ASTHO regularly convenes peer networks that support the development of state and territorial agencies (S/THAs) through services that include in-person and virtual events, skill-building workshops, online discussion boards, peer-to-peer mentoring and coaching, and technical assistance.
Chief Financial Officers and Financial Leaders
Chief Financial Officers and Financial Leaders Peer Network provides a forum to share expertise, information, peer experiences, and emerging issues on public health financing and grant management. It promotes best practices in health economics, financial and grant management, and budgeting; builds leadership and operational management skills; and strengthens relationships and coordination with other senior health officials.
Titles may include but are not limited to: Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance, Chief of Administration, Chief Operational Officer and those who are leaders in their health agency finance department. Other titles are included on a case-by-case basis.
Clinical Service Leaders
Clinical Service Leaders Peer Network is a space for state and territorial health agency leaders with broad oversight of public health-based clinical services. Peers connect on emerging issues and share strategies related to public health and health care partnership, access to care, and healthcare service delivery. ASTHO provides this peer network with timely updates on federal funding and policy initiatives related to public health’s role in safety net service provision and access to care.
Titles may include but are not limited to: chief medical officers, state medical directors, or chief nurses.
Directors of Public Health Preparedness and its Executive Committee
Directors of Public Health Preparedness and its Executive Committee (DPHP EC) provide jurisdictional-based expertise and leadership for all-hazards public health preparedness and response. The network provides a forum to develop and share strategies, tactics and sound practices and maintain communications regarding common operational issues in state/territorial public health preparedness and response. The group convenes regularly with federal and organizational partners to provide feedback on emerging and existing programmatic and policy issues.
Informatics and Data Modernization Network
Informatics and Data Modernization Network (IDMN) provides a forum for S/THA informatics and data modernization leaders, such as informatics directors and data modernization directors, as well as staff who support the informatics and data modernization efforts in their health department. ASTHO’s goal is to include leaders across public health informatics and data modernization for each jurisdiction. Through quarterly meetings and the my.ASTHO online community, the IDMN provides a venue for members to learn, share, and discuss timely and emerging informatics and data modernization efforts, innovations, opportunities, resources, and best practices.
Additionally, ASTHO relies on this group to provide and validate information and data related to data modernization and informatics efforts at their agency and nationally (e.g. public health data standards).
Titles may include but are not limited to: Informatics Director, DMI Director, DMI Lead, DMI Champion, State Epidemiologist, Chief Data Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Informatics Officer, Chief Public Health Informatics Officer, Chief Data Officer, Information System Manager, Chief of Innovation, Data Management Director, Data Governance Program Manager, Health Statistics and Informatics Division Director, Health Data and Informatics Director, Technology and Resources Director, DMI Coordinator, Health Informatics Program Manager, DMI Project Manager, Deputy Director, Surveillance and Informatics Supervisor, ELC Information Specialist.
Medical Countermeasures Coordination Network
Medical Countermeasures Coordination Network, along with its online platform on my.ASTHO, serves S/THA staff working in medical countermeasures and representing the 62 PHEP awardee jurisdictions. It enables them to engage in programmatic practices and areas of policy, share materials and resources, foster peer-to-peer discussion, and request and receive technical assistance from ASTHO.
Primary Care Office Directors
Medical Countermeasures Coordination Network, along with its online platform on my.ASTHO, serves S/THA staff working in medical countermeasures and representing the 62 PHEP awardee jurisdictions. It enables them to engage in programmatic practices and areas of policy, share materials and resources, foster peer-to-peer discussion, and request and receive technical assistance from ASTHO.
Public Health Communicators Peer Network
Public Health Communicators Peer Network will help develop public health communication professionals to build strong and effective relationships with their leadership teams including the state and territorial public health officials, so they are able to collectively communicate strategically, build trust in public health, and create a culture of partnership and collaboration in support of their state public health agencies and state and territorial public health official. Through this network, you can:
- Access valuable resources and training sessions on crisis communication, media relations, and more.
- Join quarterly peer-to-peer conference calls, participate in leadership development programs, and attend annual meetings with fellow communicators.
