Nourishing Healthy Starts:
Combating Negative Birth Outcomes Through a Food-Is-Medicine Approach
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT
The Heartland Center for Population Health and Community Systems Development at Saint Louis University invites you to join their webinar on “Nourishing Healthy Starts: Combating Negative Birth Outcomes Through a Food-Is-Medicine Approach.”
Nutrition and Food-Is-Medicine approaches are increasingly recognized as priorities in federal health initiatives, reflecting growing awareness of the critical role of access to nutritious food in improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
This webinar will feature Natasha Woodward, MS, MSW, CHLC, Nourishing Healthy Starts Manager at Operation Food Search. Participants will explore how nutrition interventions, food security strategies, and peer support can promote healthier pregnancies and births. The presentation offers an opportunity to learn about the connection between food security and maternal health, identify promising practices for community engagement, and see a real-world example of a Food-Is-Medicine initiative in action.
To register for this webinar, click on the button below.
Wichita State University Badge Program
Fall Scholarships
Enroll by Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Wichita State University (WSU) is excited to offer a special scholarship for the fall 2026 semester. Enroll in any eligible badge course by Wednesday, September 9, 2026, and the cost of your first badge course will be covered.
No forms to complete. No questions to answer. No waiting for approval.
Tuition and fees for each badge are normally $100 with a one-time fee of $25.
Please note that the public health series, “Care of Populations,” is eligible for this scholarship. In this series, there are 6 badges that can be taken alone or in any combination.
For more information, click on the buttons below.
Beyond Intent:
A Community Engagement Workshop
Monday, September 14, 2026
St. Louis, Missouri
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. CT
The Heartland Center for Population Health and Community Systems Development at Saint Louis University invites you to join them for “Beyond Intent: A Community Engagement Workshop,” featuring Shavanna Spratt-Bailey, Founder and Executive Director of Da Hood Connect (DHC). DHC is a local nonprofit reducing social barriers through community engagement within communities in St. Louis. Shavanna is also the CEO of Da Hood Talks Entertainment, offering the Da Hood Talks Podcast, a community engagement tool amplifying community voices through meaningful conversations and curated community-centered spaces.
Meaningful community engagement requires more than good intentions. It requires self-awareness, a clear understanding of organizational culture, and practical strategies for addressing the barriers that shape community participation.
During this interactive in-person workshop, participants will:
- Reflect on personal positionality and organizational culture using the Power Wheel
- Identify opportunities to strengthen their organization’s approach to community engagement
- Map community ecosystems and identify barriers such as transportation, childcare, scheduling, and access
- Explore potential partnerships and strategies for creating more responsive, community-centered engagement
This workshop offers participants an opportunity to move from intention to action by developing practical tools and connections that can strengthen authentic, community-centered partnerships.
A light lunch will be provided.
To register for this in-person workshop, click on the button below.
Making Evidence Work:
An Introduction to Implementation Science
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CT
The Midwestern Public Health Training Center (MPHTC), in partnership with the University of Iowa Prevention Research Center for Rural Health
(PRC-RH), will be hosting a 1-hour webinar on implementation science.
“Making Evidence Work: An Introduction to Implementation Science” is intended for local public health practitioners and other community-based partners interested in learning how evidence-based programs and practices can be successfully implemented in real-world public health settings.
After the presentation, attendees will be invited to participate in a Q&A. Live captioning and ASL interpretation will be available.
Presenters include:
- Heather Schacht Reisinger, PhD, Professor, Internal Medicine Director, Implementation Science Center, University of Iowa
- Jeneane McDonald, DrPH, MPH, Public Health Workforce Director, Iowa Department of Health and Human Service
Learning Objectives:
- Define foundational concepts and principles of implementation science.
- Explain how implementation science supports the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based public health programs and practices.
- Identify practical strategies and lessons learned from public health professionals applying implementation science.
For more information and to register for the webinar, click on the buttons below.
2026 Sizzling Summer Series
The 2026 Sizzling Summer Series, Taking Care of Public Health: Building a Resilient Workforce, has concluded. However, if you would like to watch the Part 1 webinar recording, click on the button below. Please note that Part 2 was not recorded this year.
Archived Webinar
Creating Accessible Content:
A Conversation with Public Health Professionals
In case you missed the July digital accessibility webinar, or if you would like to see it again, the recording, slides, and other resources are archived for your convenience. For more information and to access the webinar recording, click on the button below.
New Video
Community Health Workers in Iowa: An Urban & Rural Perspective
Want to learn more about the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs)?
Need a resource to help demonstrate the value of CHWs in rural and urban settings?
Community Health Workers in Iowa: An Urban & Rural Perspective was created by MPHTC staff members in partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. This 30-minute video takes you inside the lives of Community Health Workers and frontline agencies across Iowa, both rural and urban, showing how they break down barriers, build trust, and transform health outcomes.
You’ll hear real stories from CHWs and the communities they serve, see the challenges they face, and understand why this workforce is essential for the health of all Iowans. While this video was developed for individuals in the state of Iowa, the information can be useful for others in our region.
To watch this video, click on the button below.
New Training
Successful Student Internships: Tips and Tools for Supervisors
The Midwestern Public Health Training Center (MPHTC), with Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding through the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), has developed a new training, “Successful Student Internships: Tips and Tools for Supervisors.”
This new, free online training equips supervisors and organizational leaders with practical strategies to effectively onboard, mentor, and manage student interns, creating a positive and productive experience for both interns and the organization. Participants will learn how to foster engagement, provide meaningful work opportunities, and ensure interns contribute successfully to short-term projects while developing professional skills.
After completing this training, participants will be able to:
- Integrate interns into the workplace for short-term projects
- Recognize tools to assist with managing interns as they contribute to the work of the organization
- Identify resources to recruit competent and qualified interns
- Demonstrate effective communication strategies to set clear expectations, provide feedback, and maintain positive relationships with interns
This training can be completed in approximately 25-30 minutes. For more information and to access this training, click on the button below.