522: New Overdose Dashboard, Public Health Leadership Training

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, October 12, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

MARIA SARABIA: 

The dashboard provides centralized data on overdoses and related events to Minnesota from non-public health partners and it provides timely updates from these data sources.

JOHNSON: 

Maria Sarabia is assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Public Health. She's talking about a new dashboard that could help prevent and respond to drug overdoses in the state.

SARABIA: 

We can look at this opioid epidemic with more clarity in terms of the type of opioids that are being used. And with a population lens of who has been most impacted. We're viewing completion of treatment services and even the age of folks this is impacting.

JOHNSON: 

Sarabia says data covers every aspect of the overdose epidemic.

SARABIA: 

The dashboard includes the death certificate data that comes directly from MDH and the Office of Vital Records. We partnered to ensure the dashboard is presenting the accurate and understandable information about the number, the type, and timing of overdose deaths.

JOHNSON: 

Several agencies in Minnesota collaborated to create the dashboard. Even more will use it.

SARABIA: 

A beneficial element of this dashboard is that it involves law enforcement, public health, and we're working together for a common and coordinated approach to leveraging the data for solutions.

JOHNSON: 

Learn more about Minnesota's drug crimes and overdose dashboard by visiting the links in the show notes.

ASTHO has developed a new leadership training program that very soon will be available to anyone in public health. Shannon Rome was one of the first to go through the Essentials of Leadership and Management program.

SHANNAN ROME 

I've done some conferences and trainings and stuff like that, but not on this level of intensity.

JOHNSON: 

Rome is a social worker at the Franklin County Health Department in Kentucky. She says the ELM program is a game-changer.

ROME 

You know being a part of this process really made me think about how I could do certain things differently. So, having that knowledge and all the information, the reading, and the discussion, and tips and suggestions, really helped to refine what I would want to do in the future, if something came up again, with big things and little things.

JOHNSON: 

Rome adds the training was a good experience and recommends it to others in leadership.

ROME 

I'm definitely glad that I participated in the program and I felt like I personally grew from the experience and professionally grew from the experience and my relationships and connections grew from the experience.

JOHNSON: 

Hear more about the ELM program in a new episode of the Public Health Review podcast available now everywhere you stream audio.

Last week we heard from two leaders here on the newscast about a project that could change the way public health engages mental health promotion and suicide prevention. O'Keyla Cooper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

A new framework developed in collaboration with organizations like ASTHO, CDC, CLASP, and MHA emphasizes public health's role in promoting mental health, well-being, and preventing suicide. It guides practitioners in engaging with multi-sector partners to address shared risk factors, reducing challenges like chronic diseases, substance abuse, violence, and adverse childhood experiences. You can access this framework by clicking the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

Finally, this morning, applications for those interested in ASTHO's Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program are due tomorrow night. The 10-month program enables professionals to improve their leadership skills and grow their networks. Get more information using the link in the show notes.

And just a reminder, before we go, ASTHO's Legislative Alert emails are the best way to stay connected to public health policy moves in Congress and state capitals across the country. Join the list using the link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.