As the conversation about the importance of mental health continues to unfold, health agencies have a critical role to play in supporting positive mental health outcomes through nutrition support and food assistance programs.
Flavored tobacco policy has changed rapidly over the past few months. In April, FDA announced their intention to implement rules prohibiting the sale of menthol e-cigarettes and flavored cigars, though it may take years until they ...
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is a targeted public health nutrition program designed to support nutrition and health behaviors that reach low-income families. The program is funded through ...
With data showing the number of the opioid overdose deaths escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, access to naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, continues to be an important topic for policy makers. The number of ...
One Big Beautiful Bill Law Summary Learn how the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill impacts key public health initiatives in this legislative alert. On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into ...
Sustaining DMI: Medicaid Advanced Planning Document Process How state Medicaid agencies can request enhanced federal funding for Medicaid Enterprise Systems and related activities. Why is the Advanced Planning Document process important? ...
Explore the mapping center, which tracks state and territorial legislation promoting suicide prevention efforts.
States and territories are adopting a wide array of policies to improve mental and behavioral health, including significant investments in suicide prevention, support for youth mental health, and improving access through telehealth.
Injuries from falls pose a serious risk to older adults — learn how states are using policy to promote better care for older adults in this Health Policy Update.
Learn how state legislation is expanding access to drug checking equipment and screening in this Health Policy Update.
States and municipalities are adopting tobacco retailer licensing (TRL) policies to control tobacco prevalence and impact. Learn more about TRL programs.
ASTHO’s 2024 Legislative Session Update: Part One legislative session, state policy, data collection, domestic violence, health information exchange, data privacy, substance misuse, overdose prevention, sexually transmitted infections, ...
When the COVID-19 pandemic began the need for greater access to virtual reproductive health care services increased dramatically. Telehealth increased access to providers, eased workflows and infection protection for clinical staff, and ...
This brief describes how Pennsylvania and Virginia advanced regulatory measures to address substance use disorder prevention and treatment with a focus on opioid prescribing practices and provider education.
How the Emergence of Xylazine Impacts Overdose Prevention Policy overdose prevention policy, overdose crisis, fatal overdoses, emergence of xylazine, illicit drug supply, toxicological testing, withdrawal symptoms, xylazine test strips, ...
During the 2023 legislative session, a number of states enacted policies that advance ACEs prevention measures and support families in ensuring safe places for their children to live, grow, and play.
In the U.S., jurisdictions vary in their newborn screening practices and requirements related to the scope of testing, approach to parental consent, options for blood sample destruction, sample retention periods, and permissible uses of ...