Recent MIPH Blog Posts

Health over "Ill-th"

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:22 -0600

The brave new world of health reform continues to dominate both headlines as well as the consciousness of Americans. Again, one of the many benefits and opportunities of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is an investment into prevention at an unprecedented level.

This is our moment.

Glass Half Full

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:38:10 -0600

An interesting read is a book by the Heath brothers (Dan professor at Duke University, Chip professor at Stanford) entitled Switch: How To Change Things When Change is Hard. It is a true story of the dynamics of focusing on organizational change, with special emphasis on "What are we doing that's right?". It is solutions -based planning versus simply admiring the problems that exist.

Changes = Opportunities

Jerry Jaker — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:50:19 -0600

At MIPH in the new year of 2012, look for some exciting changes. We are part of a re-organization such that MIPH will be re-positioned to be even more of a leader in the era of Prevention and Wellness emphasis in the brave new world of Health Reform. The Affordable Care Act represents opportunity for those of us in prevention.

We will get more specific soon, but we wanted you our supporters, friends, clients and colleagues to know we are re-positioning the Institute in a way that maximizes our chance of being of service.

Happy Holidays

Jerry Jaker — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:10:25 -0600

We are taking a short break during the holidays and will continue the MIPH blog in early 2012. Thank you for reading our weekly blogs and telling us what you think.

Wishing you a warm, happy and safe Holiday Season.

Philanthropy

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:24:39 -0600

The report "Giving USA 2011" was released earlier this year by the Giving USA Foundation. Some interesting patterns are emerging in charitable giving across the USA.

Charities and nonprofits rely mostly on individuals for their fiscal support. Seventy-three cents of every dollar donated to such groups comes from individuals, 14% from foundations, 23% from bequests, 15% from corporations. (Dead people give more than corporations).

Getting There

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:48:10 -0600

The American Public Health Association has joined with other active groups in encouraging action toward implementing a Federal Transportation Reform Program. Entitled The Route to Reform, the entire report is available on the Transportation for America website.

The economic, cultural, public health and safety, and regional/local implications of a national transportation policy reform are significant, as described in this Report.

Crash Facts 2010

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:22:15 -0600

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) once again has issued its annual Crash Facts Report for the citizenry. It is that reliable collection of crash facts and analysis that we have come to count on in our related programming.

Legislators use the Report to drive policymaking.
Students and educators use it to study safety issues.
Public health people clearly use it for epi-driven programming and prevention.

Crash Facts 2010 tells us in fact that:

Finding Common Ground

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:46:47 -0600

Compromise means different things to different people. So does gridlock.

From health care and economic stagnation and solutions to improve both, to social justice issues and building a Vikings stadium, compromise seems the only way to affect progress. One political leader recently, and adeptly in my view, described compromise as, "agreeing to, that with which you don't necessarily agree with".

Our Capabilities

Jerry Jaker — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:39:16 -0500

For nearly forty years MIPH has taken pride in being an innovative leader in bridging public health research with community practice. Serving you and partnering with public and private agencies in this endeavor remains a great honor.

In the up and down world of grants and contracts amid economic changes, MIPH remains committed to finding ways to collaborate with you.

What are our MIPH Capabilities? More specific than combing knowledge from research and wisdom from experience, the Capabilities Statement below suggests some ideas for ways MIPH can partner with you.

Close to Home: Children's Exposure to Violence

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:44 -0500

The U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) along with the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) have teamed for the past decade to inform people about and help reduce children's exposure to violence.

Curmudgeon

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:41:08 -0500

If you looked up the word curmudgeon in the dictionary, you might find a picture of Andy Rooney.

Recently the long-time CBS "60 Minutes" writer and show closing commentator signed off on his last show, to semi-retire at the young age of 92. Who doesn't remember the white haired, scowling, bushy eyebrowed curmudgeon who had a beef with one issue or another each Sunday night, in the great tapestry of life?

Failure

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:07:37 -0500

"Failure is NOT an option!", declared the square jawed leader at NASA headquarters during the movie "Apollo 13".

In real life, yes it is.

