This Valentine’s Day, many will say “I love you” with flowers, candy, or a fancy evening out. But there’s another way you can say I love you – by making your health and your heart a priority. Show your family how much you love them by protecting your health and your heart now so you can spend quality time with them for years to come.
 
Take time this Valentine’s Day to ask your doctor if you have prediabetes, which puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes. One in three Americans has prediabetes, a condition where a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. People with prediabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
 
People with prediabetes are also more likely to have problems with their heart. Your heart is pretty amazing – with each beat, it pumps oxygen-rich blood to every cell in your body. When something goes wrong with your heart, it’s a big deal for your health.
 
If you find out that you have prediabetes or have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, there is something you can do to take care of your health. A CDC-recognized lifestyle change program is a proven lifestyle change program that can help you learn the skills you need to lose weight, eat better, become more physically active, and manage stress. In the program, you will work in a group with a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes.
 
“So many people in our community have prediabetes. The CDC-recognized lifestyle change program offers a real chance to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. The healthy habits that participants learn in the program have also been shown to reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke.”
 
To learn more, visit cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention.

Traditions are a part of family life passed from generation to generation, and many families are making improving their health a new tradition. While type 2 diabetes runs in many Hispanic/Latino families, people are learning that there are steps they can take as a family to prevent or delay it. Making healthy food choices, being more active, and supporting family members with prediabetes to lose a few pounds are ways to show the next generation that type 2 diabetes does not have to be their destiny. During National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15, NCFH is encouraging families to lower their risk for type 2 diabetes with new healthy habits.
 
Currently, more than 84 million Americans have prediabetes, and Hispanic people are more likely to develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanics. Prediabetes means a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, a serious disease that can be accompanied by other health conditions such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Hispanic/Latino people are more likely to develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanics.
 
What else should you watch for? You and your family members could have prediabetes and be at risk for type 2 diabetes if you have any of the following risk factors:

• Are 45 years of age or older
• Are overweight
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Have high blood pressure
• Are physically active fewer than three times a week
• Ever had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds

 
Type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to happen to you. You can prevent type 2 diabetes if you act early.
 
Any CDC recognized lifestyle change program, also part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), can help people with prediabetes change their lifestyle to improve their health. Participants work with one of our trained lifestyle coaches and share experiences with others who have the same goals and challenges. Many who have participated in the program say they have more energy, less stress, and better checkups.
 
If you think you may have prediabetes or be at risk for type 2 diabetes, you can learn more about lifestyle change programs in your area from the National DPP website. Signing up with your family can help you create a new, healthier family tradition!

The Ag Worker Access Campaign strives to increase access to primary health care services to agricultural workers and their family members across the country.  As health centers partner in this effort, a primary and critical step to success is to accurately identify patients as agricultural workers.  NCFH offers a wealth of resources to assist health center staff in accurately identifying, classifying and registering agricultural workers and their families in the UDS.  ​

New!  Ag Worker Identification Digital Training Tool 
Duration:  10 min
Language:  English

• The Ag Worker ID Digital Training tool is designed to assist front desk staff in accurately identifying, registering and reporting their Migratory and Seasonal Ag worker patients in the UDS. This 10 minute training video is a perfect introduction to the Ag Worker ID process for new team members, as well as seasoned staff. It can improve your health center process and is great for lunch-and-learn events and staff meetings!  Download your copy today!

Ag Worker Identification for Patients
Duration:  10 min
Language:  Spanish, with English subtitles

• This digital story is a tool designed to help Health Centers identify Ag Workers for identification and registration purposes. It is perfect for playing in waiting rooms for patients and is a great educational resource for community outreach and other health care professionals. This digital story is also an excellent staff training tool. Spanish with English subtitles.  Click here to download.

Archived MSAW Identification, Registration & Reporting Webinar
Duration: 1 hr
Language:  English and Spanish

• This webinar provides an overview of the federal definition of agriculture, including qualifying industries, classification of Ag workers and guidance from the UDS manual for accurate reporting, as well as tools to assist in implementing effective processes and procedures in verifying the Ag workers status of your patients.  Click here to view in English & Spanish.​

​“Understanding the Nuts & Bolts of AG Worker Identification to Drive Access to Care for Ag Workers”
09/25/19: Midwest Stream Forum for Ag Worker Health – Conference Intensive Session
10/10/19: East Coast Migrant Stream Forum – Conference Educational Session

Contact Lisa Miller for information regarding customized Ag Worker Identification virtual and in-person training options for your health center or network.  ​

Register Today!
September 25th-27th · Denver, CO
Early Bird Registration Rates End Friday, September 6th!  
Hotel - Special rates until September 2nd

Join us in Denver for a great learning and networking experience!
Don't miss the 3 energizing days of dynamic plenaries around leadership and self-care, priority topics such as diabetes, HIV, and Ag Worker access!

