The Black Church and Co-Occuring Pandemics.

Black people represent less than 13% of the population in the United States, but over 15% of COVID-19 deaths, with a mortality rate two times higher than White people. The Black Church system has historically been in a unique position to serve Black communities, particularly during times of crisis. The deep-rooted connection of the Black Church system within Black communities was largely shaped by slavery and segregation. However, there have been questions about the relevance of the Black Church system today. The objective of this commentary is to describe the intersectionality of ministry and health that has been illuminated in a profound way during this pandemic. Those in leadership had to evaluate and disseminate COVID-19 information to congregants, recognizing mistrust of the medical and public health systems still permeates throughout Black communities. Moreover, the death of George Floyd sparked international outcry, which launched church leaders to respond to a second pandemic: systemic racism. Understanding ways the Black Church responded to COVID-19, and systemic racism, is significantly important to public health and medical communities as it addresses the relevance of this system and ways to appropriately support during another public health crisis.

Designing dementia care activation program for Filipino American caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: This research study aims to identify the fundamental components of community adaptation for a culturally tailored care partner activation program for Filipino American family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia (ADRD). DESIGN: The study utilized focus group interviews with community nurse leaders, stakeholders, and family caregivers of patients with ADRD. RESULTS: The research revealed that education and knowledge about the disease, community-based services and facilities, support groups and resources, spiritual and cultural values, and access to transportation are all critical components for community adaptation. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a culturally tailored care partner activation program that incorporates these components can enhance the quality of life for Filipino American caregivers and their loved ones with ADRD. The nursing implications of the study underscore the importance of nurses being culturally competent and sensitive to the unique challenges faced by Filipino American caregivers. Nurses can provide valuable support to caregivers by educating them, connecting them with community resources, and advocating for culturally responsive care practices.

Outdoor Medical Cannabis Advertising in Oklahoma: Examining Regulatory Compliance and Social Meanings in Billboard Content.

Background: Medical cannabis currently dominates the U.S. cannabis advertising landscape. The public is increasingly exposed to outdoor cannabis advertising, which increases positive attitudes about and intentions to use cannabis. Research is lacking regarding outdoor cannabis advertising content. This article characterizes the content of outdoor cannabis advertising in Oklahoma, one of the fastest growing U.S. medical cannabis markets. Methods: We conducted a content analysis of cannabis advertising billboard images (n = 73) from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, photographed May 2019-November 2020. We followed a primarily inductive, iterative team approach to thematically analyze billboard content in NVIVO. We reviewed all images, identified a broad coding taxonomy, and then incorporated emergent codes and those related to advertising regulation (e.g. youth/children). We totaled frequencies of code application across billboards and reexamined billboards for final themes. Results: Major themes were social meanings related to cannabis subculture, formal medical systems, and nature, and the presence of company contact information. Minor themes related to convenience, price promotions, store proximity, U.S. affiliation, product quality, and spirituality. State advertising regulation violations were rare, with the exception of content that may promote curative or therapeutic effects (4%) and misrepresentation of product state of origin (1.4%). Conclusion: Outdoor medical cannabis advertising in Oklahoma blurs boundaries between formal medical discourses and cannabis subculture that is suspicious of messaging from authorities and regards cannabis as harmless and natural. Increased monitoring of advertising regulation compliance and greater understanding of social discourses within emerging markets is needed to promote public health within the context of cannabis advertising.

Dear Health Promotion Scholar: Letters of Life From, for, and About Black Women in Academia.

Black women are change agents actively working within their power to combat systemic racism in academia, while constantly battling injustices. Understanding lived realities and experiences of racial ethnic minority women as "outsiders within" is crucial for confronting long-standing racism embedded within academic spaces. Institutions may be outwardly addressing racial injustice, and perpetuating injustices internally, whether known or unknown. Using a relational dialectics framework and letter writing style, the purpose of this commentary is to describe the complexities present in experiences of Black women as they navigate academia as change agents, from the perspectives of tenure track and tenured faculty members in predominately White institutions. Black women academics contend with the push and pull of being in relationship with students, colleagues, and predominately White institutions; these tensions illuminate the experience of both/and-ness creating a constant presence of uncertainty/certainty, pushing/pivoting, and conforming/disrupting among others. Black women faculty are actively working to overcome barriers in research and practice and actively recognizing how racism is acting in academic settings. Black women are dealing with their own personal/professional situations, while also advocating interpersonally through mentorship, institutionally through incorporating underrepresented voices in research/practice, and strategically through addressing policies prompting action. This commentary shares the breadth, scope, and uniqueness of Black women experiences in higher education. This article concludes with implications for practice, including utilizing dialectic introspection to illuminate Black women, disrupting the norm by utilizing letters to center Black women, and building collectives to foster connections.

From Practice to Publication: The Promise of Writing Workshops.

