There has been awareness about the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline since its launch this summer, but little is known about another 24/7 hotline that was implemented beforehand. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline was launched in May 2022 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The hotline connects pregnant, postpartum people and...
Author: Natasha Takyi-Micah (Natasha Takyi-Micah)
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aims to achieve health equity for underserved communities
Health equity is one of the major public health areas of focus for governmental entities and nonprofit organizations across the United States, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to address it as well. They hope to achieve health equity for clients from underserved communities and the providers who serve those areas...
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What it takes to become lead-safe certified
Cleveland City Council passed an ordinance in 2019 requiring residential rental units built before 1978 to obtain a lead-safe certification to ensure that families, especially children, are able to live in safe environments. Landlords and property managers can engage in either one of the two inspections: a Lead Clearance Examination or a Lead Risk Assessment...
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Local efforts to address racism as a public health crisis in Northeast Ohio
Since 2020, many municipalities across Northeast Ohio either declared racism as a public health crisis or condemned racism. According to an article from The Land, 10 towns and cities across Cuyahoga County declared racism as a public health crisis (RAPHC) and six cities passed resolutions to condemn racism. Cuyahoga County, for example, established the Citizens...
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Racism is a public health crisis that cannot be ignored
Over the past three years, racism has been declared a public health crisis in numerous communities across the United States. Milwaukee County was the first to declare it in 2019, with other governmental entities following suit, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Cuyahoga County. Often, governmental entities focus on addressing...
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Traveling to Africa: Reclaiming our identity and expanding Black pride
What are the first images or words that come to your mind when someone says the word Africa? You may think of what you see in the media, like poverty, huts, jungles and animals. Some people would think that Africans live in trees, a stereotype that I have heard from Americans, which Africans joked that...
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Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition aims to eliminate menthol cigarettes in local communities
Local initiatives during Lung Cancer Awareness Month November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month when many organizations and individuals are encouraging the public to learn about this disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both women and men throughout the United...
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National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and how state and local current prevention efforts provide resources for families in poverty
October is known for many health awareness causes such as breast cancer and domestic violence, but lead poisoning is a public health issue that more people are noticing. Established in 1999 by the US Senate, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) occurs during the last week of October each year. A collaboration between the United...
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Lessons learned from the National Maternal Health Innovation Symposium
Natasha Takyi-Micah has been accepted into the in Families USA’s 2021 Health Equity Academy, where she will be focusing on maternal and child health issues. The second annual National Maternal Health Innovation Symposium was hosted by the Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center (MHLIC) August 30-31, 2021. This free symposium focused on understanding maternal health disparities,...
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How the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition is making an impact in the community
The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition (LSCC) conducted its bimonthly convening meeting on May 7 to present the coalition’s progress now that the Lead Safe Ordinance is taking hold. The coalition is comprised of many community stakeholders such as landlords, contractors, pediatricians, parents and teachers. The coalition is moving away from initiating action after children are...
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