2012 Community
Health Conference
Strengthening Public Health:
Linking Past Successes to
Future Challenges
October 3-5, 2012
Cragun’s Conference Center
Brainerd, Minnesota
Sponsored by the State Community Health Services Advisory Committee (SCHSAC)
and the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Performance Improvement
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Welcome to the Conference!
Strengthening Public Health:
Linking Past Successes to Future Challenges
Minnesota has long been recognized as having a great public health system and is often the envy of other states, but we
can’t rest on our laurels. In a changing environment, how do we retain our core public health functions, strive to achieve
health equity, address current and future challenges, and continue to improve? The 2012 Community Health Conference
will link past successes with revolutionary ideas, creative innovations, and new partnerships, in order to improve the
health of all Minnesotans now and into the future.
Learning Objectives
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Make connections between national trends and actions to take to your own community to improve public health
Network with public health colleagues and establish new relationships
Interact with leadership from the Minnesota Department of Health
Bring home creative innovations and useful tools to implement
Increase your capacity to more effectively participate in public health partnerships
Learn more about barriers to health equity for all Minnesotans
Celebrate public health accomplishments and be inspired to meet the challenges of the future
Thank you for attending the 2012 Community Health Conference!
2012 SCHSAC Conference Planning Workgroup
2012 Conference Coordinators
Bill Groskreutz, Chair, Faribault-Martin CHB
Kenneth Bence, Minnesota Council of Health Plans
David Benson, Nobles CHB
Cynthia Bennett, Aitkin-Itasca-Koochiching CHB
Tannie Eshenaur, MDH Environmental Health Division
Pat Faulkner, MDH Community and Family Health Division
Gail Gentling, MDH Office of Performance Improvement
José Gonzàlez, MDH Office of Minority and Multicultural Health
Sue Hedlund, Washington CHB
Kim Jeppesen, MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention,
and Control Division
Helene Kahlstorf North Country CHB
Ann Kinney, MDH Division of Health Policy
Larry Kittelson, Horizon CHB
DeeAnn Pettyjohn, Dodge-Steele CHB
Deb Radi, MDH Office of Emergency Preparedness
Rosemary Schultz, Cottonwood-Jackson CHB
Stanton Shanedling, MDH Health Promotion and Chronic
Disease Division
Christine Twait, MDH Office of Statewide Health
Improvement Initiatives
Bev Wangerin, Meeker-McLeod-Sibley CHB
MDH Office of Performance Improvement
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Becky Buhler
Peggy Malinowski
Nicole Parsons
For More Information
MDH Office of Performance Improvement
Phone: 651-201-3880
Email: [email protected]
Online: www.health.state.mn.us
Save the Date
2013 Community Health Conference
September 25-27, 2013
Cragun’s Conference Center, Bemidji, MN
Agenda
Wednesday, October 3 (Pre-Conference)
9:00 a.m.
Conference Registration (through 6:00 p.m.)
Main Lobby
12:00 p.m.
Meeting: SCHSAC Executive Committee (through 12:45 p.m.)
1:00 p.m.
Meeting: SCHSAC (through 4:30 p.m.)
Lower Level Lakeshore Rooms
6:15 p.m.
Community Health Awards Ceremony
Lower Level Lakeshore Rooms
7:15 p.m.
Community Health Awards Reception (through 8:45 p.m.)
Pioneer Room
Poolside
Thursday, October 4
6:30 a.m.
A.M. Walking (optional)
See flyer for more information
6:45 a.m.
Breakfast (through 8:15 a.m.)
7:30 a.m.
Conference Registration (through 4:30 p.m.)
8:00 a.m.
Conference Opening and Welcome
Karen Nordstrom, 2012 SCHSAC Chair; City of Bloomington
The Centre
8:15 a.m.
General Session:
Strengthening Public Health: Linking Past Successes to Future Challenges
The Centre
9:45 a.m.
Break
10:10 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Series A
See p. 5 for more information
11:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Series B
See pp. 6-7 for more information
12:40 p.m.
Lunch
1:40 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Series C
2:50 p.m.
Break, Networking, Resource Display Viewing
The Centre
3:15 p.m.
General Session: Synergy Across Sectors
The Centre
5:00 p.m.
Free Time Activities (optional)
6:00 p.m.
Dinner Buffet (through 7:30 p.m.)
7:15 p.m.
After-Dinner Conversations with the MDH Executive Team (optional)
8:00 p.m.
Movie Night (optional)
8:00 p.m.