There is good data that failure is an important part of innovation and creativity in the workplace. Many innovative people succeed at creating new things because they produce a large amount of new concepts, both good and bad. In fact, Dr. Keith Simonton at UC-Davis, author on this topic states, "The most successful people tend to be those with the most failures".

Granny Cams

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:49:00 -0500

There was recent item in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about concerns regarding elder abuse and neglect, in nursing homes and other senior care settings. To the "young old" -- those of us who are baby boomer age and have duty to help care for our aging parents and friends -- it is a topic of great interest and concern.

Years back MIPH had the honor of working on contract with regional and state level Agencies on Aging to facilitate two working conference on this important topic.

Salt

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:59:32 -0500

We know the benefits of sodium to preserve and flavor food we eat. Health experts are paying close attention to the risks and harm that salt intake can provide. This includes is links to blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

In terms of the implication for those in prevention, among the five worldwide priority actions for reducing cardio diseases worldwide, salt intake is listed as the second, behind tobacco.

We Remember

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:36:30 -0500

Ten years ago, MIPH was going about our business in our Anoka office. We were both nervous and excited in preparing for the office move to our newly constructed building in Mounds View. A Board meeting was on tap for that afternoon. Projects were busy and hopping. Lots of things to do.

Then everything suddenly changed.

Re-Branding

Jerry Jaker — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:26:53 -0500

We hear a lot about brands, names, logos etc these days. IN this great Noise and Clutter of Life, it is important for an organization, service, project to stand out, and be noticed in a positive way. Moreover, people's interests, the times, and attention change constantly, and there is need to consider re-branding your organization to stay current and stay relevant to the fast changing world.

A Re-Brand is making sure your services and reputation are not simply a monument to yesterday.

Seven Survival Skills

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:42:54 -0500

As the new school year unfolds, our attention once again turns to success through learning. It's a very difficult challenge that school staff face in helping our children grow, learn and prepare to contribute to a vastly changing world. With limited resources and constant criticism from the rest of the world, schools begin their new year.

What do young people need to know, and be able to do, in order to be contributing, successful people?

Public Health Spending

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:14:03 -0500

They say if you want to know what's important to a person, check his/her checkbook and his/her calendar. How do we spend our time, and how do we spend our money?

The American Public Health Association (APHA) to which MIPH belongs, and the Minnesota Public Health Association (to which MIPH belongs, and I am proud to serve on its Governing Council) help us know and keep current on public health spending and resources allocation.

501(c)(3)

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:45:42 -0500

No, this is not the name of a TV show about youth in Beverly Hills. 501(c)(3) is a significant section of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax code that governs the work and stewardship of being a nonprofit organization.

501(c)(3) organizations, managed properly, serve America well. Since 1972, MIPH has been approved as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In return for clear mission of service for the community good, 501(c)(3)'s are deemed exempt from certain business taxes.

Space Odyssey

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:33:37 -0500

When the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed safely back on earth recently, it ended - at least for now - 50 some years of human space travel and exploration.

For investing $5 billion per year we can ask: What have we learned from NASA that improves the human condition? Some reports say NASA has contributed by advancing science of laser surgery, life support equipment, pill transmitters, freeze-dried food, and the hand held vacuum cleaner, among other things.

On Being Positive

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:10:45 -0500

It's hard to stay positive in a tough climate of challenges, program resources limitations, and worry about What Next. In order to survive and thrive, we really need to see the glass genuinely half full.

Our prevention program content must be positive as well. We need to be real about the problems that threaten health and safety, yet not simply admire the problem to death.

I read where nonprofit organizations -- the 1.4 million of us in the U.S. -- are re-examining ways to partner, to garner private and public support, engagement, and funding.

Positioning

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:00:13 -0500

One of the more under-used skill sets in nonprofit and prevention work is Positioning ourselves as prevention leaders that can help make a difference.

I'm dating myself here, but I watched with wonder years ago as 7-up positioned itself as the Uncola, differentiating from all the other colas, and standing out as unique and a clear alternative.

