To accommodate the virtual nature of the InSOPHE Fall Conference, the conference program will be held over the course of two days.
- The first half of the conference will begin on Monday, November 9th from 1 PM to 4 PM EST
- The second half of the conference will continue on Tuesday, November 10th from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST
We hope this conference schedule will allow for higher attendance and flexibility with work and school obligations. All registration fees include continuing education contact hours for master-certified and certified health education specialist (MCHES/CHES). Due to the transition to a virtual conference this year and our desire to positively impact the world around us, the InSOPHE Board of Directors has decided to donate all profits from this year's fall conference. To ensure we reach a variety of public health issues, organizations receiving donations will be selected by the speakers of the conference.
Kierra S. Barnett, Keynote Speaker
BIOgraphy
Dr. Kierra S. Barnett is a Racial and Health Equity Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Her work focuses on the impact of social determinants of health (i.e. socioeconomic conditions, education, and natural, built and social environments) on racial and ethnic health inequities. Having joined the Kirwan Institute in 2013, Dr. Barnett has collaborated with state, county and city public health departments, as well as non-for-profit organizations, to assess health outcomes, such as infant mortality, and make policy and practice-based recommendations to address the disparities. Dr. Barnett recently received her Ph.D. in Public Health from The Ohio State University. She also holds a Masters of Public Health from OSU and a Bachelor’s of Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois.
3:00 - 4:00 PM: Advancing Social Changes for Improved Birth Outcomes
Jack Turman, Jr, Breakout Speaker
Jack Turman, Jr. is a Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the IU School of MedicineDr. Turman is dedicated to growing education, research and outreach programs that optimize maternal and child health. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree from Washington University, St. Louis, he earned his Ph.D. from UCLA and completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. He was a faculty member for 15 years at the University of Southern California, where he founded and directed the Center for Premature Infant Health and Development, wherein he received recognition from the California Legislative bodies for his community engagement efforts to improve birth outcomes. As a program director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center he built The Connections Project, a community- based program to improve birth outcomes and infant development in Omaha’s African American community. During his tenure as dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Indiana State University, he was the academic lead of the Wabash Valley Healthy Moms and Babies Initiative to improve birth outcomes in rural Indiana. In 2016, he received a Fulbright Specialist Award in Global Public Health, through which he worked to develop the first MPH program in Morocco. At the Fairbanks School of Public Health, he is leading an initiative funded by Riley Children’s Foundation to train and mentor Grassroots Maternal and Child Health Leaders in Indiana zip codes at high risk for infant mortality. He also facilitates the Community Action Team of the Marion County Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Board.
Deborah D. Fisher, Breakout speaker
BIOGRAPHY
Deborah D. Fisher is a member of the Grassroots Maternal and Child Health Leaders Training Initiative, where she works toward promoting change in our communities to ensure the health and well-being for all pregnancies, infants, and families. Since becoming a grassroots leader, she has had the opportunity to receive training in community development strategies to address social, economic, environmental and political determinants of women’s and infants’ health, so that all women have the chance for a healthy pregnancy and all babies get the chance for a great start in life. Deborah, after 21 months in the program, is leading the Policy Development Group. The Policy group has begun working on two policies to present to lawmakers and other potential coalition partners which are; (1) Rights of grandparents caring for their minor grandchildren, and (2) Elimination of sales tax on diapers and other incontinence supplies for all who utilizes them, also included are feminine hygiene products.Deborah has had the opportunity to attend and speak at her first press conference at the Indiana State House surrounding Rep. Vanessa Summer’s announcement launching the Maternal Health Caucus to raise awareness and promote policies to reverse Indiana’s relatively high maternal and infant mortality rates. Deborah, as with all Grassroots Maternal and Child Health Leaders has written and presented her personal story describing her participation and desires as far as the GMCHL Initiative and she indicates that it is her desire for her story to inspire and give hope to others who have experienced maternal, and or infant mortality.
3:00 - 4:00 PM: Barriers to Successful Reentry
John Cocco, Breakout Speaker
John P. Cocco is a licensed clinical social worker and Director of Reentry Services at Step-Up, Incorporated. He has worked in the field of mental health and substance use disorders since 2007, and has led the reentry services program at Step-Up since 2017. He is the vice chair of the Marion County Reentry Coalition and the Secretary of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work.
3:00 - 4:00 PM: What about My health?
Angie Martinez, Breakout Speaker
BIOGRAPHY
Angie Martinez- The HIV Program Manager for Shalom Health Care Center, a self-identified Queer, Latinx individual, who has a passion for people and seeks to further embed the way individuals see themselves in the world to be able to work together in community and challenge the status quo. Within their work, Angie helps individuals through the HIV continuum of care, HIV Prevention and they continue to organize and work with a variety of nonprofits to bring an end to health and social disparities and bring equitable justice for all.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
9:30 - 11:00 AM: Racism as a Public Health Crisis (Panel Discussion)
Robin Coleman, Panelist
BIOGRAPHY
Robin Coleman, RN, MPH, CLS, NCTTP, UMMS Certified TTS Trainer, started her nursing career in 2010 after pursuing a bachelor in nursing from Marian University. She began her career as a community health nurse in the specialties of family practice, referrals, and triage at HealthNet, where her passion for serving and supporting underserved clientele was known and grown. During this time, Robin participated in the Minority Nurse Affinity Group and Minority Professional Affinity Group at IU Health, HealthNet’s affiliated partner. Robin joined Nurse Family Partnership in 2015, where she is the co-chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee. As a nurse whose lived experiences mirrors that of her clients, she brings a wealth of knowledge and practical skills to her role as a nurse home visitor. Robin graduated in August 2019 from Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia with a Master’s in Public Health, focusing on Health Promotion, Education, & Behavior. She has specialties as a Certified Lactation Specialist, a Nationally Certified Tobacco Treatment Provider, Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trainer, and has recently completed training to become a Certified Diversity Professional. As a champion advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Robin has been involved in the following initiatives: provided consultation for the development of the “Doula Project” focusing on culturally appropriate care for Goodwill’s Young Leaders Board; co-presented at the “Implicit Bias with a Focus on Racial Equity Workshop” for the Excel Center National Conference 2020; co-presented at the “Racial Equity Workshop” for the GEM Conference 2020; and a panel participant at “Non-Bedside Nursing” for the Central District of Indiana Organization of Nurse Executives in October 2019, where she proclaimed that systemic racism is the root of the health care disparities in minority populations. Robin enjoys bike riding with her son, Garland and dad, Larry.