- Get help with the development of communication plans and other products.
- connect with peers through an online community designed for sharing best practices and capacity-building opportunities.
Titles may include but are not limited to: public information officers, directors of communications, communications managers, and deputy communications directors; however, other related titles may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Public Health Lawyers
Public Health Lawyers provides a forum for attorneys representing state and territorial health departments to share legal expertise and best practices as well as offer peer-to-peer support on emerging legal topics impacting these departments. Public health lawyers may be employees of the health department or may sit within a jurisdiction’s attorney general’s office or department of justice.
Titles may include but are not limited to: assistant/associate/general counsel, attorney, assistant/associate/chief counsel, assistant/senior assistant attorney general, or legal/policy specialist.
Senior Deputies
Senior Deputies provides a forum for support, education, and networking opportunities to advance the ASTHO mission and support senior staff’s needs in S/THAs. The senior deputy is identified by and usually reports to the state/territorial health official and can hold responsibility for public health programs, finance, operations, or some combination thereof.
Titles may include but are not limited to: Deputy Director, Deputy Secretary/Commissioner, Chief of Staff, Chief Public Health Officer.
State Environmental Health Directors
State Environmental Health Directors is comprised of environmental health leadership from U.S. state, territorial, and freely associated state health agencies, including Washington, D.C. The group weighs in on and drives environmental public health policy issues forward, such as food safety issues, risk communication challenges for both regulated and unregulated drinking water contaminants, childhood lead poisoning prevention, and health risks posed by excessive heat, and participates in internal and external environmental health-related committees or workgroups. In addition to these topics, the group meets regularly to discuss environmental public health topics like natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes), climate and health, and emerging chemical contaminants (e.g., Ethylene Oxide).
Titles may include but are not limited to: Environmental Health Program/Section Manager, State Toxicologist, State Epidemiologist.
State and Territorial Legislative Liaisons
State and Territorial Legislative Liaisons connect health agency staff who serve as the liaison between their agency and their legislature. ASTHO engages with the community to provide technical assistance, share policy updates, emerging trends, and facilitate peer-to-peer sharing of information and best practices.
State Tribal Liaisons
State Tribal Liaisons (STL) peer group is committed to the sharing of approaches that recognize the sovereignty of and enhance the optimal health of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Peer group convenings serve as a forum for Liaisons to network and share information related to key public health issues impacting Tribal communities within their jurisdiction.
Titles may include, but are not limited to: Tribal Liaison, Director, First Nations Health and Wellness Program, Tribal and Indigenous Health Equity Strategist, Manager Constituent & Tribal Services.
Telehealth Policy
Telehealth Policy Peer Network is a learning collaborative that provides opportunities for state and territorial public health department staff to gain subject matter expertise on emerging telehealth topics, policies, and priorities. The network facilitates peer networking opportunities, connections to telehealth subject matter experts, and resource sharing.
Titles may include, but are not limited to: Deputy Director, Director [Office of Telehealth], Telehealth Clinical Specialist, Program Coordinator, Policy Analyst.
Tobacco Control Network
Tobacco Control Network (TCN) is comprised of program managers and other staff members from state and jurisdictional health agencies. ASTHO collaborates with a nationally representative peer-elected executive committee to improve the capacity and effectiveness of tobacco control programs through targeted technical assistance and opportunities for peer-to-peer collaboration and information sharing through a variety of resources and initiatives, most of which are housed on the Tobacco Control Network website.
Workforce/Human Resources
Workforce/Human Resources Peer Network provides support, mentorship, and subject matter expertise to state and territorial workforce and HR leaders. The network facilitates the sharing of successes, challenges, and resources, while fostering collaboration and joint problem solving. Discussion topics are driven by members needs and typically focus on recruitment, retention, workplace well-being, workforce planning, pipeline and pathway programs, and training and development.
Titles may include but are not limited to: Workforce Director, Workforce Development roles, HR Director, HR Public Health Liaison, Chief People Officer, Employee Experience and/or Engagement roles.