Public Health Review Morning Edition

Elizabeth Hertel, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, tells us how her department is working to improve mental health; Kathleen Ho, Deputy Director for Environmental Health with Hawaii’s State Department of Health, explains her team’s response to the historic wildfires in 2023; and an ASTHO blog article looks at five trends from across state legislatures that you should be aware of. Michigan Webpage: Mental Health Mental Health Awareness Month Webpage Hawaii Department of Health Webpage: Maui Wildfire Response ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO’s 2024 Legislative Session Update: Part One ASTHO Public Health Review Morning Edition Episode 669 ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Dr. JP Leider, Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, tells us what the ASTHO Profile reveals about the public health workforce; Dr. Carolyn Wester, Director of the CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis, talks about national viral hepatitis elimination goals; and an ASTHO webinar will help you communicate more effectively through an equity lens. ASTHO Profile CDC Webpage: Viral Hepatitis ASTHO Webinar: Bi-directional Communication Through a Health Equity Lens with Public Health Practitioners ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Lillian Colasurdo, ASTHO Director of Public Health Law and Data Sharing, tells us about part one of ASTHO’s 2024 Legislative session update; Dr. Katrina Piercy, Director of the Division of Prevention Science in the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, discusses the federal government’s report on physical activity guidelines for older adults; healthy aging is the focus of a new ASTHO resource; and podcasters in the software space says the ASTHO Profile dashboard is one of the best-designed websites they have ever seen. ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO’s 2024 Legislative Session Update: Part One HHS Webpage: Midcourse Report – Implementation Strategies for Older Adults Older Americans Month Webpage The White House Webpage ASTHO Brief: Public Health Frameworks to Advance Healthy Aging ASTHO Profile

Liz Gipson, Senior Program Officer at the Center for Healthcare Strategies, discusses a case study about New Jersey contraception legislation that ASTHO partnered on; Catherine Jones, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Government Affairs, says the federal government is beginning to have discussions about the rapidly aging U.S. population; and an ASTHO blog article offers several perspectives on how a diverse public health workforce can be beneficial. ASTHO Webpage: Contraception Access Learning Community – Resources New Jersey Webpage: A Study of New Jersey Assembly Bill 4503 ASTHO Blog Article: Federal Discussions on Aging Move Center Stage ASTHO Blog Article: Infusing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Into State Public Health Agencies – Perspectives from Connecticut, New York, and Tennessee ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, tells us about his state’s “Pause to Heal” campaign; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, discusses a recent meeting she attended where she heard from staff members with the House Minority Leader’s office; the National Coalition of STD Directors and ASTHO will host a webinar on May 22 that will feature a “policy 101” perspective focused on state legislative sessions; and Emma Talkington, ASTHO Senior Analyst on the Environmental Health team, recaps the State Environmental Health Directors meeting. Illinois Press Release: Illinois Launches New "Pause to Heal" Firearm Restraining Order Education Campaign MyStateline News Article: Illinois reaches milestone in distribution of gun locks: 100,000 in one year NCSD Webinar: Navigating the State Legislative Session and Department Collaboration: SPEAKS Session with ASTHO and NCSD

Derek Olson, Web Content Manager for the Washington State Department of Health, tells us the importance of digital access and inclusion; Emily Lapayowker, Assistant Director of Web at ASTHO, says ASTHO has systems to ensure its online products are accessible; and two ASTHO-authored papers in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice examine the agency role associated with healthy aging. Washington State Department of Health Webpage Global Accessibility Awareness Day Webpage Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Article: Improving Older Adult Health by Operationalizing State Plans on Aging and Health Improvement Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Article: Supporting Healthy Aging and Older Adult Health: The Role of State and Territorial Health Agencies ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Dr. Maura Quinlan, Women's Health Medical Advisor for the Illinois Department of Public Health, describes Illinois’ warm line for syphilis and congenital syphilis cases; Patrick Luces, Program Coordinator for the NCD Prevention and Control Program, tells us about an award Guam has won for its work in health equity; an ASTHO webinar will give you the latest information about pharmacist prescribed contraception; and if you’re looking for a career in public health… ASTHO has an interactive map to help you find openings in your state. Illinois Department of Public Health News Release: IDPH Launches New Provider Phone Line in Response to Alarming Increase in Babies Born with Congenital Syphilis Illinois Department of Public Health Dear Colleagues Letter Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Webpage: Strategies to Operationalize Health Equity in Island Area Health Departments ASTHO Webpage: Territories and Freely Associated States ASTHO Webinar: Implementation of Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception – Health Plan Coverage of Services PublicHealthCareers.org Webpage