Facebook Depression

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:11:17 -0500

One of the more recent phenomena of the social media trend is something called Facebook Depression.

The Goldilocks Strategy

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:07:53 -0500

It's interesting how very visible decision makers get criticized by opinion holders on both ends of an issue. Some call middle of the road decisions healthy compromise, others call it pablum --- blah, boring, and safe.

There's a lot of trendy talk referencing to shoot-for-the-middle decisions as Goldilocks strategy: neither too hot, nor too cold, but just right.

Like a courtroom verdict, when neither the plaintiff nor the defendant is completely happy, it may be because the decision is often closer to justice.

30 Years of HIV/AIDS

Jerry Jaker — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:47:58 -0500

Thirty years ago this month someone looked up from a microscope, gasped "Oh My God!", and began sharing the news about HIV/AIDS. Shortly after, with all the political and other struggles, our country began a slow and steady response to help treat, reduce, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Our children have never known a world where HIV/AIDS did not exist. Mistakes have been made, but lives have been saved.

Sound and Fury

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:32:05 -0500

In the great Noise and Clutter of Life, it's easy to confuse a rush of activity with real progress. Budget problems, new directions, critical decision points, need to be addressed with our best thinking, not just a lot of thinking.

Like the sound and fury that Shakespeare has Macbeth describe in his classic tragedy, and later the life of a Southern family trying to figure it out in Faulkner's American classic novel The Sound and the Fury, perhaps we all too frequently have this acute need to fill up the space or time with nonpurposeful Noise.

2010 Annual Report

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 07:41:48 -0500

MIPH is pleased to share with you our 2010 Annual Report of Activities to the Community. We're really proud of it, and hope you take a few minutes to peruse it. Check it out here.

The Report focuses on calendar year 2010, and attempts to capture our work in terms of pursuing our mission and vision, program goals, project and activities profile, and ways we have touched the community that seem to matter.

HOPE

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:45:01 -0500

It seems to me we need to be very intentional about keeping Hope in all our prevention messages. In this appropriate era of science-based prevention, it's easy, if we're not careful, to paint a hopeless picture. Research permits us to admire the problem be it substance abuse, violence, or some chronic disease. We can say with great fervor how bad something is. We can prove how often, how much and how come a problem is what it is.

Are We Safer?

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:45:10 -0500

A recent report indicates violent crime has dropped by 5.5% in the country. In what seems now to be the lowest violent crime rate in 40 years -- half of the peak in the 1990s -- the odds of being murdered or robbed are much less. This is based on data from over 13,000 law enforcement agencies around the country.

As welcome as that news is, the more interesting piece is that experts cannot figure out what caused the decline. Even during the devastating economic crisis of recent years, robberies decreased.

RIP, Killer

Jerry Jaker — Tue, 31 May 2011 07:47:26 -0500

What sad news in the passing of Minnesota Twins great Harmon Killebrew. Not only was he an extraordinary baseball player with a great homerun swing, but truly was a class act human being. It's those things that define greatness, and legacy.

Yes 573 home runs, and one every twelve at bats or so during his heydey, represent Hall of Fame stuff, but the sense of community give-back, role model duty, gentle spirit, and great human decency and kindness make Harmon stand above the rest.

Cancer Prevention in Minnesota

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 23 May 2011 07:50:20 -0500

The 2011-2016 Cancer Plan for Minnesota is out, published by the MN Cancer Alliance (MCA). The MCA is a coalition of dedicated and talented organizational partners, all driven to help reduce and prevent cancer in the coming years.

Gambling Revenues and Public Budgets

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 16 May 2011 07:50:30 -0500

A recent report issued by the Minnesota State Lottery (Gambling in Minnesota, March 2011) lets us know that in fact, gambling in Minnesota is a big deal. Eighteen casinos on tribal lands, more than 3,000 lottery ticket purchase outlets, a racetrack, more than 3,000 local charitable gambling pull tab-type games signal that.

The issue is becoming more and more centered around recreational gambling as a way to fund government programs and services. A recent state survey revealed 75 per cent of adult Minnesotans report participating in some type of gambling.

