|
|
---------------------------------
February 7, 2008
Board Meeting
10 am -2 pm
Signature Science
8301 N. MoPac
Austin, TX
------------------------------------
February 19, 2008
Mental Health Transformation
Focused Forum
9:00am-Noon
Double Tree Guest Suites
303 West 15th Street
Austin TX
It is now easier than ever to
become a Friend.
THI can now accept credit
cards. For more information
on the
Friends of the Institute
program, go to:
or e-mail
| |
|
|
January has flown past us with so much happening at the Institute. I seem to have spent much of the month traveling but am happy to report that we have had some terrific progress already this year on a number of our projects, some new funding has been pledged and our new staff have hit the ground running with realized projects already under their belts.
THI anticipates a very productive year ahead if this month has been any indication and as always we welcome your voice and your participation as our partners in the public health discussions ahead. Thank you for your continued support of the Texas Health Institute and our work.
Sincerely,
 
Camille D. Miller
President/CEO
Texas Health Institute |
|
THI Newsletter and Website Changes |
With the coming of a new year and the word "change" on everyone's lips, THI will add to the excitement with changes of our own. In the coming months, you'll notice a number of changes to the Institute's website and to our e-newsletter.
"THI's website is full of important health information but soon that information will be better organized with the most current policy efforts easily identifiable," said Mitchell Gibbs, newly appointed Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Texas Health Institute. "The Institute and our community partners have an amazing impact on the health of Texans. By refining our resource tools, we will maximize that impact and build a stronger foundation, creating more opportunities for change."
The e-newsletter will also get a new look, improving its readability and organization. With encapsulated stories, stronger graphics and by isolating the most newsworthy topics, the THI newsletter will be a valuable reference tool for all subscribers.
Newsletter and website revisions are underway with a reformatted newsletter expected in February and a reorganized website available mid-year. |
|
Public Health Museum Seeks Oral History Interviews |
The Public Health Museum of Texas is a virtual museum celebrating the living legacy of public health in Texas. It tells the story of how public health has contributed to the quality of life we enjoy today and far into the future using education, science and research and applying these elements to populations and communities within Texas.
The Museum has initiated a plan to make "oral history" a part of this effort and is seeking "Public Health Professionals" who have careers in Public Health to agree to be interviewed on "camera" by representatives of the museum. These interviews will reflect your experiences; recollections of changes and significant events; and impressions of the impact on these changes and events had on public health. Once they become a part of the oral history, visitors to the "virtual museum" will recognize former associates and learn much of the history of public health straight from the participants.
If you would be willing to participate in one of these interviews, please contact Lenora Doerfler at 512-279-3915. |
| * Consumer Network Facilitation Meeting |
January 24, 25 and 28 THI facilitated a 3-day meeting of the statewide mental health advocacy organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness,Texas Mental Health Consumers,Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Texas Federation of Families, Mental Health America, and Advocacy, Inc.
Meeting participants explored options for statewide collaboration between organizations and the expansion of that collaboration.
Participants included Stephany Bryan and Maurice Dutton, TWG representatives; and Carolyn Nava representing a national perspective on Mental Health Advocacy.
An estimated 9 million Texans live with family members who are mental health consumers. It is imperative that we connect these consumers and family members to a network that will provide opportunities for networking, sharing of information, and education and by exploring other states' experiences with united advocacy efforts, THI believes this is the best way to connect the most Consumers, Youth and Family Members in Texas.
THI is looking forward to continuing facilitation of this effort and will keep you posted as events and progress occur. For additional information, contact Susan Griffin, THI Community Development Specialist. |
|
* THI Statewide Priorities Meeting |
Texas Health Institute and Texas Mental Health Transformation hosted a facilitated 3-day meeting of statewide Mental Health Advocacy Organizations in January to discuss and determine trends and priorities in mental health care across Texas and to explore potential areas of coordinated advocacy and action.
The meetings culminated in a realized effort to set a 2008 priority issue agenda with plan of action to create tremendous impact on mental health transformation at local and state levels. THI congratulates all our participants on their efforts and thanks them for their efforts.
