Naphsis

Exciting news from Phoenix, AZ! Naphsis staff had the pleasure of attending the AWHONN Annual Meeting. We were there to promote the Birth eLearning Training Module developed by the CDC.

This is an excellent resource for physicians, nurses, and non-clinical staff at hospitals or free-standing birthing centers who are responsible for completing the medical and health information sections of the certificate of live birth and report of fetal death.

Link to the training can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/training/birthcertificateelearning/index.htm

The TSA has created toolkits for social media, print, digital media, and video to help government and industry partners promote the “Be Your REAL ID Self” Public Awareness Campaign. This collective effort aims to enhance homeland security by achieving REAL ID readiness. Partners are crucial in spreading awareness and education about REAL ID.

TSA supports these efforts content for use on websites, social media, e-mails, direct mail, and at physical locations like checkpoints. Partners are encouraged to promote the campaign throught the year to prepare for May 7, 2025, when U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. Learn more and view the media toolkits here:

Campaign Toolkits | Homeland Security Government and industry partners promote the “Be Your REAL ID Self” Public Awareness Campaign as part of integrated efforts to improve the security of our homeland. Achieving REAL ID readiness is a collective effort between federal, state and local governments, as well as industry partners. Part...

The Early Career Professional Award honors individuals with significant potential to impact vital records and health statistics through administration, data management, statistics, or technology. The awardee’s work demonstrates significant contributions to the field and serves as an inspiration to other vital records professionals. To be eligible, the nominee must have worked in the field of vital records or health statistics for fewer than five years.

At this year's Annual Meeting, the award went to Lani De La Garza, Deputy Bureau Chief from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Lani excelled in vital records tasks and customer service, quickly earning promotions. As a public health program specialist, she resolved a backlog of queries and ensured compliance with national standards. In her current role, she supports the State Registrar, develops training materials, and improves data collection methods, achieving 100% medical certifier compliance with MoEVR. Her dedication and positive energy have greatly impacted her state's vital records operations.

Congratulations, Lani!

The Team Excellence Award recognizes the significant contributions of a team in vital records or health statistics. This may include, but is not limited to, innovations and improvements in the areas of customer service, registration, training, data management and statistics, data quality, field services, or technology.

At this years Annual Meeting, the award went to the SSA EDR Committee for their contribution to the great success in negotiating a payment for EDR records that is $9.09, which is three times higher than the goal that Naphsis and jurisdictions have been trying to achieve for many years. The price increase finally reflects what it really costs for jurisdictions to produce an accurate death record and get it to SSA timely. This price increase will help jurisdictions adequately support their mission-critical work. The committee worked tirelessly to gather fiscal information for jurisdictions that shows the true cost of our work, and they presented the information to SSA in a way that finally convinced SSA it was worth paying a fair price for the records. Congratulations to the members of the SSA EDR Committee; Gretchen Van Wye, Dana Moore, Judy Moulder, Jeremy S. Peterson, Terra (Abrams) Ankrah, MBA, Devon Priddle

The Partner Award recognizes an exceptional non-jurisdictional individual or team that works in collaboration with Naphsis members, the Naphsis Board of Directors, and Naphsis staff to accomplish Naphsis goals and advance its mission. The award may recognize efforts and contributions over a long period as well as those that have produced quick results and positive outcomes. The recipient could be a member of the Naphsis vendor community, a sponsor, a member of a partner organization, or another agency.

At this year's Annual Meeting, the award was presented to the CDC Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) STEVE Team. They have consistently demonstrated exceptional partnership with Naphsis, significantly contributing to the enhancement of data quality and timeliness. Their dedicated efforts and expertise have been instrumental in achieving our mutual goals, ensuring that our data processes are more efficient and reliable than ever before. The contributions of the DRH-STEVE team go beyond mere enhancements in efficiency; they epitomize the essence of genuine partnership and collaboration. Their steadfast dedication and innovative approaches have not only streamlined data sharing processes but have also established an inspiring precedent for collaborative endeavors in our field.

Congratulations to the members of this team: Crystal Gibson, David Goodman, Lee Warner, Cynthia Cassell, Randy Leggett, Mikyong Shin, Aspy Taraporewalla, Gyan Chandra, Holly Shulmanm, Stacey Hurst, and Mirelys Rodriguez!

The President's Award is presented by The Naphsis Board of Director's President to an individual for outstanding leadership in the field of Vital Records. This award honors those who have not only elevated themselves, but the people around them, the jurisdiction in which they serve and their significant impact on the field of Vital Records.

At this year's Annual Meeting, the award was presented to Jeremy S. Peterson (accepted on his behalf by James Aydelotte). For the past 25 years, Jeremy has been a cornerstone in the Vital Records industry, fostering a unique bond within the field. His leadership has earned Idaho top recognition from NCHS for ten consecutive years. Jeremy has served on the Naphsis Board of Directors and numerous committees. Notably, he led the successful negotiation of the Social Security Administration's fact of death contract, significantly increasing financial reimbursement for each jurisdiction. Both Naphsis and his colleagues appreciate his ongoing efforts in the current SSA birth contract negotiations.

Congratulations Jeremy!

The Outstanding Leadership Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership in vital records and health statistics. It honors those with a firm commitment and drive to protect records, improve program administration, and enhance data dissemination. The award highlights leaders who make significant contributions and impactful decisions benefiting the profession, the data, and their jurisdiction.

