Healthy Generations eNewsletter

#UMNMCH student Maddie Wolf (MPH 2026) shares how her deployment with Vision Health Minnesota helped catch vision abnormalities in children to prevent future harm. In this piece, Maddie discusses how this experience reinvigorated her passion for serving children and families in the community. Read more about Maddie’s experience here.

In this Bright Spots Mini-Lab session, you'll explore the current landscape of generative AI usage in qualitative research, covering tasks ranging from automated transcription to generating summaries or coding suggestions. Dr. Michael Beckstrand will provide concrete examples of how to use tools like OpenAI’s Whisper for transcription and Google Gemini models into your workflow, as well as show how generative AI features have been integrated into qualitative analysis tools like NVivo. There will be time for hands-on exploration of Gemini and NotebookLM, and plenty of opportunity for discussion and grappling with both the opportunities and challenges presented by generative AI. Please consult your institution's opt-in policies for Gemini and NotebookLM prior to the session. UMN affiliates should opt-in using z.umn.edu/geminioptin​ and https://z.umn.edu/notebooklmoptin.

Participants will:

1) Understand several generative AI tools and their potential use in qualitative research

2) Identify multiple points in a research workflow where generative AI might be useful

3) Navigate both ethical and practical limitations to using generative AI in a peer-reviewed research setting

-Register here

November 18, 2025 | 8:30 AM-12:30 PM CST | Virtual

“This session, hosted by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), provides an overview of evidence-based recommendations for performing recommended and required components of a complete C&TC well child exam. Information is provided on specific screening procedures, considerations and strategies for providing appropriate adolescent care, referral, follow-up, and health equity will be discussed.” Contact health.childteencheckups@state.mn.us with questions.

-Click here to register

December 3, 2025 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM CST | Virtual

The University of Minnesota’s Extension Department of Youth Development presents a webinar for educators and people who work with youth to “have proactive conversations to support the success of youth with disabilities and explore behaviors and how to de-escalate them.”

-Click here to register

• Five Trends in Public Thinking about the Connections between Early Childhood Development and Climate Change
  FrameWorks recently partnered with Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child to release a trends report that outlines key findings for public health professionals in MCH.

• Unlocking the Power of Fathers: Fatherhood as a Protective Factor for Promoting School Readiness
  The Center for Urban Families recently released a brief outlining how fathers can shape the fabric of childhood development and family well-being.

• Counts the Kicks
  This public health campaign by Healthy Birth Day Inc. promotes education on the importance of consistently tracking fetal movements in the third trimester as a stillbirth prevention tool.

• Safe Pregnancy and Birth App
  Hesperian Health Guides launched a new resource for Portuguese families via the Safe Pregnancy and Birth App. This source is now available in five languages.

• Special Issue on MCH History: Looking Back to Move Forward
  The MCH Journal published a special issue highlighting historic movements and updates in the MCH space. This collection of 20 articles recaps key MCH topics of interest.