Consortium of African American Public Health Prog

Daytona Beach,  FL 
United States
https://www.caaphp.org/

• Booth: 1822

Consortium of African American Public Health Program (CAAPHP) is a coalition of public health programs/schools established and operating at ten of the nation''''s leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). CAAPHP''''s mission is to strengthen collaboration among public health professionals at HBCUs to enhance the health status of people of color.  CAAPHP''''s goal is to provide leadership in eliminating health disparities and promoting social justice through advocacy, public health education, partnerships, innovative research and mentorship.

 Show Specials

• Greetings from Florida A&M University, Institute of Public Health (Oct 25, 2021)
  

  Greetings, from the Institute of Public Health

  As Associate Dean for Public Health and Director and Professor of the Institute of Public Health, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the new College name: College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health. With the creation of the Institute of Public Health (IPH), by the 1995 Florida Legislature, IPH has exhibited public health excellence through the work of an outstanding and committed cadre of phenomenal faculty, staff, and alumni – committed to research, service and the training and production of culturally competent public health practitioners (students). This timely name change documents an elevation of the Institute of Public Health to a well-deserved level of prominence. It positions its future elevation to a school of public health.

  The Institute of Public Health was created because of grassroots advocacy to address health disparities, particularly in Florida. Initial approval was granted to offer the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, and program implementation began in the Fall of 1997. Four specializations are offered in the MPH Program: Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Health Policy and Management. The first MPH graduating class was conferred on May 1, 1999 – the "Magnificent Seven." The Public Health Program of IPH gained initial accreditation, by the Council on Education for Public Health, in June of 2000, followed by re-accreditation in 2005, 2012, and recently, 2020 with the maximum accreditation tenure possible with each accreditation cycle!  In the Fall of 2004, the IPH was approved to offer the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Degree, and the first cohort of doctoral students entered in January of 2005. There are currently two doctoral specializations: Behavioral Science and Health Education and Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The first DrPH student graduated in December of 2008 – the first DrPH graduate to be conferred by a Florida academic institution. In the Fall of 2011, the IPH Public Health Program launched the Online MPH Program in Public Health Practice. The IPH is guided by a stellar 25-membered Community Advisory Committee, which has provided invaluable guidance and feedback on operations since the inception of the IPH. Since the creation of IPH, a longstanding public health student organization, Future Public Health Professionals (FPHP), has provided public health leadership and service to the University and the local community.

  The mission of the IPH Public Health Program is “to develop and produce culturally competent public health practitioners and leaders through graduate training, research, and service." Since the graduation of the first seven MPH students (1999), the IPH now has over 450 MPH graduates and, since the first DrPH graduate (2008), the IPH has conferred over 50 doctoral graduates. It is currently the most extensive graduate program in the College.

  Notable Distinctions Includes:

  • First accredited public health program administratively housed in a College of Pharmacy
  • First accredited public health program in North Florida
  • First public health program to offer the DrPH degree in the State of Florida (and first graduate)
  • First HBCU to offer the full MPH degree online
  • First and Only HBCU to lead a state-wide federally funded Public Health Training Center.
  • ONLY Florida HBCU Public Health Program to lead a COVID-19 Community Testing Site

  The IPH has been at the forefront of COVID-19 testing and education. In addition, the IPH continues with an active health disparities research enterprise. This enterprise focuses on maternal and child health, environmental justice/toxicology, cancer research, and education (e.g., prostate, breast, colorectal), diabetes research and education, public health genomics, health outcomes research, bioinformatics, infectious epidemiology and surveillance, and mental health and first responders. 

  Our future is bright, and the Program remains committed to rendering graduate training, research, and service through Excellence With Caring!

  Healthiest Regards!

  Cynthia M. Harris, Ph.D.

  Associate Dean, Director and Professor of the Institute of Public Health

 Press Releases

• FAMU Professor Accompanies Tallahassee First Responders to South Florida Building Collapse Site (Oct 25, 2021)

  FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY/COMMUNICATIONS

  For Immediate Release

  July 1, 2021

  FAMU Professor Accompanies Tallahassee First Responders to South Florida Building Collapse Site

  Florida A&M University (FAMU) Institute of Public Health (IPH) faculty member Kellie O’Dare, Ph.D., traveled to South Florida this week with Tallahassee first responders who are part of the search and rescue efforts at the Champlain Towers South collapse in Miami.

  The men and women from the Tallahassee Fire Department USAR Task Force 7 are among the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from across the state who have deployed and are currently searching for survivors in the Surfside collapse site.

  Cynthia Harris, Ph.D., associate dean for public health and director of the Institute of Public Health, said O’Dare is contributing to the “dire need for addressing the mental health stressors that adversely impact our first responders.” 

  “She answered the local state, national and international public health call to immediately respond to the needs of firefighters in the wake of this tragedy,” Harris added.

  O’Dare, founder and director of the 2^nd Alarm Project, has been deployed to the scene of the condo building collapse to help support the wellness needs of first responders both before, during, and after the deployment.

  “Disaster response deployments require a high level of mental and physical effort from emergency service professionals,” said O’Dare, an IPH assistant professor in health and policy management. “The physical, social, and psychological demands of disaster response work can become overwhelming, and without mitigation, contribute to longer term behavioral health and substance use issues.”

  Founded in 2019, the 2^nd Alarm Project is a multi-faceted, evidence-based outreach and intervention approach to address the behavioral health and substance use needs of first responders in the Florida Panhandle. The project originated out of a request from Tallahassee Fire Chief Jerome Gaines for assistance to address the mental health needs of fire fighters and other first responders, in the wake Hurricane Michael and other major events.

  “The science demonstrates that the mental health needs of first responders look a little different if they are going to be effective,” said O’Dare, who approaches the issue from the perspective of a trained social worker who grew up in a family of fire fighters and is married to a fire fighter.

  The 2^nd Alarm Project is funded primarily through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. O’Dare will oversee and provide direct support to USAR Task Force 7 members and support peer team members on the scene.

  O’Dare will also provide support to the International Association of Fire Fighters peer support team working 24/7 on site to provide peer-based services and resources to first responders.

  As part of the deployment, O’Dare will work with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Florida Firefighters Safety & Health Collaborative on a state plan for psychological first aid of first responders both during the deployment and upon demobilization of the USAR teams.

  “Seeing suffering and devastation of a disaster, along with repeated exposure to grievously injured and deceased persons, as well as recovering human remains, can increase feelings of cynicism and hopelessness among responders,” O’Dare said. “The mental wellness and resiliency of our first responders has become a priority and recognizing the need for psychological education, access to competent resources, and follow up to those members exposed to these potentially traumatic events.” 

  Peer support among disaster responders can improve mission readiness and preserve the force during deployment, as well as mitigate longer term consequences of disaster response work, including PTSD and other mental health concerns, O’Dare explained.

  “Peer support is a vital component of mitigating issues among first responders,” she said.

  -30-

  Photo captions:  Kellie O’Dare, Ph.D., with members of the Tallahassee Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 7 (credit: Kellie O’Dare)

  Media Contact

  Andrew J. Skerritt

  850-544-2675

  Andrew.skerritt@famu.edu

 Products