At this year's Annual Meeting, the award was presented to Kelly Baker from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Kelly has made significant contributions to vital records and health statistics, serving as her state's Vital Records Director and State Registrar since 2006. She has also been actively involved in various vital records and health statistics activities at local, state, regional, tribal, and national levels, notably serving as the President of the Naphsis from 2010 to 2018. Kelly fosters a culture of collaboration and accountability, prioritize initiatives for impactful outcomes, and inspires her team to strive for excellence. Her proactive approach and dedication to innovation set a benchmark for leadership excellence in the vital records arena.

Congratulations Kelly!

Monday was the kick off of the 2024 Annual Meeting. We had an amazing turnout with record breaking attendance with the most people to ever attend a Naphsis Annual Meeting!

It was great to meet the Puerto Rico VDRS staff in Atlanta, GA. Puerto Rico is the first jurisdiction to utilize the new NVDRS STEVE mailbox functionality. They are now receiving automated daily files to support their program.

Naphsis was well represented at the NVDRS Reverse Site Visit this week. Executive Director, Shae Sutton, participated in the Partner Panel and Incoming Board Member, Kirk Bol, presented in the session on VDRS program partnerships in prevention.

May 7th marks National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Illegally made fentanyl is the most common drug involved in overdose deaths. Join us in raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and how to protect yourself or your loved ones from an overdose. Learn more: https://bit.ly/41jGthn

Last day to sign up in advance for the Ambassadors Program!

This program bridges the gap between seasoned attendees and newcomers at the Naphsis Annual Meeting, May 20-22 in Detroit, MI.

Get paired with a knowledgeable Ambassador to navigate the event with ease and make meaningful connections. Apply now! https://www.naphsis.org/events/annual-meeting/ambassadors-program

Naphsis presented at The Department of State's 2024 Domestic Fraud Program Managers Workshop in San Diego on EVVE. At the FPM Award Ceremony, Naphsis acknowledged the Passport Office National Passport Center (NPC) for their accomplishment of achieving the highest number of EVVE transactions in 2023, and the Passport Office Arkansas Center (APC) for their exceptional match rate in 2023.

There is still time to register for this session, regardless of whether you've already registered for the Annual Meeting.

Join us for a unique three-hour “choose your adventure” workshop at the Annual Meeting, May 19, 2024, aimed at exploring and enhancing your impact on workplace culture. Our facilitator, Nora Burns (aka The Undercover Candidate™ and The Undercover Employee™), will provide the core framework for this session utilizing the four principles of the ECHO Effect. (Experience, Communication, Humanization, and Own It). The cost of this session is $100.

Haven't registered for the Annual Meeting yet? Register now and add on the precon event. https://cvent.me/ONL9R0

Already registered? You can edit your registration from your confirmation email.

Don't miss the Regional meetings and the Annual Meeting!
These meetings, hosted by the BOD representative from each region, will occur on May 22 from 1-3pm local time. These will be the first in-person regional meetings since 2019, so take this opportunity to meet members from neighboring member jurisdictions and hear how they approach common vital records and health statistics topics. Register for the Annual Meeting today to secure your spot at the Regional meetings. https://cvent.me/N8NokM?RefId=01.30.2024

Have you seen the PBS docuseries "The Invisible Shield"? The series sheds light on the incredible lifesaving work of public health pioneers throughout history. From centuries past to the present day, their dedication has shaped our world and saved countless lives. Share your thoughts and let's celebrate the unsung heroes who've safeguarded our well-being!

The Invisible Shield | PBS Public health saved your life today and you don't even know it.

Join us in celebrating Vital Records Month in Michigan this April!

Did you know that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been diligently recording and preserving vital documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and more since 1867? That's over 150 years of dedicated service to their state's citizens!

Throughout the years, MDHHS has maintained the integrity of these crucial records, ensuring they're accessible for various services and privileges. From birth to death, these documents are the cornerstone of our identities and legal rights.

Let's take this opportunity to recognize and appreciate the hard work of Michigan's civil servants. Join us in honoring the significance of these records and their vital role in our lives. Together, let's celebrate Vital Records Month in Michigan throughout April 2024! hashtag

It is National Public Health Week! APHA is hosting almost a dozen NPHW events this year. They're all free, but registration is required. Learn More: https://tinyurl.com/58fafdyy

Early Bird Pricing ends Friday, April 5th! Optimize your savings and schedule by securing your spot early! Register Here for the Annual Meeting: https://www.naphsis.org/events/annual-meeting/registration

That's a wrap! The end of an exciting VR 101 experience. From discussing Model Law to Passport Fraud, we've delved deep into vital records. It's been an incredible few days of learning, growth, and networking. Special congrats to our trivia winners who nailed the game and won some awesome New Orleans prizes!

Day 2 in the books! Engaging and informative sessions covering digital issuance, Naphsis systems, FHIR/modernization, NCHS reporting, data sharing, and more. Also, a very productive second day of breakout sessions on data management/statistics, leadership/IT, and registration/customer service/field services, where attendees exchanged experiences and engaged in meaningful dialogue within their jurisdictions.

Congratulations to our recently elected board members! We are thrilled to welcome you aboard and look forward to collaborating with you to drive positive change, achieve our collective goals, and lead our organization to even greater heights. Here's to a successful term ahead, beginning June 1st!

LAST CHANCE! Nominations for the Naphsis Annual Meeting Awards close tomorrow! Don't miss out on honoring exceptional colleagues in vital records and health statistics. Nominate now: https://www.naphsis.org/events/annual-meeting/awards