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The Partnership for Better Health is thrilled to celebrate the designation of September 2023 as Health Equity Month in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro remarked, “I commend all those helping to raise awareness of health equity, and I applaud their devotion to improving the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians.” In his proclamation, the Governor mentions the Partnership for Better Health, a community foundation that works collaboratively with key stakeholders throughout parts of Cumberland, Perry, Adams, and Franklin Counties to positively influence the lives of our neighbors.

To commemorate this dynamic month, the Partnership for Better Health has curated several digital learning experiences to promote health equity. Learn more about Health Equity using the resources below:

HEALTH EQUITY 101 — Learn about health equity at your own pace! The Partnership for Better Health presents this complimentary self-paced digital training to introduce people, teams, and organizations to the dynamic elements of health equity. Dr. Marcellus C. Taylor, Director of Health Equity, serves as the facilitator for this free 90-minute learning experience. Sign up today: https://fbh.fyi/HE101

HOUSING — In this profound talk, Stephen Brown discusses “Lessons Learned” from the Better Health Through Housing program, a partnership between the Center for Housing and Health and UI Health that identifies and transitions the chronically homeless from our Emergency Room into permanent supportive housing. Stephen is a faculty member and Director of Preventive Emergency Medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System.

ENVIRONMENT — What part of your illnesses are genetic, and what part of them are environmental? Professor B.M. Hegde breaks down misconceptions about health and leaves us questioning what health actually means.

The Partnership for Better Health is seeking a Finance Director to direct all day-to-day aspects of the foundation’s accounting, investment, financial management and HR benefit administration systems. The director will develop and implement financial policy, accounting and reporting through a comprehensive fiscal plan and budget. Reporting to the Executive Director, the director works closely with the board and staff to ensure high levels of accountability, excellence and transparency in all aspects of financial, fundraising and Human Resource benefit management, in pursuit of the foundation’s mission. The director formulates, calculates and provides documentation to continually monitor current financial activities and create forward thinking strategies that ensure the operations of the organization are maintained into the future.

Strong candidates with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Partnership for Better Health offers an attractive compensation and full benefits package, including competitive salary, paid-time-off, employee wellness, medical, dental and life insurances, and retirement benefits. At 30-hours a week, the position supports a healthy work/life balance. To apply, please email your cover letter, resume and three references to Casandra Jewell Sweeney ([email protected]). The position will be open until filled, with interviews beginning in June.

To view the full job description, click here: Hiring Finance Director (May 2023).

The Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) is an important tool used to understand how students in grades 6 to 12 see their community, school, family, and peers. Findings from the survey help decision makers understand community strengths and identify problems that may impact students before they arrive at school, specifically related to food security, housing instability, the loss of close family and friends, and attitudes and knowledge concerning alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence.

The Pennsylvania Youth Survey is a biennial effort that began in 1989. It is supported by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). The survey is voluntary and confidential. The data gathered by the survey serves two purposes:

• First, the results provide school administrators, state agency directors, legislators and others with critical information concerning the changes in patterns of the use and abuse of harmful substances and behaviors.
• Second, the survey assesses risk factors that are related to these behaviors and the protective factors that help guard against them. This information allows community leaders to direct prevention resources to areas where they are likely to have the greatest impact.

The Partnership for Better Health commissioned a report to combine PAYS results in our service area from 2017, 2019, and 2021. Findings from this report were shared during our Youth-Serving Professionals Forum held in Carlisle on May 2, 2023. The presentation was led by Sharron Michels. Sharron is an independent consultant, former and founding Executive Director of Collaborating For Youth, and a former PAYS Statewide Advisory Group Member. Panelists included Geoff Kolchin (Deputy Director of the Office of Justice Programs, Unit of Violence Prevention Initiatives, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency); Fiona Williston (Prevention Program Supervisor for the Cumberland-Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission); and Lisa Harrison (Youth Aid Panel Director for the Cumberland County Juvenile Probation).

Findings from the Partnership for Better Health’s PAYS area report included the following:

• 90 percent of youth report not drinking alcohol in the last 30 days.
• When asked where they get alcohol, 33 percent of students report parents provide and 17 percent gave someone money to purchase for them; 36 percent of respondents took alcohol without permission.
• While marijuana use is down from 2017, 33 percent of 12^th grade students report electronic vaping marijuana or hash oil in the past 12 months (up from 15 percent in 2017).
• 65 percent of 12^th grade students report vaping nicotine in the past 12 months.
• 71 percent of 6^th grade students “don’t know” whether the e-cigarettes or vaping they used in the past 12 months contained just flavoring, nicotine, or marijuana/hash oil.
• Of the 26 percent of youth that reported being bullied in the past 12 months, 52 percent selected it was based on the “way I look (hairstyle/clothes)” and 44 percent report it was based on “size.”
• 11 percent of youth have worried about running out of food in the past 12 months and 6 percent of students have gone without a meal due to family finances (8 percent of 12^th grade students).
• 43 percent of students report feeling depressed or sad most days for at least two weeks over the past 12 months.
• 19 percent of youth (24 percent of 8^th graders) have cut, scraped, or burned themselves in the past year as a way to relieve difficult feelings and emotions.
• 20 percent of students report considering suicide in the past 12 months, and 12 percent report attempting suicide.
• 40 percent of students report enjoying being in school during the past year, and 35 percent believe the work they do in school is meaningful and important.
• 53 percent of students report their teachers praise them for hard work, 78 percent report many opportunities to talk with their teachers one-on-one, and 82 percent of students report “I feel safe at my school.”

Sharron Michels reviewed findings from the schools in our geographic region of South Central Pennsylvania. Panelists shared how they use the PAYS data in their work and encouraged attendees to consider building more protective factors and pro-social opportunities for youth to mitigate risks.

“PAYS is a crucial tool that helps us understand the myriad of issues faced by youth in our community,” said Carol Thornton, Director of Grants and Public Policy at the Partnership for Better Health. “Our foundation is committed to understanding and addressing the needs of our youth, related to substance use, mental health, food, and housing.”

View the 2021 PAYS summary report online, or view presentation slides from the Youth-Serving Professionals Forum.

To better understand the youth in our region and across the state, visit the Pennsylvania Youth Survey website, which has statewide data from 1989-2021. You can view data by county or request PAYS summary reports that include data for multiple school districts. Each school district is also provided with a customized report for 2021 that can be shared upon request – contact your school district to see a report specific to your student’s school.

See below for more information and resources.

• 2023 PAYS Survey Registration – Register your school/district or check your registration status.
• 2023 PAYS Fact Sheet – Review the 2023 administration timeline and key facts.
• EPIS PAYS Resources – Access how-to guide and workbook, webinar series, and more.

The next survey is scheduled for the 2023 school year and registration is now open! Encourage your school district to participate and remind them that the data is valuable in securing funding for need-based programs. Learn more: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Juvenile-Justice/Pages/Pennsylvania-Youth-Survey-(PAYS).aspx.