Tattoo U

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 09 May 2011 07:57:12 -0500

I noticed a recent issue of the APHA newspaper called The Nation's Health had a feature article in its "Healthy You" section, about public health, prevention, and tattoos.

It seems long overdue someone spoke to the importance of being planful, preventive and smart in making this particular selection of self-expression. Without rendering judgment on To Tattoo or Not to Tattoo, the article properly profiles the importance of learning the facts, gauging the safety, and being essentially educated on the whole process of getting a tattoo.

Young Hearts/Charity Begins at Home

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 02 May 2011 07:19:44 -0500

Once again, we learn that parents -- more than any other factor including religion, socioeconomic status, and so forth -- most influence the level of charitable giving and volunteering that their kids do, and continue to do as they grow up. Thus says a study recently published in The NonProfit Times.

Finding Common Ground

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:46:26 -0500

Recently J. Eduard "Eddie" Phillips, long-time business leader and philanthropist, passed away at age 66 from multiple myeloma. A Minneapolis-based innovator, Phillips revolutionized the vodka business. Phillips Liquors not only succeeded in its industry, but it demonstrated a genuine and trailblazing interest in prevention, before it was in vogue to do so, with no strings attached. Phillips didn't want it customers impaired, hurt or dependent, both for greater community good, and I suspect because it made no business sense to do so.

One Way of Knowing

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:07:25 -0500

Bridging knowledge from research, and wisdom from experience, has been a lesson learned in prevention. In the early days of our federal CAPT work, we had been charged with the task of "bringing research to community practice" in prevention.

Quiet Voices

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:59:04 -0500

Sometimes the best feedback we can obtain doesn't come in through official channels, through a careful ‘market analysis' or through other structured processes.

Historically Speaking

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:45:13 -0500

History should inform and guide us in our work, don't you think?

I believe in our prevention work, taking what works forward, and adjusting and correcting what doesn't work, is best use of advancing the science of prevention. Our prevention work has evolved from simply counting the number of brochures distributed and the number of people we talked with, to applying best practices and initiatives of prevention that are research and evidence-based, combining the best accumulated knowledge from research, and wisdom from community practice.

Healthy Tension

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:56:26 -0500

Some say ‘tension is the enemy of performance.' To a small degree, I would agree with that. Tension can also be a motivator and a driver: a healthy thing.

A lot is made of the pressure and tension people feel living and working in today's world. Who doesn't feel that?

Work

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:14:48 -0500

Work is a pretty big part of our lives. I was speaking with our staff about this recently, and share these thoughts. Would appreciate your reaction.

For many people, work is unfortunately some painful hell they endure until end of the day on Friday, or vacation, or retirement when they can then begin to enjoy life.

Bidding

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 07:25:52 -0500

MIPH has a well-earned reputation as a grant-getting machine. That's how we make our living and achieve our mission. When a funding opportunity comes whether public or private sector, we often have a Prospects Team take a look and help us determine, Can we? Should We? Ought We? How good is the mission fit? How might it impact MIPH and those we serve?

Over the years, MIPH has been like a shark in the water; we need to keeping moving or we would have perished long ago.

Good Parenting

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:19:14 -0600

It strikes me that parenting is perhaps the most important thing we do yet in many ways it's the thing for which we get the least amount of formal training. We tend to follow the script of our parents, or make adjustments first child to second, read a book, take in a workshop, consider suggestions from other parents and friends we trust, even get guidance from alleged TV gurus...

I was taken by a recent feature article on Ohio State basketball star Jared Sullinger in Sports Illustrated, but more by a reader's op-ed comment in same, from Jamie Plaisance of Minneapolis.

Apples to Kumquats

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 07:02:38 -0600

You've heard the saying about comparing apples to apples, vs apples to oranges.

I recall from my arithmetic class days the need for a common denominator in order to render a just comparison and contrast of two things - as in comparing apples to apples. The criticism when there is not a common basis for comparison, as when we are comparing two things that have no common ground has been, "Stop! You are comparing apples and oranges".

