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Yesterday Nurture KC hosted a virtual screening of the documentary Belly of the Beast by Erika Cohn. It examines illegal sterilization practices in prison, along with poor healthcare, sexual abuse and assault, and targeting women of color. Nurture KC hosted this screening where 40 people watched the film and 20 participated in a group discussion afterward, which was moderated by Journey to New Life.

“Nurture KC advocates for the well-being of all women,” says Shannon Williams, Healthy Start Program Director. “Learning of the atrocities perpetrated against women incarcerated within the California Department of Corrections led us to inquire about how ‘justice involved’ women in Missouri are treated. This includes women who are in prison, on probation, diversion or parole. Viewing Belly of the Beast and having an open discussion with staff from Journey to New Life allowed attendees to gain insider knowledge on urgent health issues, as well as learn how we can better serve women and help them rebuild their lives.”

Click “read more” below to learn key take-aways from the discussion.

2021 Immunization Symposium:
“Vaccination in the Time of COVID-19”
October 14, 2021
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Central)
Held virtually via Zoom

Don’t miss this exciting, informative event! The 2021 Immunization Symposium is hosted by the Mid America Immunization Coalition (MAIC), a program of Nurture KC. This event brings together community leaders, renowned medical and immunization experts, and those who want to learn more and effectively advocate for vaccines to advance the health of our community. It’s open to the public and the cost to attend virtually is $75.

Health care workers can receive continuing-education credits through attending. The symposium has been approved for the following contact hours:
Nurses and nurse practitioners = 6.3 hours
Social workers and community health workers = 5.25 hours

Keynote speakers include:

Dr. Greg Poland, M.D. — As a doctor and researcher at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Poland specializes in immunogenetics of vaccine response in both adults and children. He coined the term “vaccinomics” to refer to the development of personalized vaccines on an increased understanding of immune response.

Dr. Kevin Ault, M.D., FACOG — Dr. Ault’s research and clinical interests are infectious diseases and women’s health. He has been an investigator in a wide variety of research projects involving maternal immunization and human papillomavirus. He is with the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Register or learn more, including seeing a detailed agenda, at https://nurturekc.org/solutions/immunization/2021-immunization-symposium/.

A special shout-out to all our Community Health Workers (CHWs) who go the extra mile for families in our Healthy Start program. Here are a few of our CHWs distributing free diapers to families. This service makes a tangible difference for our moms and dads! Thank you to our partner HappyBottoms.org. Learn more at https://nurturekc.org/solutions/.

Are you passionate about immunization to keep our community safe? We are looking to hire a Director to lead our Mid America Immunization Coalition (MAIC). In this role, you would build support for vaccination and improve metro wide vaccination rates — particularly for underserved populations — through direct service, education, organizational/volunteer infrastructure and public policy. This position is responsible for establishing organizational vision and strategy, as well as implementation of goals.

See the full job description and learn how to apply.

Questions? Contact info@nurturekc.org or 816-283-6242 (ext #243).

Congratulations to Marcela Metcalf, Lead Community Health Worker, who received her Medical Interpreting Certification from Truman Medical Centers. She dedicated 60 hours during her weekends to receive this certification — all to benefit the families she serves through Nurture KC’s Healthy Start program.

“I have been interpreting for families for a while, but I wanted to get certified. I put the training to use immediately when one on my participants was having a miscarriage. I was able to interpret over the phone while she was at the ER,” Marcela says. “Many hospitals offer interpretation services, but having a trusted person to help is much better and provides my moms with peace of mind. I interpret for families for various reasons, including children’s schools, WIC, clinics, hospitals, other nonprofits, jobs, Medicaid and sometimes quick court appearances online.”