The purpose of Region 6 State Advisory Groups (SAG) is to provide leadership guidance for each state’s outreach and engagement activities conducted by Region 6 staff and Partner Outreach Program (POP) members. The SAG charge is two-fold:
- To guide the development and implementation of an action plan for each state in Region 6 that addresses how NNLM can support specific health disparities identified as priorities for that state, with a focus on medically underserved populations.
- To develop strategic recommendations, programs, and relationships that advance the health of communities through equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data.
Specifically, members of the Advisory Group will provide three core services:
- Identify Opportunities
- Provide input on communities that would most benefit from NNLM and NLM products and services
- Recommend organizations to join NNLM
- Offer ideas and input on potential partnerships with organizations in the state
- Advise on potential conferences, health fairs, or other public events that would benefit from an NNLM Region 6 presence
- Provide Feedback
- Review and offer guidance on effective messaging and outreach from R6
- Develop recommendations for ongoing communications across the state from R6
- Consult with R6 on the development and implementation of any state-wide assessments
- Align Activities
- Decide on select priority health topics for the state that align with NNLM initiatives and priorities
- Develop state action plan to guide Region 6 training, funding, and engagement activities
We are always accepting applications for new members. If you are interested in becoming a member of your state's SAG, contact region6-rml@uiowa.edu
Adam Roloff
Reference and Education Services Librarian
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Felicia Barrett
Regional Head Librarian
University of Illinois Chicago, Library of the Health Sciences at Rockford
Gregory Scott
RN Manager-Faith Community Health
Carle Health
Joe Filapek
Director of Continuing Education and Consulting
Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
Monica Rodriguez
Senior Director
Pyxis Partners
Q. Eileen Wafford
Research Librarian
Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center
Sharon Comstock
Teaching Assistant Professor University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tracy Smith
Director of Community Health and Programs
Illinois Public Health Association
Jacqueline Leskovec
Network Coordinator
NNLM Region 6
jacqueline-leskovec@uiowa.edu
Aisha Hallman
Librarian
Allen County Public Library
Amy Minix
Neuro- and Health Sciences Librarian
Indiana University Bloomington
Carla R. Clayton
Wellness Coordinator
Community Health Network
Helen Azarian
Reference Librarian
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library
Kara Cleveland
Director of Professional Development
Indiana State Library
Karen Strandjord
Family Caregiver and Nursing Educator
IU Health
Olanike Olaniyi
Collection Development Librarian
The Indianapolis Public Library
Rachel Ashcraft
Director
Flora Public Library
William Cooke
Physician, Foundations Family Medicine
Clark Memorial Health
Darlene Kaskie
Community Engagement Coordinator
Region 6
darlene-kaskie@uiowa.edu
Abby Less
Community Health Consultant,
Iowa Department of Public Health, Office of Health Care Transformation
Angie Doyle Scar
Executive Officer
Office of Healthcare Transformation
Iowa Department of Public
Becky Heil
District Consultant
State Library of Iowa
Cynthia J Fiester
Chronic Disease Coordinator/Registered Nurse
Linn County Public Health (LCPH), Cedar Rapids
Gina Schlesselman-Tarango
Science Librarian
Grinnell College
Jennie Ver Steeg
Director of Library and Media Services
Mercy College of Health Sciences and MercyOne, Des Moines
Lisa Johnson
Director
Orange City Library
Mara Strickler
Director
Pella Public Library
Riley Samuelson
Education & Outreach Librarian
University of Iowa
Sam Helmick
Community and Access Services Coordinator
Iowa City Public Library
Staci Stanton
Programming and Outreach Manager
Urbandale Public Library
Tyler Hahn
Director
Cherokee Public Library
Bobbi Newman
Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist
NNLM Region 6
bobbi-newman@uiowa.edu
Anne Heidemann
Tribal Librarian
Barbara Platts
Knowledge Management Services
Munson Healthcare
Chana Kraus-Friedberg
Health Sciences Librarian
Michigan State University
Jarrod Irwin
Behavioral and Health Sciences Librarian
Eastern Michigan University
Kevin King
Head of Community Engagement
Kalamazoo Public Library (KPL)
Susan Kroll
Charlevoix Michigan Public Library
Sherri McConnell
Head Librarian
Stockbridge Branch, Capital Area District Libraries
Erica Lake
Medical and Academic Library Outreach Coordinator
NNLM Region 6
erica-lake@uiowa.edu
Julie Flathers
Statewide Health Improvement Partnership
Clearwater County Public Health
Katherine Chew
Associate Librarian
Research/Outreach Services & Mortuary Science, Center for Allied Health Programs and Center for Bioethics Librarian
University of Minnesota Health Sciences Library
Lisa Sanders
Patient Education Specialist
Essentia Health
Monica Taylor-Desir
Consultant Department of Psychiatry and Psychology
Mayo Clinic
Naomi Carlson
Development Specialist, Transportation Planner, SHIP School Coordinator
Headwaters Regional Development Commission
Nicole Miller
Library Director
Cannon Falls Library
Rosemond Owens
Director of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Center for Prevention
Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota
Erica Lake