Continuing education credits available for CME, CNE, NASW, and TX CHW.

Check out the Preliminary Program!
For additional conference or hotel information, click here. If any questions, contact Sylvia Gomez at (512) 312-5459 or gomez@ncfh.org.

Promotores(as) de saludare frontline community health workers who have a deep understanding of the communities they serve. They often live in the community themselves and are trusted liaisons in healthcare settings. 

Promotores are experts on outreach and can provide crucial information to hard-to-reach communities, especially amongst the Latino population. They bridge the cultural gap with patients by providing services that are linguistically appropriate. Promotores address other social determinants of health aside from communication and language barriers such as improving health literacy, decreasing transportation challenges, referring patients to community resources, and advocating for policy change. They are key to breaking down barriers that keep many Latinos and other underserved populations from obtaining quality, accessible healthcare. 

Research shows that promotores de salud are particularly effective in addressing chronic illnesses like hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The Latino population is at greater at risk of prediabetes and often develop more serious conditionsincluding type 2 diabetes, kidney failure, diabetic eye disease, and stroke.Prediabetes is a blood glucose (sugar) level that is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Statistics show that about 32% of Latinos have prediabetes and 50% of Latinos eventually develop type 2 diabetes, a 10% higher rate for diabetes than the national average in the United States. 

Promotores de salud help prevent or delay diabetes by working with patients and their families. They use educational tools, like “Shopping at La Tiendita,” to inform patients about how to access and prepare healthy foods, change their eating habits, and increase their physical activity to lead a healthier lifestyle. Promotores also promote screenings for prediabetes and diabetes, connect and enroll patients in CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Programs, and educate health providers on factors that impact a patient’s continuity of care. Promotores de saludare in the best position to provide health education and support to patients in their own communities. 

For additional information and resources available to healthcare workers and patients on diabetes prevention and self-management, check out our Diabetes Resource Hub. You can also find more information about training programs for Promotores de saludwith one of our FHN partners, MHP Salud. 
 
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services; 2017. National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2016. https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/diabetes/DiabetesAtlas.html https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/atlas/countydata/atlas.html
CDC, 2017. Health, United States, 2016. Table 58. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ hus/hus16.pdf US Census Bureau, 2010 Harris, MI, et al., “Is the risk of diabetic retinopathy greater in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic whites with type 2 diabetes? A U.S. population study.” Diabetes Care. 1998 Aug;21(8):1230-5. 
Brownstein J, Bone L, Dennison C, Hill M, Kim M, Levine D. Community health workers as interventionists in the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke. Am J Prev Med. 2005: 29 (5): 128-133.
Brownstein J, Chowdhury F, Norris S, et al. Effectiveness of community health workers in the care of people with hypertension. Am J Prev Med. 2007; 32 (5): 435-447. 
Allen J, Dennison C, Himmelfarb D, Szanton S, Frick K. Cost-effectiveness of nurse practitioner/community health worker care to reduce cardiovascular health disparities. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2013; 29 (4): 1-7. 
Gary TL, Bone LR, Hill MN, et al. Randomized controlled trial of the effects of nurse case manager and community health worker interventions on risk factors for diabetes-related complications in urban African American. Prev Med. 2003; 37 (1): 23-32.



 
 

 [GC1]Hyperlink CLAS somehow, but only found an archived webinar

For many families across the country, warm weather means time spent with family – whether it’s backyard cookouts, picnics at the park, family reunions, or family vacations. These events are a time for families to reconnect and reflect on traditions. Family functions are also a time to talk about family health. 
 
In the United States, all too often a family’s health history includes prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition that affects 84 million American adults – or 1 in 3 – and means that a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
 
Prediabetes affects some communities more than others. For example, 32% of Hispanics and Latinos have prediabetes, and only 1 in 14 are aware that they do. The good news is prediabetes can often be reversed with a healthy diet and more physical activity. 
 
When spending time with family this summer, think about ways you can get healthier together. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
 

• Prepare healthier food for barbeques and picnics. It’s not summer without family barbeques and cookouts! Offer to bring healthier options such as fruits, vegetables, and low-sugar and low-calorie beverages. 

 

• Check out farmers’ markets and make trips to “pick-your-own” farms and orchards. Kids may be more likely to try new foods they pick themselves. Plus, the whole family can get in more activity.  

 

• Get the family moving. Gather the family for a game of soccer, basketball, softball, or kickball. Or just go for a good, brisk family walk. If your family goes on vacation, incorporate opportunities to walk to, around, or between sites. 
  
