Five on Friday: Spring Edition

Fri, 03/23/2018 | by Claire Hutkins Seda

MCN Five on Friday - Spring pink flower blossoms. Photo by Antonio Ron

Spring has sprung! The first day of spring -- earlier this week on March 20th -- is also celebrated as National Ag Day. Right now in California, lettuces and asparagus are ready to be picked, while across the Upper Midwest and East, many fields will again get tucked under snow this weekend. Tens of thousands of migrant workers toil on our nation’s fields, moving as the fields respond to the seasons, and enabling our markets to offer us a plethora of fresh vegetables, year-round. Yet, what appears to be such a simple act -- the act of movement to follow seasonal work -- puts up substantial barriers for those workers to access and maintain health services. As we gear up for the spring, we want to extend our thanks to those in our clinical network dedicated to removing those barriers so that those who put healthy foods on our tables can also maintain their health.

'We are the forgotten people': It's been almost six months since Hurricane Maria, and Puerto Ricans are still dying

Amy, Director of Environmental and Occupational Health, sent this article: “'We are the forgotten people': It's been almost six months since Hurricane Maria, and Puerto Ricans are still dying.”

Unable To Prove They Own Their Homes, Puerto Ricans Denied FEMA Help

Amy also shared, “Unable To Prove They Own Their Homes, Puerto Ricans Denied FEMA Help,” from NPR.

In Houston and beyond, Harvey’s spills leave a toxic legacy

Martha, Data Analysis and Continuing Education Program Associate: “It seems the environmental devastation to many parts of Texas post-Harvey have been raising a multitude of questions from the public and officials, and with no clear, concise answers I'm sure the residents are left wondering how exposure to such toxic chemicals can impact their personal health. A sad consequence of natural disasters, and unfortunately it is usually the poor, underrepresented, marginalized communities that suffer the most.”.

Local Health Department-Community Health Center Collaboration Toolkit

Candace, Specialist in Clinical Systems & Women’s Health, felt this Local Health Department-Community Health Center Collaboration Toolkit may be of use for our work with health departments on TB treatment.

Advocates Say Teen Migrants Need Help, Not Detention Facilities

Claire, Writer and Editor, shared an NPR article about a poetry teacher at Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center, which houses unaccompanied minors who have arrived at the US border, many fleeing violence in Central America.

Have a safe and healthy weekend!