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