News and Events
Shield Spotlight: Jarred Corwin
Education is a key aspect of HIV and viral hepatitis prevention. Division of HIV/STI/Viral Hepatitis Training and Education Program Coordinator Jarred Corwin’s work on that topic is making a real difference, and those efforts recently earned a rare distinction: a Shield Spotlight Personal Achievement Award (the first presented since 2021).
The training Jarred developed has resulted in approximately 200 people throughout Indiana being educated in the transmission and prevention of HIV and viral hepatitis and administering rapid blood-based HIV and HCV tests and providing results in a competent manner.
Congratulations, Jarred. Thank you for your hard work!
Shield Spotlight: Alaina Adams
Alaina's team learned that a funding award that they received was now being rescinded at no fault of their own. Much of the work relaying this message fell to Alaina, a program director for HIPP’s Disease Prevention and Community-Based Services. She took on the lion’s share of the one-on-one meetings with the grantees and she facilitated the difficult conversations with professionalism, customer courtesy and grace.
Though the task was difficult, Adams’ consistent efforts to maintain positive relationships with those to whom she provides services comes from a caring heart and a forward focus.
Congratulations, Alaina. Thank you for your dedication to serving Hoosiers!
Read more about the award winners in the PULSE.
Nominate someone for a Shield Spotlight award here.
Conversations with the Commissioner
Episode 3
The once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse is just days away, and the excitement is building. So for this edition of Conversations with the Commissioner I talked with Safety, Resource, & Logistics Director Pat Brown and District and Local Readiness Program Manager Holley Rose from the Division of Emergency Preparedness about what they’re doing to prepare for this unique event, as well as other initiatives they have under way to help Hoosiers in need.
More information is available on the eclipse is featured on Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s website.
Episode 2
It’s respiratory infection season, so there’s no better time to talk about public health topics like influenza and wastewater surveillance. In this second edition of Conversations with the Commissioner you can hear my chat with infectious disease epidemiologists Madi Asbell and Layne Mounsey from the Infectious Disease and Epidemiology & Prevention Division. They’ll describe the great work they’re doing and how the influenza and wastewater dashboards help IDOH track and even predict the spread of illness across the state.
Thanks to Madi and Layne, and thanks for watching.
Episode 1
Please click this link to view the first episode of Conversations with the Commissioner, a monthly video series featuring a chat with folks throughout the agency. Dr. Weaver's goal is to not only highlight the work we’re doing in a unique way, but also to help us get to know each other a little better.
The first Conversations with the Commissioner features State Registrar Larry Ervin. Please take a moment to hear about all the great things happening in Vital Records. Thanks, Larry!
Jonny on the Spot - Part 2
Thanks to knowledgeable pedestrians on the street, Jonny was able to learn about what Health First Indiana is, but he still has questions.
How does it work? How can local health departments use their HFI funding? Click the play button to join Jonny as he puts people on the spot to get some answers!
Jonny on the Spot - Part 1
After getting used to GPHC, the Governor’s Public Health Commission, a new acronym is floating around the department of health – HFI, or Health First Indiana. This new terminology keeps coming up in Jonny’s meetings … but what is Health First Indiana?
Jonny’s curiosity was getting the best of him. Surely, he can’t be the only IDOH staff member who wants to know more about HFI! It was time to take to the street and get some answers.
Click the play button to join Jonny on his quest to learn more about Health First Indiana.
Health and Wellness Council and Office of Performance Excellence host monthly tunnel tours
Whether you are new to the tunnel system, want an alternate route to and from the office during the winter months, or want to stay active during breaks, this is an excellent opportunity to get those steps in!
The Office of Performance Excellence has partnered with the Health and Wellness Council to offer a monthly walking tour of the state tunnels. We are actively working on calendar holds, so stay tuned for more details!
