USDA Launches Interactive Data Tool to Address Opioid Crisis
The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a new tool to "help leaders, researchers, and policymakers assess what actions will be most effective in addressing the opioid crisis at the local level." Developed in partnership with the Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis at NORC at the University of Chicago, the tool allows users to overlay substance misuse data against socioeconomic, census, and other public education data.

Addressing Rural Social Isolation as a Health and Mortality Risk Factor
This brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center describes the prevalence of social isolation in rural areas and identifies challenges and strategies to policymaking.

NACCHO Revamps Website
The National Association of County and City Health Officials launched a new version of its website and seeks feedback about it through a brief survey.

Health Systems Transformation in MCH

ACA Outreach & Enrollment Info for Title V Programs
With enrollment set to open Nov. 1 for the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplace, AMCHP produced a fact sheet about informational resources and suggested steps for maternal and child health (MCH) leaders to support outreach and enrollment in their state and communities and help guarantee improved access to care and coverage for MCH populations.

Parents Need Insurance Coverage Too
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace open enrollment begins Nov. 1. This flyer, produced in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, describes the importance of insurance coverage for parents/caregivers and explains ACA open enrollment season, as well as other ways that parents can get coverage.

Child & Adolescent Health

Inequities in Coverage and Financing of Care For CYSHCN
The Catalyst Center created a one-page infographic illustrating important elements of inequities in coverage and financing of care for children and youth with special health care needs. The infographic touches on several subgroups that are less likely to be adequately insured and face a greater risk for adverse health effects as a result.

Evaluation Finds Sex Ed Program Helps Young Men Discuss Contraception and Consent
A qualitative evaluation, based on focus groups, finds that the Manhood 2.0 sexual education program for young men of color increases participants' knowledge about sexual consent and contraception, according to a summary by Child Trends that links to the report.

National Survey of Children's Health
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration announced that data from the 2017 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) is available. A brief overview of the 2017 NSCH and new estimates of key child health indicators are found in the NSCH Fact Sheet.

Women's and Infant Health

Report Reviews Knowledge Gaps on Therapies for Pregnant and Lactating Women
The federal The Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women issued its report about gaps in knowledge and in research on safe and effective therapies for pregnant women and lactating women. The report includes 15 recommendations.