The Art of Compromise

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:58:43 -0600

I read with interest Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's State of the State Address delivered in St. Paul on February 9. Both indirectly and directly the Governor communicated his feelings about the art of compromise.

"Compromise", he said, "doesn't mean we have to agree, thank goodness, because we won't. It doesn't mean we can't debate, because we will. It means we can disagree, debate, and reach a shared solution to our state's problems."

Innovation

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 06:49:54 -0600

Innovation is a great concept. The term is in the news and at the front of people's minds these days. In his recent State of the Union Address to the Congress and the country, President Obama used the word Innovation eleven different times.

The term has Latin roots: innovare means a new idea, method, or device.

Sustainability

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:43:05 -0600

Sustainability is a critically important word these days. Knowing that more often than not important work is more of a marathon than a sprint, those of us in nonprofit project work need to seriously consider "What do we do when the grant runs out?".

Funding is part of it, but not the whole issue to consider. Many funding sources like government and foundations tend to do a three years and out type grant funding pattern. Many people, mistakenly in my view, use Sustainability and Funding as interchangeable parts.

Staff Training

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:07:23 -0600

In this day of lightning fast change, staff need to be prepared and equipped not only with the latest information but the latest skills. Not only, "what do I need to know, but what do I need to be able to do?". Training is generally more skills based than information acquiring.

I cannot imagine any individual's staff performance plan omitting a very clear and purposeful continuing education piece.

Healthy People 2020

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:19:24 -0600

Healthy People is a set of Goals and Objectives with ten year targets designed to guide all of us in health promotion and disease prevention efforts. The over-arching goal is to improve the health of all people in the USA.

Healthy People 2020 is released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

What's In a Name?

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:07:45 -0600

What's in a name? For stadiums, arenas and other athletic complex venues, I guess the answer officially is Publicity/Advertising, but on every other level, it's power, control and a celebration of having an awful lot of money.

As I munched on a snack while watching the Poulan Weed-Eater Independence Bowl football game, it gave me pause. It seems naming rights, having spilled over to gumming up college football bowl game names, started to get a bit out of hand with the USF & G Sugar Bowl, and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

A Liberal Arts Education

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:39:20 -0600

As an undergraduate in college, I went to a comedy club one night near the University. For some reason, the stand-up comic picked on me in the second row. After standing and telling him my name, I answered his question about what my major was. "English" I said. "Oh!", he quipped. "You'll be the SMART one behind the counter at the Seven Eleven!".

Everyone roared. I did too, kind of. Maybe I inwardly knew even back then if I had to earn a living with my hands, I'd starve.

Disruptive Innovation

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:00:29 -0600

A relatively new concept and now shared and discussed frequently is that of Disruptive Innovation.

A disruptive innovation as defined by the idea originator Clay Christenson of Harvard is an innovation that transforms complicated and expensive services and products into things that are so simple and affordable that you and I can use them.

Tom Griffin Retires

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:07:57 -0600

Wow. The words above are hard to even say, but they are true. Hard to imagine the busy and productive activity around here without our Associate Executive Director Dr. Tom Griffin. Tom has been a leader here at MIPH since October 1989, and during that time has served co-workers, clients and constituents well, with professionalism, Irish humor, kindness and respect.

A colleague put it best: "Tom just has a way with people", and anyone who's worked with him knows what that means.

Looking Back at 2010

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:26:57 -0600

A retrospective of our wonderful work and challenges/opportunities for MIPH in 2010 follows.

Giving

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 05:17:58 -0600

A report released by the Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC) revealed that an increase in funds giving has occurred, but the demand for such help has also increased. 36 percent of nonprofit group survey respondents indicated an increase in donations this year.

Among nonprofits reporting a decline in donations received, the reasons reported were fewer individuals giving, as well as fewer foundations and corporations giving.

Invasive Pat-downs

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:09:39 -0600

There are in America 600 million air passengers per year. Recent airport security ramp-up strategies include invasive pat-downs of passengers. Equal opportunity frisking unfortunately now equates the 80-year-old grandma from Omaha using a RT ticket, with a foreign traveler without luggage using a one-way ticket for which he/she paid cash. And how do you explain the new strategy to a 6 year old being schooled in good touch bad touch?