Bonfire (optional)
Dining Room
Main Lobby
Dining Room
See pp. 7-8 for more information
See flyer for more information
Dining Room
Dining Room: South Section
Lower Level Lakeshore 4
North Beach Area
Friday, October 5
6:30 a.m.
A.M. Walking (optional)
See flyer for more information
6:45 a.m.
Breakfast (through 8:00 a.m.)
7:30 a.m.
Conference Registration (through noon)
* After 8:30 a.m., registration will be located in The Centre
8:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Series D
9:10 a.m.
Break, Networking, Resource Display Viewing
The Centre
9:45 a.m.
Remarks
William Groskreutz, 2012 Conference Planning Chair; Faribault County
with video presentation by MDH Commissioner Ed Ehlinger
The Centre
10:10 a.m.
General Session: Share Your Passion for Public Health
with Your Community
The Centre
11:10 a.m.
General Session: Rethink the Impossible
The Centre
12:15 p.m.
Conference Adjourns
12:15 p.m.
Lunch, with “To-Go” Option
Dining Room
Main Lobby
See p. 8 for more information
The Centre
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General Sessions
Strengthening Public Health: Linking Past Successes to Future Challenges
Thursday, 8:15 a.m., The Centre. What are the current challenges and opportunities facing public
health in Minnesota? How can we benefit from our past experience and move forward? Commissioner
Ehlinger will provide context, then invite six past MDH commissioners to the share the stage. This
engaging panel will converse about the big issues state and local public health addressed together over
the years and impart the lessons learned during their tenure at MDH to assist us in tackling the issues of
today and into the future. Their unique perspectives on recent trends in Minnesota’s public health environment will encourage the audience to think more broadly about the topics presented throughout the
rest of the conference. Edward Ehlinger is the current Commissioner of Health; he will be joined by Sanne Magnan of ICSI
(Commissioner from 2007-2010), Dianne Mandernach of SISU Medical Solutions (2003-2007), Jan Malcolm of the Courage
Center (1999-2003), Anne Barry of the Minnesota Dept. of Human Services (1995-1998), Mary Jo O’Brien, retired (19931995), and Sister Mary Madonna Ashton, retired (1983-1990).
Synergy Across Sectors
Thursday, 3:15 p.m., The Centre. Recent Institute of Medicine reports highlight a big change in the
perception of public health and its role at the national level. Glen Mays and Mary Wellik will discuss
this transition focused on increased coordination across the sectors of public health and primary care.
Join the conversation about how measurement, laws, and funding mechanisms can come together to
strengthen shared accountability and support integration. Glen will share practical examples of how
others are getting ready for the opportunities ahead. Mary will use her first-hand knowledge of the
state’s public health system to make connections between past successes and how Minnesota elected
official and public health leaders can prepare for future challenges. Glen P. Mays, MPH, PhD is the
F. Douglas Scutchfield Endowed Professor of Health Services and Systems Research at the University
of Kentucky College of Public Health. Mary Wellik, BSN, MPH is a public health consultant and the
Retired Director of Public Health in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Share Your Passion for Public Health with Your Community
Friday, 10:15 a.m., The Centre. Reconnect with why you first got involved in public health and learn
new ways to spread that excitement. Andy Berndt will explain the basics of how to communicate public
health messages using emotions alongside facts to engage your audience, and how to reach out using social media. Andy will share creative, low-cost examples of public health messages, and discuss how the
process of creating and spreading messaging can help assess your community’s health and build new partnerships. Andy Berndt is Director of Social Marketing and Health Promotion at Community Blueprint.
Rethink the Impossible
Friday, 11:15 a.m., The Centre. “Many people fail because they quit too soon,” reads the fortune
cookie that Billy McLaughlin taped to his dashboard in 2001—it remains there to this day. What do
you do when the world tells you your goal is impossible to reach? If you are Minnesota musician Billy
McLaughlin, you do it anyway. Billy’s personal story about overcoming adversity will inspire you and
your organization to continue the work that you love, despite challenges. Billy McLaughlin is a guitarist and composer, and is an ambassador for the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.
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Concurrent Sessions
Series A: Thursday, 10:10 a.m.
LAKESHORE 1
Organizing Systems and Communities to Achieve Sustainable, Tangible Change. Presented by Donald Gault,
Darleen Simmons (St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health).
Developed ten years ago, the Wakanheza Project is now recognized and utilized locally, statewide and nationally as a
best practice strategy to prevent child abuse by working with
community systems and organizations to foster more welcoming public environments for children and families. See
how the project's core organizing strategies are being applied
to other public health areas of interest, including prevention
of chronic disease and teen pregnancy in Ramsey County.
