Review the resources and tackle the assignments below before joining your class in Charlotte in February. Everything in the “Homework” section, including reviewing the Making Ends Meet materials and watching the instructional video, is required. Many additional resources are also included below for you to explore before or after session.
Session Workbook
Your HHS session workbook can be found through the link below. Explore the workbook in advance and make sure you have it accessible throughout the HHS session.
HHS Session Homework–Required
Review the Making Ends Meet materials and the resources that follow before the session kicks off on February 7.
Making Ends Meet Simulation Preparation This is your most important homework
Thursday afternoon’s program will include the “Making Ends Meet” simulation. To get the most out of this exercise, please do the following before before heading to Charlotte:
- Review the simulation instructions and materials under “Thursday Program Materials” in the Session Workbook. Get familiar with your assigned scenario, and start thinking about your shopping list.
- Watch this 22-minute Making Ends Meet instructional video explaining simulation instructions and resources.
- Review the resources linked below and be prepared to ask any questions about WIC or SNAP or food insecurity in general during Thursday’s “Food Insecurity” presentation or during the simulation instructions segment.
- Consider volunteering to serve as your team’s Shopping Navigator or Expense Tracker.
Making Ends Meet Simulation Resources
Explore these online resources in advance. It will be helpful for everyone to also have access to them during the simulation on Thursday afternoon.
- WIC Shopping Guide
- SNAP Shopping Guide
- MyPlate Kitchen and Good and Cheap
- Your Team’s Tracking Spreadsheet–Unique links for each Learning Team are included in the session workbook
- Walmart Grocery Website
- Food Insecurity in NC–Interactive Map
Review these additional required resources before February 7.
- America’s Health Rankings–full website. Links to select NC reports recommended for pre-reading included below.
- America’s Health Rankings: 2022 Annual Report–NC
- America’s Health Rankings: 2022 Health of Women and Children–includes link to state summaries
- America’s Health Rankings: 2022 Senior Data–includes link to state summaries
- “Racism Is a Public Health Crisis,” American Public Health Association
- Healthy North Carolina 2030
HHS Session Homework–Optional
SNAP Challenge (Optional)
The SNAP Challenge was introduced during the Education Session. Below are some guidelines and resources you may find helpful if you choose to take the SNAP Challenge before the February HHS session. This is completely optional, but those who have done it have found it valuable leading into the conversations about food insecurity and the Making Ends Meet simulation that are part of the HHS program.
SNAP Challenge Guidelines
- Define your time frame—most people do a week, but even a few days is impactful.
- Calculate your budget based on ~$4.00/person per day.
- Plan your meals and shopping within your budget.
- Eat only what you are able to purchase within your budget. If you use items you already have at home, make sure you account for their cost in your tracking.
- Keep track of your spending, your meals, and your reactions (physical, mental, emotional) during the Challenge.
SNAP Challenge Resources
HHS Session Resources–Recommended
The following links are resources recommended by session presenters, planning committee members, and past LNC speakers. Exploring those that interest you will enrich your experience both during and after the February Health and Human Services Session. The required pieces from above are also included in their appropriate categories below.
Food Insecurity and Additional SNAP and WIC Resources
- “NC Ranks 10th in Hunger in the Nation,” North Carolina Justice Center, January 25, 2021
- “An Already Food-Insecure NC Sees Hunger on the Rise,” North Carolina Justice Center, July 7, 2021
- Food and Nutrition Services Resource Page from NC DHHS
- WIC FAQs
- SNAP Eligibility
- Loves and Fishes/Friendship Trays
- NCACC Resilience Initiative: Counties Strengthening NC’s Food Ecosystem
- Feeding the Carolinas–includes links to 10 North Carolina Food Banks
- Virtual Food Drives–includes resources for starting or contributing to a virtual food drive to support your local food bank
Healthcare Costs, Data, and Report Cards
- 2022 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps–North Carolina
- NC DHHS North Carolina Health Atlas
- North Carolina Institute of Medicine Publications
- 2022 NC Women’s Health Report Card
- The Economic Contributions of North Carolina’s Health Systems and Hospitals
- Leveraging Data to Advance Health Equity
- State of Healthcare in NC 2022 Impact Report–NC Healthcare Association
Poverty, Equity, Economic Mobility, and Health
- “The Fading American Dream: Trends in Absolute Income Mobility Since 1940,” by Raj Chetty et. al.
- “Where Children Rarely Escape Poverty,” The Atlantic
- Bread for the World: Racial Wealth Gap Simulation Overview
- “Racism Is a Public Health Crisis,” American Public Health Association
State and Community Resources
- NC Department of Health and Human Services
- Second Harvest Foodbank of Metrolina
- Crisis Assistance Ministry
- Renaissance West Community Initiative
- Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance
- Crossroads Corporation for Affordable Housing and Community Development
- Leading on Opportunity
- Rural Health Information Hub–North Carolina
- NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
- NC PACE Association
- National PACE Association
- Unite Us
- Building Healthier Communities–A Community Action Framework
- Purpose-Built Communities
Behavioral Health, Substance Use, and Violence Prevention
- “Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction,” National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Mental Health First Aid
- “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)”, report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA)
- The US Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being 2022
- Protecting Youth Mental Health: The US Surgeon General’s Advisory
- Mental Health America’s Workplace Mental Health Toolkit: Creating a Culture of Support and Well-Being
- The State of Mental Health in America 2023
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training
Aging and End-of-Life Resources
- Mind My Health
- “My 92-Year-Old Father Didn’t Need More Medical Care,” The Atlantic, January 2, 2020
- AARP “Prepare to Care” Family Caregiving Guides
- AARP: Starting the Conversation
- AARP: Printable Advance Directives
- NC Secretary of State’s Office: Advance Healthcare Directives and North Carolina Registry
- NC Secretary of State’s Office: Advance Healthcare Forms
- NC Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) Form
- Age My Way NC
Local Tips
Members of Class 30 and LNC alumni shared their suggestions for dining, shopping, and exploring. Enjoy your time in Charlotte!
Session Follow-Up Materials
For completion AFTER the HHS Session
- HHS Session Evaluation–Due February 17
- March Economic Development Session Attendance Survey–Due February 17
- HHS Session Learning Team Calls: Prompts and Recording Form–Due March 1
- Hold your Learning Team calls and have your call recorder submit call notes through the form linked above by March 1
- Planning Committee Preferences Survey–Due April 14
- Detailed position descriptions are available here for reference