Dr. Sally Rafie, Founder of Birth Control Pharmacist, says pharmacies are an accessible and private option for those in need of contraceptive care; Joy Burkhard, Executive Director of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, wants to make sure providers who see pregnant people and new parents get the help they need to perform screenings; an ASTHO blog article covers Missouri's response to a maternal health crisis; and disease forecasting is the topic of an ASTHO webinar set for later this week. ASTHO Webinar: Implementation of Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception: Health Plan Coverage of Services Birth Control Pharmacist Webpage Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health Webpage ASTHO Blog Article: Advancing State Maternal and Child Health Policymaking Through Boundary Spanning Leadership ASTHO Webinar: Disease Forecasting Learning Series

Aaron Ferguson, Manager of the Climate and Tracking Unit in the Division of Environmental Health at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, tells us what Michigan leadership learned when they dealt with unprecedented air quality in the state; Karla Granado, Senior Operations Manager with the Travis County Hospital District and a DELPH Scholar, says Community Health Workers need to be empowered to advance health equity; ASTHO has a webinar focused on communicating about disease forecasting; and the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is now available. Michigan Health and Human Services Webpage: Your Health and Wildfire Smoke ASTHO Blog Article: Empowering Community Health Workers to Advance Health Equity ASTHO Webinar: Disease Forecasting Learning Series U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Webpage: 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

Alex Kearly, ASTHO Director of Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships, says doula care is one of the most promising strategies to address maternal health disparities; Kay Matthews, Executive Director and Founder of the Shades of Blue Project, tells us that too often Black mothers have to choose between their mental health and basic family needs; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO Senior Director for Government Affairs, discusses a federal plan to replace lead pipes used for drinking water in this week’s View from Washington D.C. Report; and ASTHO’s latest profile of state and territorial public health is now available online. ASTHO Blog Article: Increasing Access to Doulas will Ease the Maternal Health Crisis Shades of Blue Project Webpage Environmental Protection Agency News Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $3 Billion for Lead Pipe Replacement to Advance Safe Drinking Water as Part of Investing in America Agenda ASTHO Webpage: Profile of State and Territorial Public Health

Anil Nair, Director for the Division of Environmental Health Epidemiology within the Department of Health in Pennsylvania, says their state is taking a deeper look at environmental justice; Dr. Dylan George, Director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the Centers for Disease Control, tells us about a forecasting project to help communities anticipate and prepare for outbreaks; and ASTHO has two new members, Heidi Hedberg in Alaska and Dr. Douglas Harrington in Montana. ASTHO Report: How Pennsylvania Health Department’s Cross-Sector Partnerships Are Strengthening Climate and Environmental Justice ASTHO Blog Article: Improving Performance Management in Licking County, Ohio’s Environmental Health Operations CDC Webpage: Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics ASTHO Webpage: ASTHO Member Directory ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Amber Gibbar, Health Promotion Coordinator for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, says they have been working for years to dismantle communication barriers in retail food safety; Julia Rivera, Program Director for the Public Health AmeriCorps Centralized Call Center in Guam, tells us the benefits of launching the Public Health AmeriCorps program in Guam; ASTHO is hosting a webinar on pharmacist-prescribed contraception; and Dr. Umair Shah, Secretary of Health for the Washington State Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, honors Public Service Recognition Week. ASTHO Brief: Evidence-Based Approaches to Promoting Health Equity in Retail Food Safety Washington State Department of Health Webpage: Food Worker Manual AmeriCorps Webpage: Public Health AmeriCorps ASTHO Webinar: Implementation of Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception – Health Plan Coverage of Services X Webpage Post: Public Service Recognition Week

