Engage


Leading with Equity
A number of organizations are leading relevant work around an equitable response to the COVID-19 outbreak with a strong advocacy component. We encourage you to explore what we hope to be a expanding list and learn how these organizations may inform your work.  You will also find resources on Equity and Covid-19 on our Resource Page.
  • new Human Impact Partners - Health Equity Policy Platform for COVID-19 Response and Recovery. This cross-sector policy platform centers policy solutions, specific actions, and related resources to ensure that people’s health and wellbeing is protected at this most vulnerable of moments.  
    • Want to learn more?  There will be a 1 hour virtual convening in partnership with APHA, ASTHO, Big Cities Health Coalition, HealthBegins and Naccho to discuss how public health can play a role in advancing long-term policy solutions that center equity. RSVP to join Thursday, June 4 at 1:00 pm ET
  • new RESULTS is a movement of passionate, committed everyday people using their voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty.  Visit RESULTS for key issues and updates on the impact of COVID-19 and resources for how you can get involved.
  • new Mom's Rising is an organization taking on the most critical issues facing women, mothers, and families by educating the public and mobilizing massive grassroots actions.  Visit Mom's Rising for resources and tools on a number of Equity and COVID-19 issues.
  • Public Health Awakened is a national network of public health professionals organizing for health, equity, and justice working with social justice movements on strategic and collective action to create a world in which everyone can thrive and to resist the threats faced by communities of color and low-income communities. They have provided a straight-forward resource to equip folks with tools to have the confidence to organize others in your public health community to show up to #BlackLivesMatter protests together, visibly as public health workers.  Make sure to alsocheck out the links to additional resources at the bottom of the document.
Let's Talk about COVID-19

Join in on this virtual town-hall series of candid conversations.  This includes a series of  broadcast on WRES-L_ 100.7 FM on Bridging Culture and Health in the Midst of COVID-19 as well a webinar series.

The Next Let's Talk Webinar on Mind, Body & Social Justice in A Time of COVID will take place on Tuesday, June 9th from 1-2:30.  

Registration required via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-mind-body-social-justice-in-a-time-of-covid-registration-108488343556?aff=ebdssbeac


Missed a broadcast or want to share content with someone.  Click below to access the Facebook Live Recording:

May 26th webinar: Justice in the time of COVID-19 
What is happening in our justice and legal system during this time and what we are learning to carry over for the future.  This webinar featured representatives of localPublic Safety, the RAcial Justice Coalition, The District Attorney's and Public Defender's Offices, the Sherriff's Office and Jordan Peer Recovery.  

April 9th Broadcast 
Featuring: UNC Asheville Professor Emeritus Dwight Mullen, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, MAHEC Nursing and School Health Director Felicia Hipp, Gene Bell, YWCA Director Libby Kyles, and the Reverend Al Blount. 
Topics include what to do when you are sick, how to connect to local resources, building community resilience, and a breakdown of what the Stay Home-Stay Safe mandate really means as we head into this holiday weekend. 
May 6th Broadcast
Featuring: Physician and Endocronolgist Dr. Elizabeth Bernstein, ABIPA leaders Je'Wana Grier McEachin and Kathey Avery, Minority Diabetes prevention Program participant Rodney Strong, Dogwood Health Trust representative Lakesha McDay, and Buncombe County Health and Human Services representative Zo Mpofu.
Topics include Understanding the risk of chronic disease (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and HIV) and COVID-19, ABIPA's Care Needs Assessment, Accessing health resources, and the Buncombe County Self-Checker. The

Community Input Needed: Justice Resource Advisory Council Accepting Applications for Membership
The Justice Resource Advisory Council (JRAC) community representation application process is now open. The JRAC is looking for interested community members to serve on the committee. More information about the JRAC and application process can be found here and a direct link to the application can be found here
Please share with your networks!

Opportunity to influence Phase 3 COVID-19 stimulus package to prioritize child care, paid leave, and health coverage. [added 3/23/2020]
Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is urging CHIP partners to take action and spread the word. 
Congress is working on Phase 3 of COVID-19 relief package. Calls are needed to NC Senators Burr and Tillis to prioritize child care, paid leave, and health coverage for those directly in harm's way.
Summary of specific issues:
  • Workers for small businesses and very large businesses were left out of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Everyone, including child care and other low-wage workers, must be included and receive adequate paid leave during the COVID crisis.

  • Health care coverage is a vital part of protecting our communities and preventing our US healthcare system from being overwhelmed by the pandemic. State Medicaid programs need strengthening by (1) increasing the rate the federal government uses to match state Medicaid dollars (called FMAP), and (2) restoring the Medicaid expansion match to states to 100%. 

  • We also need special enrollment periods and increased subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans. Over 1 million people are uninsured in North Carolina alone.

How to Take Action:
Call Senator Tillis: 202-224-6342 and Senator Burr: (202) 224-3154

Sample Script:
“Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent in [YOUR CITY], North Carolina. I am calling about the Phase 3 coronavirus stimulus. I have 3 requests for Senator [TILLIS / BURR].

  • First, $50 billion in relief for the child care sector to make sure they survive this crisis.
  • Second, close the paid leave loopholes so that everyone working in the US can get adequate paid leave.
  • Finally, help for all those facing a pandemic with no health coverage. Increase the Medicaid match to the states, and open up a special enrollment period so that more people can get a subsidized Affordable Care Act plan.
Thank you so much for all that you are doing for the people of North Carolina.”
 

Support a Quality and Inclusive Census
Now is the time to use your “trusted voices” to raise awareness about the 2020 Census.  
  • Census data serves as the foundation of hundreds of decisions made by government and community leaders.  
  • It's critical for understanding who lives in our community and how to best design programs and infrastructure to meet their needs and 
  • It informs where $675 billion is distributed each year to communities nationwide for clinics, schools, roads, and more.
As a community concerned about equity, inaccurate census numbers mean we likely are underestimating health, social and economic disparities!

Please share information with your friends, colleagues and those you serve about how important this process is.  In particular, there is much is a great deal of concern about how safe it is for many of our marginalized neighbors to particpate and it is important to assure them that this information can only be used for the purpose of statistics and can not be used by any governmental organization against individuals.

You'll find resources and a listing of related local community events on the at the League of Women Voters of AVL/Buncombe website.

Sign up for "5 minutes 4 kids" Advocacy Email Alerts from Children First Community in Schools and the Success Equation
Stay up to date on important policy decisions that impact children and families with our "5 minutes 4 kids" email alerts. We provide you with education and action opportunities and make it easy to be an advocate amidst the bustle of modern life.   
Give us 5 minutes of your time and we'll help make your voice count for kids!  You can also follow our advocacy work and calls to action on Twitter @CFCISAdvocacy and Facebook at facebook.com/SuccessEquation.










No comments:

Post a Comment