Six statewide advocacy organizations participated in meetings representing Consumers, Family Members of Children and Youth Consumers, and Mental Health Advocates. THI also welcomed the participation of Consumer and Family Member Representatives from the Texas Transformation Work Group. For more information, please contact Valarie Garza, MHT Consumer Coordinator. |
| * Community Collaboratives Contract Negotiation Meeting |
An excellent January meeting here in Austin brought together the seven THI Mental Health Transformation Community Collaboratives; Nacogdoches County Mental Health Collaborative: Tim Hayward, Kinnie Parker, Susan Rushing / Bexar County Safety Net Community Collaborative: Amy Guthrie, Gilbert Gonzales, Melissa Goess / Llano Estacado Alliance for Families: Esperanza Lucero, Kay Brotherton, Jere Newton / Williamson County Mental Health Task Force: Annie Burwell, Kathy Grimes / Tarrant County Transformation Project: Patsy Thomas / Coastal Bend Rural Health Partnership: Barbara Giovannone, Martin Ornelas / and Dallas County Project Transform: Bob Stewart
Also attending the meetings were: Sam Shore, Department of State Health Services (DSHS); Pat Wong, UT LBJ School of Public Affairs; Tom Valentine, Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC); Nancy Speck, Consultant; Vijay Ganju, Consultant; Shannon Calhoun, IT Consultant; and Stephany Bryan, TWG Consumer Workgroup.
Participants emerged with a better understanding of the priorities of each Collaborative, DSHS, the Texas Transformation Workgroup (TWG) and subgroups, and the LBJ School evaluators. Time was spent on how all activities at the state and local level are aligned. Next steps include finalizing contract addendums and reporting requirements. |
| Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center Project |
MSGRCC website
The Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center is getting a new website full of the latest project news. The website, currently under construction, is already generating a great deal of discussion and is shaping up to be a great resource tool for MSRGCC. Take a peek at the progress at www.msgrcc.org and watch for new elements coming soon.
Save the date!
These Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center
Workgroup Meetings have been scheduled for 2008. If you have any questions about MSGRCC or these workgroup projects, please contact Joyce Hooker at jhooker@msgrcc.org.
Standards & Emergent Technologies Workgroup February 23, 2008 Co-Chairs: Linda Sheppard, AZ & Sheila Dobin, TX
Public Health Workgroup February 24, 2008
Chair: Lynn Martinez, UT
Quality Improvement Partnership March 1-2, 2008
Co-Chairs: Marc S. Williams, UT & Janet Williams, UT
Newborn Screening Workgroup April 5, 2008
Co-Chairs: Jeff Botkin, UT & Rebecca Anderson, UT
Consumer Advocacy Workgroup April 6, 2008
Co-Chairs: Rod Slaght, CO & Joe Martinec, TX
2008 "Kick-Off" Meeting June 19-21, 2008 |
| CDC-Funded Demonstration Program Receives Community Input |
Major U.S. cities are facing challenges in maintaining high quality healthcare for inmates before, during, and after jail stays. Lack of continuity of care as inmates move from the jail to the community threatens the long term health status of people in these circumstances and of the community at large. Dallas County Jail is the 7th largest detention facility in the nation, receiving over 100,000 admissions per year; 57% of which are released within three days and 68% released within seven days. At 95% capacity, the facility houses approx. 7,000 inmates.
With CDC funding from THI, The Dallas County Hospital District (Parkland Health and Hospital System) is now engaged in an opportunity to become an incubator / demonstration project in improving the health of this incarcerated target population and the community at large and to decrease the frequency of re-entry to the jails.
At a January stakeholder meeting, community members offered their experience and input to the project, prioritizing community issues related to re-entry and recidivism. Participants also made commitments to serve on workgroups and several entities are currently identifying local funding opportunities for implementing the project. For more information about THI's efforts in this project, contact Klaus Krøyer Madsen at 512-279-3905. |
2008 North Texas Healthcare Forum - April 29th / Arlington, Texas |
|
Transforming Healthcare, A Regional Discussion will be hosted by the Arlington Chamber Foundation, North Texas Commission and Texas Health Resources the forum will bring North Texas business and community leaders together to learn about the projected impact of healthcare on the business community and share ideas on transforming the nation's healthcare system. THI is an active participant in this important work.
Contact Tracy Hall at 817-543-4298 or thall@arlingtontx.com for registration information or visit www.arlingtontx.com |
|
Pathways To Health: Policies, Practices and Partners - March 5-7 / San Antonio, Texas |
|
Presented by the San Antonio Metropolitan Public Health District and The Texas Public Health Association, this TPHA Annual Education Conference promises to be a huge event, drawing over 300 attendees including Epidemiologists, Physicians, Registered Nurses, Registered Dietitians, Registered Sanitarians, Health Educators (CHES), Public Health Administrators, and other public health professionals and partners. Registration Information available online with Earlybird registration discounts through Feb 15. Texas Health Institute will provide the meeting participants with an update on the Mental Health Transformation Project and share twelve policy solutions to improve mental health in Texas. |
|
On The Road With THI |
Health Policy Forum Garners Statewide Participation
The January Improving the Health of Texans, Making Evidence-Based Decisions For A Return On Health brought together civic and business leaders together with public health professionals to explore best practices and identify strategies for driving evidence-based public health policy in Texas.