Omar Khalid, ASTHO Director of Workforce, tells us about the American Nurses Foundation’s upcoming webinar, “Break Free From Burnout”; Maya Goldman, a healthcare reporter for Axios, discusses her article on the nurse workforce; and ASTHO has a policy statement on Healthy Aging and Older Adult Health. Webinar Webpage – Break Free from Burnout: Free Webinar & Interactive Q&A for Nurses & Healthcare Workers Axios News Article: Nursing workforce is becoming more diverse ASTHO Policy Statement: Healthy Aging and Older Adult Health Policy Statement ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, elaborates on a blog he authored on takeaways from the recent Avian Flu Symposium; Katelyn Wells, Chief Research Evaluation and Development Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers, discusses a toolkit to help with adolescent vaccination numbers; and ASTHO’s 2024 Legislative Prospectus series can be a valuable resource for you and your team as it lists the top 10 public health policy trends to watch. ASTHO Blog Article: From the Chief Medical Officer – Key Takeaways from ASTHO’s HPAI Scientific Symposium Association of Immunization Managers Webpage: Adolescent Immunization Toolkit ASTHO Webpage: 2024 Legislative Prospectus Series ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Nyuma Harrison, Director of Programs at the American Nurses Foundation, explains a webinar about burnout planned as part of National Nurses Week activities; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO's Senior Director for Government Affairs, and his team are tracking developments on two federal rulemakings that ASTHO members should pay attention to; today is Dr. Anne Zink’s last day as Chief Medical Officer in Alaska; and an ASTHO blog article authored by Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, shares his take on last week’s avian flu symposium. American Nurses Foundation Webinar: Break Free from Burnout – Free Webinar & Interactive Q&A for Nurses & Healthcare Workers ASTHO Webpage: Legislative Alerts Think Like Zink With Anne Zink

Dr. Robert Goldstein, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, details his state’s Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity; Michelle Van Handel, Associate Director for the Program and Performance Improvement Office at the CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, discusses a syndemic approach to combatting certain infections; and an ASTHO report addresses the issue of unintentional falls among older adults. Massachusetts News Release: Department of Public Health launches health equity plan to address racism as a serious public health threat Massachusetts Department of Public Health Webpage: Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity 2024-2028 CDC Webpage: HIV CDC Webpage: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) CDC Webpage: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) ASTHO Report: Expanding Falls Prevention Through Surveillance, Community-Clinical Linkages, and Strategic Planning and Evaluation

Dr. Jessica Schleider, Associate Professor of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University, says social media platforms are one of the best ways to reach kids in crisis; Josh Hodges, Chief Customer Officer at the National Council on Aging, explains how older adults will be helped by a new direct care workforce strategy center; and a webinar will offer perspective on several ways to effectively advance STI program needs. STAT News Article: Banning teens from social media won’t help their mental health. Here’s what might ASTHO Webpage: Social and Behavioral Health National Council on Aging Webpage: Meet our Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center Partners National Coalition of STD Directors Webinar: Navigating the State Legislative Session and Department Collaboration – SPEAKS Session with ASTHO and NCSD ASTHO Webpage: Legislative Alerts

Jessica Baggett, Senior Advisor for Public Health Response at ASTHO, talks about a package of evidence-based strategies outlined in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice; Megan Tompkins, Director of Data Modernization for the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, tells us about a web page full of stories about the impact of data modernization work; and Dr. James Bell III, Chief of Staff for the Public Health Administration at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, explains how it’s possible to advance DEI work in state government. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Webpage: Evidence-Based Strategies to Enhance Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Webpage: DMI Stories From The Field ASTHO Blog Article: Leading from the Inside: Advancing DEI at the State Level ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

A national symposium on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, moderated by ASTHO CEO Dr. Joseph Kanter and attended by many ASTHO members, discussed many aspects of the virus; Dr. Janice Phillips, Assistant Director at the Illinois Department of Public Health, discusses their 30 Days of Public Health Campaign; and ASTHO has a webinar focused on leveraging syndromic surveillance to promote health equity for people with disabilities. ASTHO Webpage: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Scientific Symposium Illinois Department of Public Health News Release: IDPH Kicks Off “30 Days of Public Health” Celebration to Coincide with National Minority Health Month ASTHO Webinar: Defining Disability for Syndromic Surveillance – Data to Action ASTHO Webinar: Defining Disability for Syndromic Surveillance – Data to Action Technical Assistance

Corey Davis, Director of the Harm Reduction Legal Project at the Network for Public Health Law, discusses the challenges of improving naloxone distribution; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, tells us about her team’s advocacy efforts as fiscal year 2025 appropriations advocacy gets underway; and the CDC has a warning about the dangers of some botox injections. ASTHO Webpage: ASTHO’s Public Health Legal Mapping Center ASTHO Blog Article: The Fentanyl Crisis Requires Ongoing and Strategic Federal Action CDC Webpage: Adverse Effects Linked to Counterfeit or Mishandled Botulinum Toxin Injections ASTHO Webpage: Legislative Alerts