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In this episode, Safe States Executive Director Sharon Gilmartin is the guest host and talks with Allison Arwady, Director of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. To kick off the conversation, Dr. Arwady shares that the CDC has recently released 2024 provisional drug overdose death data that highlights a nearly 27% decrease in predicted deaths from the previous year's data and is seen in 48 states nationwide. Dr. Arwady credits changes in drug use, public health investments, and interventions along with community coordination and collaboration in the successful effort to reduce deaths from drug overdoses. During their conversation, they also discuss public health infrastructure, prevention strategies, and the role the CDC's Injury Center plays in these including the importance of the programs they offer.

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In this episode, host Mighty Fine talks with guests Christina Ore from Seven Directions and Chris Tallbear from the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) about the collaborative work they are doing through their public health infrastructure grant funding received from the CDC. This work, in partnership with Safe States Alliance, is allowing them to provide opioid overdose prevention activities and education through training, technical assistance, and evaluation to both those in Tribes and those who work with Tribes.

Seven Directions

National Network of Public Health Institutes

Resources:

https://www.indigenousphi.org/our-publications

• Models of Tribal Promising Practices Tribal Opioid Overdose Prevention Care Coordination and Data Systems
• An Environmental Scan of Tribal Opioid Overdose Prevention Responses: Community-based Strategies and Public Health Data Structure
• Seven Directions’ Indigenous Evaluation Toolkit Training & Supplemental Briefs

https://www.indigenousphi.org/isdoh/about

• Indigenous Determinants of Health

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Host Mighty Fine talks with guest Jessica Ritter about the despair and hope many working in public health are feeling following the April 2025 cuts to the CDC and HHS workforce.

Jessica references different resources she has found helpful:

"Learning from the 60's" in Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

"Feminist Survival Project" podcast by Emily Nagoski, especially the episode "An Alternative to Hope"

Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest Cam: https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.org/eagles/

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In this episode, guest hosts Sharon Gilmartin, Safe States Executive Director, and Paul Bonta, Director of Government Relations, discuss Advocacy Day, which took place on March 20, 2025. Paul shares why it is so important for Safe States members and partners to participate in Advocacy Day, especially this year.

Christa Thelen, Safe States Program Manager, interviews participants at Advocacy Day in Washington DC on March 20th to have them share their experience about the day.

Brandon Neath, Safe States, Government Relations Manager, shares policy-related resources at the end of the episode for listeners to check out on the Safe States website (www.safestates.org). These include: the Injury and Violence Prevention Network and the Policy Fellows Program.

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In this INbetween episode, host Mighty Fine talks about policy tools and resources available on the Safe States website (www.safestates.org). These include funding briefs, Congressional priorities, and other resources available to individuals to assist in advocacy efforts in their IVP work. As Safe States gears up for Advocacy Day on March 20, 2025 - these tools and resources will be helpful to prepare for meetings with legislators, etc. to share the importance of injury and violence prevention work and advocate for funding of programs in all 50 states.

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In this episode, host Mighty Fine talks with Tracy Mehan, Director of Research Translation and Communication, about artificial intelligence (AI) and how individuals use it every day, whether we realize it or not, in our work and lives. She provides insights and examples of AI use in injury and violence prevention (IVP) work while also giving some tips and recommendations on what to watch out for while using it to ensure quality in our work.

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In this very special episode, host Mighty Fine sat down with Rich Hamburg, Safe States' Executive Director, and Sharon Gilmartin, Safe States' Deputy Director. They discussed the upcoming leadership transition as Rich retires at the end of December 2024 and Sharon takes on the Executive Director role in January 2025. Rich shares some words of wisdom and we hear some future plans from Sharon as the organization prepares for the upcoming changes.

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In this episode, host Mighty Fine is live at the 2024 Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, asking participants how they are "blazing trails in injury and violence prevention," following the conference's theme.