LAKESHORE 2
PHABulous Response. Presented by Brenda Pohlman
(Fillmore County Public Health). Fillmore County Public
Health will share how a rural health department without formal environmental health services can respond to environmental threats more quickly and efficiently and meet PHAB
Standard 2.1 at the same time. Attend this session to gain
practice using continuous improvement tools and learn the
Fillmore County model for responding to health problems
and environmental health hazards.
LAKESHORE 3
Improving Community Health Literacy. Presented by
Wendy Potratz (North Country Community Health Board).
Looking for opportunities to collaborate to improve community health literacy? This is the place to be. This session will
present ideas that stimulate interactive group discussion focused on developing health literacy improvement campaigns
specific to your community. Participants will learn strategies
for increasing health communication awareness among
health care providers.
LAKESHORE 4
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities through
Planning and Partnerships. Presented by Dan Newman
(Sustainable Resources Center), Janne Flisrand (Minnesota
Green Communities), Jason Kloss (Southwest Health and
Human Services). Learn about the collaboration of non-profit
organizations called the Alliance for Healthy Homes and
Communities and its connection to the statewide strategic
plan to promote healthier homes and communities. As part of
the collaborative public health effort to initiate a healthy
homes approach, Southwest Health and Human Services
agency will review their experience with a pilot study supported by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health.
PAUL BUNYAN 1
Public Health Systems Research: It’s Not Just for PhD’s
Anymore! Presented by Kim Gearin (Minnesota Dept. of
Health), Renee Frauendienst (Stearns County Public Health),
Janelle Schroeder (Mille Lacs County). Does leadership at a
local public health department matter? Does funding matter?
Does organizational structure matter? These questions and
more are being studied by Minnesota's practice-based research network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Participate in real-time polling to weigh in on future
directions for research and the best strategies for sharing findings with local public health practitioners and policy makers.
PAUL BUNYAN 2
Heath Disparities: Local Data and Local Action! Presented by Jim Skoog, Jane Gilley, Jim Gangle (St. Louis County
Public Health and Human Services). St. Louis County Public
Health and Human Services has taken a unique approach to
address health disparities. The data mapping project shows
local areas of need and indicates the best options for shifting
resources to target those needs. Explore how your agency
could undertake a similar process to better serve your community.
PAUL BUNYAN 3
Pulling Together to Push Common Strategies to Improve
the Health of All. Presented by Dorothy Bliss, Jane Korn,
Jeannette Raymond (Minnesota Dept. of Health). New national standards call for alignment between local, tribal, state
and national health improvement efforts to leverage their activities into measurable health improvement. Explore opportunities for alignment of your community health improvement
activities with the 2012 statewide health assessment, the
Healthy Minnesota 2020 State Health Plan and the Statewide
Chronic Disease Plan. You'll acquire skills to share these
statewide strategies and activities with your community partners.
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Concurrent Sessions
Series B: Thursday, 11:30 a.m.
LAKESHORE 4
LAKESHORE 1
It’s No Longer WIC Says This, My Hospital Says That:
Building Consistent Messages. Presented by Mary B. Johnson (Minnesota Dept. of Health), Jane Samuelson (Freeborn
County Public Health-WIC), Shari Nelson (Crow Wing
County WIC). What messages are you sharing? Participate in
live polling to collect the audience's reactions to breastfeeding recommendations. Two teams of WIC and hospital
staff will share their experiences building partnerships using
consistent and evidence-based messages to improve education and support for breast-feeding mothers, and show the
benefits of this approach reaching beyond the initial target
group.
LAKESHORE 2
Addressing the Mortality Gap for Persons with Serious
Mental Illness. Presented by Cary Zahrbock, Kristy Wilfahrt
(Medica), Emily Schug (Dakota County Social Services).
Minnesotans living with serious mental illness die over 20
years younger than the general population. Partners of the
Dakota County/Medica Preferred Integrated Network are
addressing this health disparity through their model of integrated medical, mental health and community care provided
through a single point of contact—the Wellness Navigator.
Learning from the first two years of service will be shared,
including challenges, successes, solutions and outcomes.
LAKESHORE 3
Identifying Priorities through Data: Your First Step in
Planning Data-Driven Public Health Programs. Presented
by David Stewart, Jeannette Sample (Minnesota Dept. of
Health), Peggy Sammons (Stearns County Human Services
Dept.). Improve your data analysis skills! Without a clear
definition of a public health problem, program planners may
potentially select and implement interventions that do not
result in desired program outcomes. Learn to identify themes
from available data about a public health issue and develop
realistic SMART program goals.
