Nebraska’s Women’s Health Initiative Advisory Council suffers ‘death by neglect’
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Nebraska’s Women’s Health Initiative Advisory Council suffers ‘death by neglect’
The Women’s Health Initiative Advisory Council in Nebraska was eliminated. The Council consisted of members with varying medical backgrounds and expertise. It worked to educate lawmakers about health gaps and disparities across the state. A spokesperson for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the elimination will not impact the state’s mission to improve women’s health. The council was created by law in 2000 with the intention to address and coordinate services, policy development, advocacy and education about women’S health, among other topics.. Council member Janelle Ali-Dinar, a health professional with more than 15 years of experience as a hospital CEO and congressional health liaison, is concerned about the loss of opportunity. “It feels like we’re assigned as some sort of a less important group,” she said. She added the Council received national attention from other states interested in the work. ‘They need people to help educate them, and without councils or committees, they’re already like fish out of water when they come in for their first term.’
The Council consisted of members with varying medical backgrounds and expertise. It worked to educate lawmakers about health gaps and disparities across the state, among other topics.
Member Victoria Vinton, a nurse and the lead on a national nonprofit to promote nursing across the U.S., said it was a “death by neglect,” and that even though there was public interest in the work, members did not see the same from elected state leaders. Furthermore, people would apply to be on the Council and would never receive an invitation from the state to formally join, even with Council members “banging on the governor’s door.”
Council member Kate Fiandt, a retired family nurse practitioner and veteran, said it’s frustrating their work is ending.
“[Women are] half the population and this is a culture that says family is important, and yet the core of the family is the women,” she said. “So it really feels disrespectful and it feels like we’re assigned as some sort of a less important group.”
The council’s term ends this month. Jeff Powell, a spokesperson for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said in an email the Council’s elimination will not impact the state’s mission to improve women’s health.
Powell said DHHS has implemented programs such as prenatal plus for Medicaid-eligible mothers, expanded postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months and expanded maternal, infant and early childhood visiting programs.
The email also stated the Council was “duplicative of efforts already being accomplished by DHHS,” and that the state has more than 200 boards and commissions, one of Pillen’s arguments to eliminate some.
Members argue it was not repetitive since they were all citizens working as volunteers and not bound by politics.
Council member Janelle Ali-Dinar, a health professional with more than 15 years of experience as a hospital CEO and congressional health liaison, is concerned about the loss of opportunity to improve women’s health.
“These types of committee structures help thread the knot in that, and help support those types of needs,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that without us or with us, that women’s health is any less important. It’s just that we served as an opportunity to make it less fragile.”
The Women’s Health Initiative Advisory Council was created by law in 2000 with the intention to address and coordinate services, policy development, advocacy and education about women’s health. The Council’s key priority issues for 2023-2025 included access to health care for rural communities, access to mental health support and raising awareness about violence against women.
Ali-Dinar said part of what makes Nebraska attractive is health care, and the Council worked to ensure it stayed high quality. She added the Council received national attention from other states interested in the work.
“We had really nothing to work with other than to say we’ve submitted the information to the governor for his review, so we did everything that we could. I like to think that I have a positive influence that garnered some attention,” she said. “Every single process protocol that was followed really fell on no feedback.”
The Council viewed themselves as successful following its inception. That went downhill in recent years, according to Vinton.
“[What is] troubling is that the governor evidently feels like no information is needed to help make good legislative decisions. So it’s kind of like a slap in the face,” she said. “They need people to help educate them, and without councils or committees, they’re already like fish out of water when they come in for their first term. How do you even navigate all the things you need to know about to make good decisions?”
Powell, with DHHS, said the Department appreciates the hard work and dedication of all members of the Council, and hopes they will continue their service to the state in other capacities.
Ali-Dinar said she and other members are still looking at other opportunities to be “good servants, good vessels, good voices,” for the health of Nebraska’s women.