Practitioners in health departments, university extension programs, and nonprofit organizations working in public health face varied challenges to publishing in the peer-reviewed literature. These practitioners may lack time, support, skills, and efficacy needed for manuscript submission, which keeps them from sharing their wisdom and experience-based evidence. This exclusion can contribute to literature gaps, a failure of evidence-based practice to inform future research, reduced ability to educate partners, and delays in advancing public health practice. Our article describes the writing workshops offered to Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded programs in 2021. This project consisted of three 60-minute introductory writing webinars open to all recipients, followed by a Writing for Publications workshop, an 8- to 9-week virtual learning/writing intensive for selected writing team applicants. The Society for Public Health Education staff, consultants, and CDC/DNPAO staff developed, refined, and presented the curriculum. The workshop for public health practitioner writing teams was offered to two cohorts and included extensive coaching and focused on potential submission to a Health Promotion Practice supplement, "Reducing Chronic Disease through Physical Activity and Nutrition: Public Health Practice in the Field" (see Supplemental Material), which was supported by CDC/DNPAO. We describe the webinars, the workshop design, modifications, evaluation methods and results.

Community-Engaged Teen Pregnancy Prevention: A Needs Assessment.

Teen birth is a contributor to significant challenges, including poverty, foster care, increased medical expenses, and high school dropout. Although teen birth rates have declined, disparities persist by state. Oklahoma's teen birth rate is fifth highest in the nation. Recognizing population-level change is not possible through the work of any single organization, Thrive is the convening leader of a multipartner collaboration called the Central Oklahoma Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaboration. This collaboration utilizes the Collective Impact framework to bring organizations together to address teen pregnancy. The purpose of this article is to detail the consulting phase of the Collective Impact Community Engagement Toolkit, welcoming feedback from community members regarding programs. Method. Researchers conducted a mixed-methods needs assessment, including interviews and surveys with community-based organization staff, faith members, and caregivers. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and NVIVO 12 Pro. Results. A total of 350 surveys and 25 interviews were included in the analysis. Looking across all three populations, participants wanted to learn most about parent-child communication, communication skills with partners, and sexually transmitted infections/sexually transmitted diseases. Participants wanted topics delivered through educational programs, handouts/brochures, group settings, and websites. Common barriers were needing additional training/information, limited time, and lack of approval/support from others. Conclusions. This community needs assessment provided valuable information regarding needs of community-based organization staff, faith members, and parents related to adolescent sexual health. By including the community in needs assessments and using multiple tools, researchers/practitioners are able to see which strategies are best for gathering rich feedback and planning sustainable programs.

Pastors' Perceptions of the Black Church's Role in Teen Pregnancy Prevention.

Objective. To identify pastors' perceptions of the Black Church's role in promoting adolescent sexual health and preventing teen pregnancy. The Black Church and pastor are important partners in addressing health disparities in the Black community, especially those addressing sensitive issues as teen pregnancy. Methods. Semistructured interviews (n = 31) were conducted with Black Church pastors in two southwestern U.S. cities from September 2014 to July 2015. The question path was developed based on interviews with local leaders, literature searches, and key informant pastor interviews. Questions included knowledge/beliefs about sexuality education, church's role in preventing teen pregnancy, and implementation obstacles. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Results. (1) All pastors believed that the Black Church should address teen pregnancy with parents and congregants. (2) Two major obstacles emerged: (a) all pastors perceived social consequences, including resistant parents and (b) discomfort discussing contraceptives/condoms. (3) All pastors were willing to partner with organizations, but most had reservations based on conflicting missions/values. Conclusions. Black Church pastors support teen pregnancy prevention programs in the church; however, public health partners must be willing to address the church's unique needs and mission.

Parents' beliefs of the Black Church's role in teen pregnancy prevention.

INTRODUCTION: Parents are important decision makers in black churches. The objective of this qualitative study was to identify African American parents' beliefs of the Black Church's role in preventing teen pregnancy and promoting healthy teen relationships. METHODS: Parent members (n = 36) of 27 predominately Black churches in two southwestern US cities participated in semi-structured interviews from February-June 2017. A question path was developed based on literature searches, key informant interviews, and a previous study with local pastors, and questions focused on parents' knowledge/beliefs about 1) sexuality education, 2) the church's role in preventing teen pregnancy, and 3) implementation obstacles. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded using NVivo, and open-coded for themes to investigate patterns across codes and participants. Transcripts were then reviewed for quotes to represent each theme. RESULTS: Five themes were identified, with multiple subthemes. Most parents said there should be no boundaries on the type of sexuality information shared by their church, but later changed their minds after reviewing a list of potential topics. Parents listed 'parent-child communication', 'goals and dreams', and 'relationships' as the most important topics for teen pregnancy prevention intervention. Parents said information shared during workshops should be judgement-free and realistic. Parents most often said pastors and/or youth pastors/directors should deliver sexual health information. Parents believed older adults and other parents may oppose sexual education. CONCLUSIONS: By understanding parents' beliefs of teen pregnancy prevention programs, public health practitioners can understand concerns, modify implementation strategies, and utilize parental support to gain buy-in before planning and implementing programs.