Medical and Academic Library Outreach Coordinator
NNLM Region 6
erica-lake@uiowa.edu
Julie Chaya
Director of Community Health and Prevention Sciences
Richland Public Health Department
Margaret A. Hoogland
Assistant Professor, Clinical Medical Librarian
University of Toledo
Monique Mason
Manager, Science & Technology Division
Akron Public Library
Neil Nero
Medical Librarian
Cleveland Clinic
Rhyanne McDade
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow
Northern Kentucky University
Sharon Purtee
Cataloging Librarian
University of Cincinnati - Health Sciences Library
Tiffany Grant
Assistant Director for Research and Informatics
University of Cincinnati - Health Sciences Library
Yvonka M. Hall
Executive Director
Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
Darlene Kaskie
Community Engagement Coordinator
NNLM Region 6
darlene-kaskie@uiowa.edu
Bhumi Khambholja
Project Manager
Wisconsin Health Literacy
Elizabeth Miniatt
Library Director
D.R. Moon Memorial Library
Caitlyn Mowatt
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Northern Highland Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Anna Perez-Pelaez
Case Manager
Capital BlueCross
Darren Rausch
Health Officer/Director
Greenfield Health Department
Ashley Zeidler
Reference Librarian
Medical College of Wisconsin
Darlene Kaskie
Community Engagement Coordinator
NNLM Region 6
darlene-kaskie@uiowa.edu
Each of the seven SAG group members spent year 2 discovering their state's health priorities and developing action plans, ranging from dental health to menstrual health and everything in between. Provided here are the action plans approved for each state. One funding opportunity, several tool kits, and a partnering with a physician/author regarding addiction and recovery were created.
Illinois
The Illinois SAG Outreach Award was designed to improve health literacy and increase health equity throughout the state of Illinois. The award closed 15 May 2023 and was awarded Northern Illinois University School of Nursing for the Smart Tablet Education for Healthy Living (STEHL) Project in the amount of $10,000. Primary Investigator, Dr Anitha Saravanan, will direct the project, built on a previous project recently funded by an NNLM and All of Us research award which was completed in April of this year. The project will engage older adults to help them become more comfortable with technology designed to assist them in finding quality health information online. Dr Saravanan and her team launched the project August 2023 and completed it this summer A blog article, STEHL Project Smart Tablet Education For Healthy Living for Older Adults; a webinar recording; and the STEHL Website are all available for review.
Indiana
Indiana will partner with Dr. William Cooke, physician and author of Canary in the Coal Mine, to publicly engage with communities throughout Indiana for addiction and recovery information. The objectives are to raise understanding for the social determinants of health that contribute to substance use; explain interventions, such as harm reduction, that can lead to clinical treatment and recovery resources; and help individuals and communities respond compassionately for persons living with and recovering from addiction. Indiana Addiction and Recovery Information Program.
Iowa
Iowa's Community Partnerships for Mental Health initiative aims to achieve three key objectives. First, it focuses on developing a comprehensive toolkit as a valuable resource for promoting mental health in communities. This toolkit includes a user-friendly website/guide on NNLM.gov, customizable bookmarks with local information, a concise one-page guide for quick reference, programming ideas, and training materials for library staff.
We will train library staff, community partners, and stakeholders on utilizing the toolkit efficiently. Participants how to locate and share mental health resources, identify potential community partners and implement programming ideas. A campaign promoting the toolkit will lead up to community programs during Mental Health Awareness Month, May of 2023.
Michigan
The Michigan SAG developed a mental health resource kit for NNLM member libraries in Michigan to serve as a blueprint for supporting people with mental health and substance use conditions: State of Michigan Advisory Group for NNLM R6 Project Mental Health Resource Kit for NNLM Member Libraries.
Minnesota
The State of Minnesota Advisory Group for NNLM R6 bonded to promote crisis resource information: Partnering to Promote Mental Health Crisis Information Across Minnesota.
Ohio
Ohio will partner with Aunt Flow, a Columbus-based non-profit to develop culturally- and age-appropriate health information to educate about period poverty and menstrual health. The goal is to promote the toolkit to public and school libraries and community centers throughout the state. Ohio Menstrual Health and Period Poverty Information Project
Wisconsin
Wisconsin will partner with D R Moon Library in Stanley, Wisconsin. Elizabeth Miniatt, the library director, has a long-standing relationship with the Amish communities in her region. Because of this important connection, she will lead the development of an oral and dental health book that is trustworthy, easy-to-read and comprehend. A dental student and a local artist will develop the content and illustrate the book with approval from the local Bishops. The books will be distributed to the local Amish schools including train-the-trainer instruction for the school teachers. Wisconsin Dental and Oral Care Health Information Project and Logic Model