The Tennessee Health Care Campaign annual conference to be held in Chattanooga on Sept. 18-19 will focus on Healthy Communities:  Social Drivers of Health and Health Systems. Highlights include a Grassroots Advocacy skills workshop on Thursday afternoon, and an evening viewing or a documentary and discussion of the work of the Remote Area Medical organization that brings medical and dental care to underserved communities across the world and within our own state. The executive director of RAM and Wendell Potter, a member of the RAM Board and director of the Center for Health and Democracy are special guests to lead that discussion. On Friday, Dr. Rebecca Fletcher from the Center for Appalachian Studies will present the keynote on drivers of health in rural Tennessee communities. Workshops will explore the power of personal stories in advocacy, the loss of trust in public health and how to restore that, the specifics of the cuts that Congress has made to Medicaid and SNAP, and what is needed to truly transform rural health care systems in our state  The closing panel will include Mandy Spears of the Sycamore Institute summarizing how cuts in federal programs will impact Tennessee's state budgeting over the coming years, and State Senator Jeff Yarbro and Representative Renea Jones will discuss how the legislature might approach filling the gaps in health, education and social spending.  Friday's sessions will be offered both virtually and in person.

 

Continuing education credits are available for social workers and nurses. For more information or to register go to:  https://tennesseehealthcareconference.org.