This tour will leave from 2N and enter at the NW corner of Illinois and Washington (i.e., Panera) under the Arts Garden. The tour will take the escalator down and walk the systems, taking you to the Statehouse, Government Center South, Government Center North, and the State Library. These tunnels also directly connect to Government Center South and North garages, which will be pointed out along the tour.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Mia Brewer at MBrewer@health.in.gov or Lindsey Bouza at LBouza@health.in.gov.
Why walk during the day?
It can help improve productivity and focus to take breaks throughout the day.
- IDOH Contractor and State Employee break time policy allows for breaks of less than 20 minutes as part of the regular work day, if they are allowed by supervisors.
- In the link above, people can go to the “Determining Hours Worked” section and read about break time regulations.
- Breaks are not required, but if they are provided:
- A break of less than 20 minutes with no work performed is compensable as part of the regular work day.
- Such breaks can be scheduled if necessary to ensure proper coverage and keep offices open for the public and to monitor usage.
- These walks can also help State employees meet their Daily Step goal for the Active Health incentive if they are choosing to sync their watch.
PC Refresh Status
The Office of Technology and Cybersecurity is working with IOT to replace employee laptops with newer versions. This is a standard refresh that takes place every four years. Employees should back up their files to OneDrive ahead of the refresh.
Division Directors and Points of Contact: Please continue to work with Michelle Conaway on your Refresh Worksheets. Your Refresh will be scheduled by IOT once your worksheet has been approved by Michelle in OTC and submitted to IOT. Remind your staff to back up all their files onto OneDrive in anticipation of their refresh. Your division's refresh status can be viewed via a view-only spreadsheet here.
Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Conaway.
Next Level Teams Training Opportunities
The Office of Minority Health is excited to announce that IDOH will continue the Next Level Teams training opportunities in 2024. The Indiana State Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity Officer (CEIOO) has created the Next Level T.E.A.M.S. Training series to help provide guidance and support to State of Indiana Agencies, as they strife to normalize equity across every aspect of state workforce engagement and state services. These trainings seek to help staff members conceptualize how the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion can result in meaningful engagement at every level.
The Office of Minority Health partnered with CEIOO to bring the Next Level T.E.A.M.S. Training series to IDOH, through our continued efforts to support and sustain an INclusive Culture (NLT I) and INclusive Leadership (NLT II) throughout the Agency. Both concepts will be presented through the lens of Civility, Constructive Disagreement, Compassionate Listening, and Championing a Culture of Inclusion in the workplace.
The NLT I and II schedule for IDOH is listed below. You may RSVP for the session(s) of your choice but clicking on the hyperlink to access the Outlook calendar hold.
Next Level Teams I - 10 to 11 a.m.
- Tuesday, June 25 (virtual only)
- Tuesday, September 24 (in-person and virtual option)
- Tuesday, December 10 (virtual only)
Next Level Teams II - virtual only; 1 to 2 p.m.
These Next Level Trainings are free. Refreshments are not provided.
If you have questions, please get in touch with Dr. Kimberly Bentley Walton, OMH Health Equity Manager, at kbentley@health.in.gov, or Patricia Truelove, Accreditation Coordinator, at ptruelove1@health.in.gov.
Meet our innovation teams!
Click the videos below to meet the leaders of our innovation teams and hear about the work they are doing.
Artificial Intelligence Team | Cannabis Innovation Team |
Congenital Syphilis Team | Infant Mortality Data Team |
Obesity Innovation Team | Provider Communication Team |
School Innovation Team | Substance Use Disorder Team |
Minority Health Month Opening Ceremony
April is National Minority Health Month. The National Office of Minority Health 2024 theme is Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections. This annual observance builds awareness of health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority populations and communities and encourages everyone to take action to end these inequities.
The Office of Minority Health hosted the Minority Health Month opening ceremony on Thursday, April 4 with the theme “Women and more in 2024,” drawing attention to minority women who have the highest rates of obesity or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. This event shined a light on the importance of nutrition and physical activity and the linkages that obesity has to chronic diseases such as mental health issues like depression and isolation.
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