Partnerships to Promote Refugee Health. Presented by
Sara Chute (Minnesota Dept. of Health), Osman Harare
(East African Health Project), Yisehak Tura (Debre Selam
Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Parish Nursing Program). Since 1979, Minnesota has welcomed
over 95,000 refugees to the state. To increase community
health education among our diverse Minnesotans, the MDH
Refugee Health Program has partnered with six refugee communities to develop and deliver a variety of health messages
through channels such as local ethnic press, radio, TV shows,
community forums, faith-based settings, and ESL classrooms. Panelists will share their formally-evaluated model so
agencies like yours can duplicate their successful culturally
appropriate health promotion activities.
PAUL BUNYAN 1
Only a River Divides Us: Partners for Community Benefit. Presented by Wendy Kramer (St. Croix County Public
Health), Karen Hansen (Hudson Hospitals and Clinics/
Westfield Hospital), Marna Canterbury (Lakeview Foundation). Hospitals and public health agencies in Washington
and St. Croix Counties are working together to assess community needs and take community action to make the St.
Croix River Valley a healthier place to live. This work not
only meets both the new IRS rules for hospitals' community
benefit and public health accreditation standards, but it also
engages whole communities in improving health. Presenters
will provide information on their initiatives and collaboration
tools so you can replicate this model in your community.
PAUL BUNYAN 2
Children and their Indoor Environment. Presented by Jim
Yannarelly (St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health). Understand the strategies that helped St. Paul-Ramsey County
achieve an 86 percent drop in elevated blood lead rates in
children in the past 15 years. The presenter will share how
the department is incorporating those successful approaches,
including leveraging HUD, CDC and MDH grants, to meet
the challenge of reducing the environmental triggers of asthma in homes occupied by children.
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Concurrent Sessions
PAUL BUNYAN 3
LAKESHORE 3
Performance Management: Real Life Application of the
Concepts. Presented by Dawn Beck (Olmsted County Public
Health), David Brummel (Hennepin County Human Services
and Public Health), Alex Eichman (Washington County Public Health and Environment). Does the thought of another
framework make your head hurt? Do you really just want
some real life examples? In this session, three local health
departments will share their experience and lessons learned
as they embark on a journey to implement formal, fully functioning, integrated performance management systems as outlined in the national standards.
Series C: Thursday, 1:40 p.m.
Electronic Data Exchange: It’s Hard, but It’s Worth It!
Presented by Dan Jensen (Olmsted County Public Health),
Cheryl Stevens (Community Health Information Collaborative), Wendy Nelson (Minnesota Dept. of Health). Learn from
agencies who are leading the way in meeting federal
“Meaningful Use” and state interoperability mandates. Hear
about the Beacon Project's pilot that includes health information exchange between providers and local public health
agencies and how local public health data systems and their
vendors will be impacted. Examine the roles and work of the
SCHSAC Building Health Information Exchange Capacity
Workgroup and the Minnesota Department of Health's Health
Informatics Program.
LAKESHORE 1
LAKESHORE 4
Reaching Limited English Proficient Populations During
Health Emergencies. Presented by José Gonzàlez
(Minnesota Dept. of Health), Mary Pat Jewison (Olmsted
County Public Health). The Office of Minority and Multicultural Health's study of the effectiveness of communications
strategies during the H1N1 pandemic has broader implications
about health education, community-partner capacity, and
immigrant and refugee experiences of emergency health information. Gain a better understanding of African, Asian and
Latino populations in Greater Minnesota and learn tools to
tailor the recommended strategies for success in your own
region.
Oral Health Zones: From Concept to Reality. Presented by
Julie Myhre (Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis Community Health
Board), Amos Deinard (University of Minnesota), Merry Jo
Thoele (Minnesota Dept. of Health). Explore an innovative
way to address dental disease and promote oral health that
you can implement in your community. Over 20 percent of
Minnesota children have pediatric dental disease. Amos
Deinard will discuss how dental disease impacts a child's
overall health status. The panel will provide an overview of
the work being done at the state and local levels to promote
children's oral health, focusing on the Oral Health Zones in
northeast Minnesota.
LAKESHORE 2
PAUL BUNYAN 1
Community Coalitions as an Opportunity for Quality
Improvement. Presented by Maggie Domski (Washington
County WIC), Jeanette Schwartz (Woodwinds Health Campus), Kim Ball (Washington County Public Health and Environment). The Washington County Breastfeeding Coalition,
created in 2010 with SHIP funds, learned that applying quality improvement tools early in a community coalition's development builds a broader foundation for support and success.