Michelle Washington, Panelist
BIOGRAPHY
Michelle Washington, RN, MSN, TTS, IBCLC started her nursing career in 2014 after graduating with her BSN from Marian University. Prior to nursing school, Michelle worked for Healthy Families, where she developed a passion for Maternal and Child Health. Michelle joined Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) in 2014, as a Nurse Home Visitor. She has participated in various committees while at NFP, including the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, of which she is a co-chair. She is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, a Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trainer, and has recently completed training to become a Certified Diversity Professional. Michelle co-presented a session on Implicit Bias at the “Racial Equity Workshop” for the GEM Conference in 2020. She is also a member of the Indiana State Maternal Mortality Review committee. Michelle graduated in March 2020 from Western Governors University with a Master’s in Leadership and Management. She has recently begun transitioning to a Nurse Supervisor role at NFP where she is looking forward to continuing to support nurses in this very important work of making sure all moms and babies get off to their best possible start. In her spare time Michelle enjoys traveling with her family, and curling up with a good book.
Kelli Brien, Panelist
BIOGRAPHY
Kelli Brien is a passionate women’s health advocate, focused on eliminating racial disparities in maternal health. She created the Speak Life Doula program and co-authored the Safety PIN grant submission that garnered multiple awards from the Indiana State Department of Health. Kelli founded In Full Bloom Maternity Service LLC and Mahogany Maternity, a 501(c)(3) to provide maternity support in multiple counties across Indiana. She is a Certified Lactation Specialist, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Spinning Babies Certified Parent Educator and DONA International certified birth and postpartum Doula for over 13 years. She serves on The Saint Joseph County Fetal Infant Mortality Review team, the Indiana State Department of Health Maternal Mortality Review team, The Birth Equity Committee for Saint Joseph County Health Department, and chairs the Birth Equity Subcommittee and serves as Indiana Ambassador for DONA International. She established the 32nd Milk Bank Depot in Indiana. Kelli testified at the Indiana Statehouse in House and Senate chambers in support of Senate Bill 416, which passed, to be signed by Governor Eric Holcomb. Kelli is currently training to become a Certified Professional Midwife, her clinical experience entails service in Amish communities, attending home births across Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan.
Gina Fears, Panelist
BIOGRAPHY
Gina Fears, has worked 22 years contributing to the Indianapolis Human Services community. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Recovery and Community Services. Her immediate charge at PACE has been to develop Peer to Peer Recovery Coaching services and a DMHA partnered Recovery Resource Center, which opened in January 2019. Gina has trained Peer to Peer Recovery Coaches across the state of Indiana for certification, including in IDOC therapeutic communities. She has partnered for research with IUPUI School of Public Health and Wayne State University to study the benefits of Peer to Peer Coaching with the Justice involved population.
Her previous experiences have been gained through working in Outpatient Services Treatment, Clinical Research, Nutrition and Supportive Living Management at Fairbanks. Gina has also maintained a special focus on women’s recovery services through the creation of Esther’s Place, a women’s counseling center, and as a former Executive Director of Dove Recovery House for Women. She also served as the first Program Coordinator for the newly created Mayor’s Office of Offender Re-entry during the Ballard administration. Additionally, Gina serves as the Quality of Life Neighborhood engagement Director for the Indy East Promise Zone’s Martindale Brightwood Neighborhood. Paramount to all of these accomplishments, she is the wife of Juan Fears, the older sibling of 6 other accomplished professionals, Mother and stepmother to 7 and grandmother to 18. Gina sites the key to any success she has experienced and a strong faith foundation, much prayer, and the belief in recreating or adjusting when necessary.
Gina Forrest, Keynote Speaker
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Gina is a native Hoosier and wants to make Indiana a more inclusive, healthier and happier state! She has earned a MPH (Masters of Public Health) and a PhD in Health Behavior from Indiana University - Bloomington. Her research focus is health disparities. Dr. Gina has been in the field of training and facilitating discussions in the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity and cultural awareness for over ten years. Topics include Implicit Bias, Race and Ethnicity, Working across the Generations, Healthy Communication, Aging, Gender Identity, Socioeconomic Status, and Inclusive Language. In addition, she has over 13 years of experience in the public health field where her expertise is in grant management, conducting needs assessments, program planning, and evaluation. Dr. Gina has taught undergraduate courses at Butler University and Indiana University - including Health Disparities, Public Health Program Planning, Public Health Administration, Healthcare in Diverse Communities, Personal Health, Exploring Public Health, and Community Health, and Human Sexuality.
Twitter & Instagram @drginaforrest
Important Information
The conference will be delivered virtually, using the zoom conference platform. For the best user experience, please download the zoom client and/or ensure zoom is updated to the latest version.
An application has been submitted to award Certified Health Education Specialists and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) up to a total of 4.25 Entry Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH). The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. has approved SOPHE and its chapters as designated multiple event providers of CECH in health education.