What's Happening

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | December 1, 2024

Every year in the HIV field, we lose many heroes. These may be people living with HIV (PLWH) who advocated for themselves and others (“nothing about us without us”), or changemaker allies who focused their talents on addressing ongoing inequities in HIV prevention and care, or people who reminded us that HIV (or any disease) is only one aspect of anyone’s life and reminded us that seeing our whole selves is core to our humanity. In 2024, we lost some greats who changed our lives and the lives of so many others who work in the HIV field and beyond. We highlight a few giants who were partners in ETR’s work and inspire us to keep up the fight.

By Khaila Thomas & Samuella Ware, PhD | November 25, 2024

For over 40 years, HIV prevention and care has been a public health issue at the forefront of implementing science-informed, and evidence-based initiatives to support the people most impacted by the epidemic. However, there is still vital work to be done in this space today. It is imperative to consider what techniques can benefit communities, action-based groups, and organizations working to reduce HIV for the people most impacted. In this blog, there are three vital strategies to consider for those working to end the HIV epidemic and support people living with HIV (PLWH).

By Sadie Spargur & Ravena Soto | November 21, 2024

Annually on the third Thursday of November, the American Cancer Society recognizes the Great American Smokeout. This event is dedicated to encouraging smokers to quit smoking for one day as a start to their smokefree life while reducing their cancer-risk. Smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths every year and more than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease. This heavily affects Native American communities since more than 1 in 4 American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) adults smoked cigarettes in 2020—that’s 1.5 times higher than the national smoking rate.

By ETR's Native Health and Wellness Team | November 20, 2024

At ETR, we recognize that achieving health equity among Native American communities starts by acknowledging their role as the original stewards of this land. We affirm our commitment to partnering with Native communities to address the many health disparities rooted in historical trauma, systemic oppression, and the ongoing consequences of forced displacement as they continue to shape the health and well-being of Native communities today.

By Ravena Soto | November 19, 2024

Staff from ETR’s Native Health and Wellness team had the honor of attending the first Native American Heritage Month parade outside of the California State Capitol. For this historic event, we were joined by our partners from United Indian Health Services and Redwood Valley Rancheria. The parade, hosted by the California Legislative Native American Caucus, came together with a sense of mission after months of planning and many miles of travel.

By Michael Everett, MHS, EdD | October 31, 2024

At its core, health literacy has a simple yet powerful goal: ensuring people can comprehend information about their health, which empowers them to identify risk and protective factors. As part of our larger organizational transformation, we’re not only refining our external science-based work but also reflecting on how health literacy applies internally to our staff’s wellness and growth. 

By Kristin Kennedy, MS, MPH, CPH | October 3, 2024

Our support for workplace affinity groups like the Queer and Trans (QTs) Affinity Group of ETR reflects our commitment to improving the health and well-being of youth and communities by championing science. These groups not only create safe spaces but also advocate for the well-being of historically marginalized staff, bridging civil rights activism with our broader health equity goals. 

By Tatiana Masters, PhD, MSW & Lauren Ranalli, MPH | September 26, 2024

The recent upsurge in mpox across several countries in Africa led to the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a public health emergency of international concern on August 15th, 2024. Declarations of health emergencies are important, but they can also cause increases in anxiety and the spread of misinformation.  Research documents that misinformation escalates during health emergencies, as we saw in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and misinformation can have significant impacts on individual behaviors as well as community public health.

By Tanya M. Bass, PhD, CHES, CSE | Jessica Neupane, MPH, ETR | September 24, 2024

As public health practitioners, learning from experts is a steadfast method in upholding this theme. In the second edition of our interview series with Dr. Tanya Bass, we explore her journey, her proudest moments, and learnings working in the sexual education and reproductive health field.  

By Tanya M. Bass, PhD, CHES, CSE | Kelly Gainor, M.Ed, Jessica Neupane, MPH | August 30, 2024

In this conversation, Jessica Neupane, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at ETR, is joined by Dr. Tanya M. Bass, a national award-winning sexuality educator and subject matter expert in health equity and sexual health. Coined “The Southern Sexologist,” Dr. Bass is passionate about uplifting the lived experiences of public health practitioners in the U.S South, who often need to navigate political intricacies related to sexual health education that are unique to the region.

By Annalisa Cortez | August 29, 2024
Project Assistant, TCCC

ETR’s Tribal Community Coordinating Center provides culturally appropriate guidance and assistance to California Indian Tribes to access and implement tobacco related programs. Hear from Annalisa Cortez, Project Assistant, on her experience with youth leadership and advocacy efforts to improve Native health.

By Pemphero Grey Mafuta | August 8, 2024
Founder, Youth Minds Connect

Our team Youth Minds Connect won the Innovation Challenge at YTH Live Global 2023. As winners, we received $4,000 USD in seed funding to bring our idea into reality, plus support and mentorship from ETR. Winning the Innovation Challenge has been an incredible journey filled with learning and growth, enabling us to expand our reach and enhance our initiatives.

By Lauren Ranalli, MPH | August 6, 2024
Director of Communications and Public Affairs, ETR

Over the past few decades, minor consent laws have expanded significantly across the United States. These laws have shifted the discussion around healthcare access and utilization among adolescents.

By Joseph Kosciw, PhD | June 27, 2024
Director of Mental Health Research and Impact, ETR

Throughout Pride Month we have undoubtedly seen greater visibility of LGBTQ+ people and events – from Pride flags in our local coffee shops to rainbow versions of company logos on social media and news coverage of local Pride Parades. But on July 1^st, Pride flags come down; news stories on LGBTQ+ people and community events stop, and company logos on social media revert to their original ones without rainbows. So how do we help LGBTQ+ youth continue to hold these feelings of acceptance and pride in themselves the rest of the year?

By Reilly O'Neal | June 25, 2024
Contractor, ETR

Status neutral HIV prevention and care is a “whole person” approach that links people with services to meet their needs, whatever their HIV status may be. This holistic approach to care recognizes clients have multiple—sometimes competing—medical and psychosocial needs, which can pose a barrier to accessing HIV prevention and care.

By Tasha Turner-Bicknell, DNP, RN, CDH | May 23, 2024
Associate Professor & Director of Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP & Certificate Programs, University of Cincinnati

Harm reduction techniques, such as syringe service programs (SSPs), are shown to address this elevated risk in the population of PWUD. Syringe service programs provide local, easy-to-access services where clients can obtain sterile syringes, injection materials, safer smoking kits, naloxone, and condoms. Syringe service programs provide an opportunity to engage PWUD and provide individuals with crucial services such as HIV testing, medical care, housing support, and treatment for substance use disorder to achieve health equity for this community.

By Karin Coyle, PhD, Chief Science Officer, ETR | Pamela M. Anderson, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, ETR | Lauren Ranalli, MPH, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, ETR | May 28, 2024

Evidence-based pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programs have been shown to have a positive effect on reducing unplanned pregnancy or associated behavioral risk factors, such as delaying sexual activity or increasing condom or contraceptive use. While teen birth rates have reached a record low in 2023, STI rates have increased dramatically. Additionally, there are evolving issues among youth, including mental health, bullying, body image, and online safety, that should be addressed in sexual health education. As a result, the need for innovation in sexual health education is stronger than before.

By Nicole Morgan, MPH | May 31, 2024
Program Manager, ETR

World No Tobacco Day is a global awareness day, celebrated annually on May 31 to bring attention to the harm caused by the commercial tobacco epidemic and to promote protection for future generations. The commercial tobacco industry is product and profit-driven, with no connection to spiritual or respectful use like seen within Tribal communities and traditional tobacco.