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 On Thursday, September 17, 2020, OMH is hosting a virtual symposium to highlight state, tribal, territorial and community-based efforts to address COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The Advancing the Response to COVID-19: Sharing Promising Programs and Practices for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities virtual symposium will feature presentations and strategies developed for public health leaders and community organizations confronting the pandemic. Additionally, continuing education credit hours for professionals who are designated Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) or Master CHES (MCHES) will be available. OMH is encouraging attendees to sign up for the new virtual learning community network to support continued peer-to-peer information sharing about approaches and resources to address COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority communities. Registration for the virtual symposium is open. Stay up to date on the virtual symposium by signing up for OMH email updates and by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. |  September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. This year, we are proud to join federal and non-federal partners in raising awareness about this debilitating disease affecting approximately 100,000 Americans and the growing challenges COVID-19 has had on the sickle cell community. OMH will highlight the advances made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) since the launch of the Sickle Cell Disease Initiative in 2018 and their commitment to normalizing the lives of people living with sickle cell disease within 8 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): - Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births.
- Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births.
- About 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT).
Visit the OMH website for downloadable materials, videos, information regarding the latest advances and health resources.
|  September 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. This year, OMH will celebrate the culture, achievements and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos in the United States while also raising awareness about the health disparities impacting their community. Health disparities continue to affect the health of Hispanics/Latinos and have left them vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has collected health equity considerations for racial and ethnic minority groups to address the social determinants of health that put them at an increased risk for contracting the virus. Visit the OMH Hispanic Heritage Month webpage for more information, downloadable materials and resources throughout the month.
|  September is Food Safety Education Month, focused on preventing food poisoning and showing others how to keep their food safe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 6 Americans get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating contaminated food each year. As we continue to navigate the pandemic the CDC also reminds us that the risk of getting COVID-19 from food, treated drinking water or food packaging is considered very low. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is also regularly updating its resources surrounding food safety and COVID-19 for consumers, retail food establishments and food services, food facilities and farms. Follow these four steps when preparing and handling food: - Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and cooking surfaces.
- Separate: Fresh produce such as raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs.
- Cook: Using a food thermometer can help ensure food is cooked thoroughly enough to kill germs.
- Chill: Perishable foods and leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours.
|  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five children in the United States has obesity. During National Childhood Obesity Month, communities, health professionals, and families are encouraged to take action to raise awareness about the obesity epidemic and support children with their journey to good health. The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion developed their Move Your Way campaign to help families engage in more physical activity that fits their schedules. Use their interactive tool to help children achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Not only does physical activity help ensure their good health but it also helps improve their sleep, mood and grades. Learn more about childhood obesity by visiting CDC's National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month webpage and get tips for how to address obesity starting at home.
|  The Knowledge Center online library collection includes a variety of technical reports and consumer brochures related to the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell disease. To review these resources, search the online catalog here.
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