introduced by – Carol Woolverton,
Assistant Commissioner (MDH)
9:20 – 10:05 a.m.
General session – Janet Porter
Moderator – Carol Woolverton,
Assistant Commissioner (MDH)
10:05 – 10:40 a.m.
Break (time for lodging check out)
10:40 – 10:45 a.m.
Participation Prizes
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Closing session – Tou Ger Xiong
Introduced by – Maggie Diebel,
Community and Family Health
Division Director (MDH)
12:00 p.m.
Conference adjourned
Dining Room
Lunch (with“to go” option)
12:00 p.m.
The Centre & Lobby
CEU certificate distribution
Prevent.
Promote.
Protect.
Public Health at the Crossroads
2007 Conference Planning Work Group
Gary Sorenson, Chair .............
David Benson ........................
Deb Burns .............................
Ben Brunsvold .......................
Kim Edelman .........................
Erica Fishman........................
Kathy Grantham.....................
Larry Gust .............................
Cynthia Hickman....................
Lowell Johnson......................
Janice Jones .........................
Helene Kahlstorf ....................
Ann Kinney............................
Idelle Longman ......................
Joyce Mueller ........................
Julie Myhre ...........................
Marcia Robert........................
Sharon T. Smith .....................
Kristen Tharaldson .................
Bev Wangerin ........................
Marcia Ward..........................
Diane Winter..........................
Cottonwood County Commissioner (Storden)
Nobles County Commissioner (Bigelow)
Community and Family Health, MDH (St. Paul)
Clay County Commissioner (Moorhead)
Health Policy, MDH (St. Paul)
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease, MDH (St. Paul)
Information Systems and Technology, MDH (St. Paul)
Environmental Health, MDH (St. Paul)
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control, MHD (St. Paul)
Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment (Stillwater)
Compliance Monitoring, MDH (St. Paul)
North Country Community Health Board (Lake George)
Health Policy, MDH (St. Paul)
Edina Community Health Board (Edina)
Crow Wing County Public Health (Brainerd)
Carlton/Cook/Lake/St. Louis Counties Public Health (Barnum)
Office of Emergency Preparedness, MDH (St. Paul)
Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, MDH (St. Paul)
Health Policy, MDH (St. Paul)
McLeod County Commissioner (Hutchinson)
Winona County Commissioner (Dakota)
Meeker County Public Health (Litchfield)
Staff to Work Group
Peggy Malinowski .................. Community and Family Health, MDH (St. Paul)
Allison Thrash........................ Community and Family Health, MDH (St. Paul)
Mark
Your Calendars!
2008 Community
Health Conference
September 10, 11, 12, 2008
Breezy Point Resort and
Conference Center
Breezy Point, Minnesota