Hear three unique perspectives from coalition members as
they discuss public health roles, impacts to a health care system, and the use of QI tools with community partners. Preview the coalition's breast-feeding toolkit for medical clinics.
Tools for Staff Assessment and Workforce Planning: Core
Competencies for Public Health Professionals. Presented
by Renee Frauendienst (Stearns County Human Services),
Allison Thrash, Jeannette Raymond (Minnesota Dept. of
Health). Local public health leaders are ever mindful of the
staff development needs of their departments. The Council on
Linkages between Academic and Public Health Practice (with
support from the Public Health Foundation) has developed a
set of Core Competencies for public health professionals.
Please join us to hear more about this competency framework
and see two recently developed tools put into practice by the
Stearns County Public Health Division of Human Services.
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Concurrent Sessions
PAUL BUNYAN 2
LAKESHORE 3
Razzle, Dazzle, and Data: What’s the Third-Leading
Cause of Death, and Why Should I Care? Presented by
Jon “Razzle” Roesler, Mark “Dazzle” Kinde, Anna “Data”
Gaichas (Minnesota Dept. of Health). For decades, unintentional injury was the fifth-leading cause of death; in recent
years it has risen to third. Hear this musical trio of trumpet,
conga, and keyboard present on falls, poisonings, and suicides as causes of injury, mortality and morbidity and share
evidenced based strategies for prevention. This session will
not only entertain, but also inform the participant as to the
differential burden borne by counties, and how county officials and staff can use MIDAS, the Minnesota Data Access
System, to learn more.
Overcoming Liability Concerns in Healthy Eating and
Active Living Strategies. Presented by Natasha Frost, Mary
Marrow (Public Health Law Center). As communities pursue
obesity prevention strategies, fears of liability can be a barrier
to policy change. Legal experts will highlight Minnesota liability law as it relates to a variety of contexts including shared
use of school property, Safe Routes to School, community
and school gardens, parks and recreation activities, worksite
wellness programs, and recreational sports. Speakers will also
explore risk management strategies such as waivers and releases, shared use agreements, and others.
Series D: Friday, 8:00 a.m.
LAKESHORE 1
Community Care Teams: Building Bridges and Breaking
Down Silos. Presented by Heidi Favet (Essentia Health System—Ely), Kristen Godfrey (Hennepin County Medical Center), Barbara Lundeen (Minnesota Dept. of Health). Community Care Teams (CCTs) aim to provide citizens with wellcoordinated primary care services and coordinated linkages
to social and economic support services. As CCT models
develop, they have potential to work with multiple sectors to
integrate health care with community health and populationbased policies, systems and environments. CCT members
will share how their partnership addresses care coordination,
transitions management, and community care priorities.
LAKESHORE 2
Health Commons: Partners Improving Health Outcomes
for East African Communities. Presented by Sahra Noor
(University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview), Russ
Kuzel (UCare), Katie Clark (Augsburg College). Health
Commons is a collaboration between an academic health
center, graduate nursing program and a health plan. This innovative wellness center harnesses community assets to build
relationships, increase trust and promote better health outcomes for East African communities. Health Commons' goal
is to build a sense of community and address barriers in order
to help participants reach an optimum state of health. Learn
about the role of each partner and how their work together
better serves a population facing barriers to health care.
PAUL BUNYAN 1
Spaghetti Junction: The Five Parts of Local Public Health
Assessment and Planning. Presented by Dorothy Bliss,
Marie Margitan, Louise Stenberg (Minnesota Dept. of
Health). Come to this session to get all your questions about
the local public health planning process answered! The
growth in quality improvement practices and the development
of national standards have introduced several new components to the practice of assessment and planning. Learn how
the capacity self-assessment, quality improvement plan, strategic plan, community health assessment, and community
health improvement plan all work together.
PAUL BUNYAN 2
Agencies Building Quality Improvement into Everyday
Work. Presented by Terri Allen (Carlton County Health and
Human Services), Cheryl Armstrong (St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health), Susan Brace-Adkins (Goodhue County
Health and Human Services). Three agencies from around the
state embarked on quality improvement projects supported by
their Quality Improvement Councils and department leaders.
The teams have now worked through the Plan-Do-Study-Act
cycle and are ready to tell their stories. Learn how they identified the projects, the steps and tools they used, the challenges,
the lessons learned and their ongoing next steps to improve
performance and results.
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