Hosted by the Texas Association of Local Health Officials, the Texas Association of Municipal Health Officials and the Texas Public Health Association, the forum focused attention on advocacy and networking and included a recap of the last legislative session.
Texas Health Institute participated in the event with CEO Camille Miller moderating a panel discussion by business and community leaders while keynote addresses were presented by Dr. Joseph W. Thompson, Dr. Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey and Dr. James Marks. The business and community leaders participated in the THI-facilitated session were:
Kathy Durbin,
Director of Benefits, H-E-B Grocery Company
Kevin Fickenscher, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer & Executive Vice President of Healthcare Transformation, Perot Systems.
Paul Handel, MD
Medical Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
Donna M. Meyer, Ph.D.
System Director of Community Health, CHRISTUS Health
NNPHI Roadshow to CDC Headquarters
The National Network of Public Health Institutes Board Chair and Texas Health Institute CEO, Camille Miller, participated in meetings with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 24th to learn of future direction of CDC efforts. NNPHI Board Members, including Bob St.Peter (KA), Karen Minyard (GA), Mary Prittman (CA), Joe Kimball (LA), and NNPHI staffer Sarah Gillon joined CDC officials: Vicki Johnson, Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service, Sr. Project Officer, Chris Kochitzky, Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, Goal Team Leader, Julie Fishman, Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, Assoc. Director Program Development, Ken Rose, Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, Assoc. Director of Policy, Tim Hack, Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, Lead Public Health Analyst, Bill Dietz, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, Director, Mike Sage, Office of the Chief of Public Health Practice, Director of Portfolio Management, Dennis Lenaway, Office of the Chief of Public Health Practice, Office of Standards and Emerging Issues, Liza Corso, Office of the Chief of Public Health Practice, Public Health Advisor, Brad Perkins, Office of Strategy and Innovation, Director, Anne Haddix, Office of Strategy and Innovation, Chief Policy Officer, Paul Stange, Office of Strategy and Innovation, Health Systems Specialist, Steve Thacker, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Director, Pat Drehobl, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Assoc. Director for Programs, Judy Delany, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Division Director.
This important meeting set the stage for the forthcoming NNPHI bid process on a new cooperative agreement with the CDC. "The CDC and NNPHI found that we both had accomplishments we were proud of under the current cooperative agreement. We (NNPHI members) were most pleased to hear CDC's plans and new directions for the future," Miller reported.
CDC / NNPHI Workshop on Public Health and the Presidential Race
THI President, Camille Miller, attended a Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Network of Public Health Institutes two-day meeting focused on getting public health interjected into the health care discussions occurring this year as a result of the presidential race dialogue on health. 50 people from around the nation were chosen to participate, including Miller and Houston neurosurgeon Dr. Guy Clifton, who represented all of Texas. As a result of the national meetings, the Texas Health Institute was awarded a grant to continue the dialogue on a statewide level.
Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases Conference
Camille D. Miller attended the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children in Bethesda, Maryland. Miller was joined by John Johnson, MD, and Joyce Hooker in representing the Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center at the conference. |
|
About the Texas Health Institute |
Our mission is to provide leadership to improve the health of Texans and their communities through education, research, and health policy development.
Senior Editor: Camille D Miller
Editors: Mitchell Gibbs / Havovi Katki
The Texas Health Institute (THI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on the development of health policy solutions to improve the lives of Texans and their communities. From acting as an honest broker and hosting unbiased health policy forums that facilitate dialogue among policymakers and other healthcare stakeholders, to creating a vision of an improved future healthcare system, THI is a think tank - providing evidence-based policy options and solutions as well as innovative, "outside the box" collaborative options to improve the health of Texans and their communities.
The THI newsletter is a monthly publication of the Texas Health Institute written to update THI board of trustee members and Friends of the Institute.
For e-mail address changes, add or delete requests, please e-mail your request to:
mail to:hkatki@texashealthinstitute.org
If you would prefer to receive this newsletter through the U.S. mail or fax, please e-mail your contact information to:
mail to:hkatki@texashealthinstitute.org
If you would prefer not to receive further messages from this sender, please contact us at:
delete@texashealthinstitute.org
* Funding for this was made possible (in part) by 5 U79 SM57485-02 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderator do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices or organizations imply endorsement by the US Government. | |
|
|
|