  
• Create a family health buddy program. Accountability works. Encourage family members to pick a “health buddy” who they can talk to when they feel like they’re slipping into unhealthy behaviors or when they want to celebrate a health win. Texting a family member after completing a workout or when a dessert craving hits can be just what they need to stay on track.

​

• Start a conversation about prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. It’s not always easy to bring up a topic like prediabetes, but it sure is important – 9 out of 10 people with prediabetes don’t even know they have it. Encourage your family members to find out if they might have prediabetes by taking a one-minute risk test at cdc.gov/prediabetes/takethetest. If they find out they have prediabetes, encourage them to learn more about a program like the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention program OR a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program. At these programs, participants can learn ways to lower their chances for getting type 2 diabetes. Hear Suzi Gomez's story and about how joining a diabetes prevention program helped her.

 
Summer is a time to have fun with family, but it’s also a time to help take care of them. Encourage family members at risk for type 2 diabetes to understand their risk and learn that they can prevent or delay it if they take steps to change their lifestyle. Help them get started today!

The Ag Worker Access 2020 Campaign Goal & Status Tracking Tool is a template poster for individual health center tracking of Ag Worker Access 2020 Campaign goals & status. It is a visual template for health centers to use to keep staff and board engaged in increasing access to care for Ag workers and their families.  

• PDF form-fill format allows you to customize with your health center's information. 
• The instructions in the fillable areas (i.e. Enter your health center name here) are only visible when editing; they aren’t visible in the print version, so the final product has a clean look.
• It is printable as either a standard 8 ½ x 11 page or a larger ledger size poster (recommended).

​
Suggested Uses: Post in staff common areas, share in Board and staff meeting packets and presentations

ProTip: Purchase self-adhesive lamination sheets to place over the table in the Progress section or Purchase an inexpensive poster frame …then use a dry erase marker to update progress without having to print the poster each time!

NCFH is pleased to announce that Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) is this year’s Increase Access to Care for Ag Workers (IAC) Program Promising Practices Award recipient, for their promising practice highlighting partnership development and innovative outreach. FHCN’s partnerships with the Ventanillas de Salud Resource Center, and a Cuadrillas program with Radio Campesino, resulted in outstanding community outreach! 
Together they:

• Serve nearly 200 patients a day
• Provide information and education on a variety of health topics
• Assist individuals and families in establishing  a medical home 

• Provide health screenings 

Norma Verduzco, FHCN Chief Operations Officer, received a plaque, and a check in the amount of $1500 to support FHCN's increase access efforts at this year's NACHC Conference for Ag Worker Health in Albuquerque, NM, on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.  Congratulations!

June is Men’s Health Month, a time when men are frequently reminded to make an appointment with their doctor for a yearly checkup. And while you’ve probably added it to your to-do list – you did, didn’t you? – there is something you can do now, today, to get a sense of how healthy you are. The best part is you don’t even need to leave your house to do it. All you have to do is take a 1-minute online test to learn if you might have prediabetes. 
 
Prediabetes is a condition that affects 84 million Americans – or 1 in 3 people – and it means that a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Think of when you play ball with two buddies – chances are one of you has the condition. Men are more likely to have prediabetes than women. The good news is it can often be reversed with a healthier diet and more physical activity. 
 
To take the 1-minute test, visit doihaveprediabetes.org. You’ll be asked a few simple questions about your health, such as how active you are, whether you have a family history of diabetes, and how much you weigh. Then the website will tally your points and tell you whether you’re likely to have prediabetes and be at high risk for type 2 diabetes. 
 
Of course, if you find out you have a high-risk score, you’ll want to make that appointment with your doctor. But for now, just taking the test can let you know where you stand. 
 
If you do have prediabetes, your doctor can recommend resources and programs to help you reduce your type 2 diabetes risk, including the National Diabetes Prevention Program. At CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs, participants work with a trained lifestyle coach to learn how to make healthier choices when it comes to physical activity, healthy eating, and managing stress.
​
Bruce Wheeler, 52, Program Participant
When my glucose levels and blood pressure started to increase, I knew I had to do something to reduce my risk of developing type 2 diabetes. When I mentioned my concerns to a friend, she told me about CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs. I love the support and encouragement I get from the other program participants and the lifestyle coach. I enjoy making lifestyle changes such as cutting back on red meat and sugary drinks. I now keep my bike at work and take lunch-break rides around town to stay active!
 
If you do one thing this June for Men’s Health Month, take the one-minute prediabetes risk test at doihaveprediabetes.org. And tell a buddy or two to do the same.