Bullying and Harassment in our Schools

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:10:12 -0600

Bullying and harassment in schools once again reaches the priority of our attention. Students serve to feel safe and supported in school, which is of course the environment in which they can maximize the likelihood of reaching their potential.

A national school safety expert once told me "Parents might forgive us if your kids struggle and don't learn as well as they might in school, but they will never forgive us if their kids aren't safe!".

Engineering Healthy Snack Machines

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 06:29:31 -0600

The movement is smart and clear: replace junk food with healthier snacks in vending machines. Encouraging and rewarding healthy choices continues to make incredibly good sense.

An article in last week's Wall Street Journal referenced efforts to improve the efficacy of dispensing healthy snacks from vending machines in schools and workplaces. One challenge is, a banana doesn't survive the drop to the bottom of the vending machine as does a Snickers.

Prevention and the Affordable Care Act

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:12:51 -0600

There appears to be a whole series of opportunities for prevention written in throughout the new Health Care legislation, which many now call the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the National Summit on Health Reform in Denver, a prologue to the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual conference.

Leaders and speakers urged those in attendance to "find our public health voice in the ACA".

In many ways, APHA has been working on health reform for over a hundred years.

The Receptionist

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:52:21 -0500

Even in a high tech era, it's great to walk into a professional place of business and encounter a competent receptionist. This person is the first impression a visitor has of your shop, and dictates tone, professionalism, efficiency and warmth. Goodness knows, a receptionist like that is of great value.

It's also abundantly clear when it ISN'T that way. Either no one up front and no response system, OR the receptionist is busy dealing with delivery services, maintenance vendors, cold-callers, lost souls, or other folks.

Everything's Related

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:11:17 -0500

Our largest client is the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). A quick read of their current Strategic Plan confirms what we at MIPH have believed for many years: there are connections in prevention that need to be made. Substance abuse, mental health, violence, poverty, crime injustice, general health, safety, and well-being are all inter-disciplinary issues in our lives.

How About No Tolerance?

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 07:51:18 -0500

There has been a story in the news about a seven year old boy in Florida who brought a toy gun to school in his backpack. It was found out, the officials intervened and by the school's Zero Tolerance policy, second grader Samuel Burgos was expelled from school for the year. That was almost a year ago; the local school board upheld the policy and stood firm.

Decisions, Decisions...

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 07:40:28 -0500

I was reading an article recently about a study of decision-making that came out of the University of Amsterdam social psychology department. It tied how people make—or even the extent to which they agonize over making decisions—to their world view; how they see the world in general.

People who see the world more as black or white tend to:

Speak their minds and make quick decisions
Be more predictable in making their decisions
Be less worried about making the wrong choice
Are less likely to consider others' points of view.

Part of the Solution, or Part of the Problem?

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:04:44 -0500

Recently, my home town went through a painful and embarrassing experience. The local high school football team was found to have been the center of a hazing incident that including belittling, humiliating and harming some underclassmen players.

Whether it started out as a prank or an all-for-fun deal does not matter. It was serious, and it was wrong.

2009 Annual Report

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 07:36:48 -0500

After many years, MIPH is pleased to share with you our first ever Annual Report of Activities to the Community. We're really proud of it, and hope you take a few minutes to peruse it. Check it out here.

The Report focuses on calendar year 2009, and attempts to capture our work in terms of pursuing our mission and vision, program goals, project and activities profile, and ways we have touched the community that seem to matter.

The Annual Report also includes a message from John Laux, our MIPH Board Chair.

Ball. Wall. Ball.

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:14:00 -0500

In baseball, outfielders are coached how to go back to the warning track fence to catch a deep fly ball. It can ALWAYS be done spectacularly (see Willie Mays to Torii Hunter), but it's important to be done successfully and without getting injured.

So the coaching formula is a simple one to remember: Ball. Wall. Ball.

Managing Technology-Part II

Jerry Jaker — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:08:54 -0500