In 2020 and early 2021, state policymakers took action to raise awareness of the impacts of racism on health outcomes, to reverse the damage of racist polices, and to implement policy changes to ensure that future policies are enacted with ...
Marice Ashe, founder and CEO of ChangeLab Solutions, discusses advice for states and territories working to build healthier, more resilient communities to advance health equity.
Community health workers provide a wide range of services including advocacy, health education, patient navigation, as well as social-emotional support. Because national standards do not currently exist, trainings are typically often ...
The contributions of African Americans, some doctors, scientists, public health officials, and others have changed the way we practice medicine and health care for more than 400 years. Because of barriers like structural racism, implicit ...
ASTHO alumni, Terry Dwelle, reflects on his time as North Dakota's state health official and gives advice to new state health officials, as they step into their roles.
Overdose fatality reviews allow states to examine and understand the circumstances surrounding fatal drug overdoses. Knowing the who, what, when, where, and how of fatal overdoses provides a better sense of the strategies and coordination ...
State health officials and state Medicaid directors are pursuing innovative strategies that can help end preventable maternal mortality deaths and reduce widespread disparities.
In the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of viral hepatitis continue to rise at alarming rates across the United States. Data from CDC highlights a 133% rise in cases of acute hepatitis C infection from 2012-2019 and new case ...
Access to quality and reliable transportation is an indispensable aspect of American life. But for too many, social and economic conditions stand in the way. How do residents of Elk County, Kansas—where the nearest hospital is about 70 ...
In recognition of Rural Health Day, which falls on Nov. 18, we spoke with Ayne Amjad (SHO-WV) and Maggie Cook-Shimanek (SHO-MT) about the importance of public health in rural areas.
Tomás Aragón, MD, DrPH serves as the director of the California Department of Public Health and the State Public Health Officer. Aragón discusses how COVID has impacted the Latino community.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a critical moment to address intimate partner violence as a major public health threat. Intimate partner violence associated with substance use disorders and mental health challenges, and ...
On Aug. 11, 2021, CDC updated its guidance on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals. We’ve answered seven common questions about the new guidance and what it means for state and territorial health officials as they ...
In 2020 ASTHO published our first summer reading list to give your brain a break from the reality of 2020. Whether you needed to get lost in a piece of fiction or stay sharp with a work of non-fiction, we had your back. Now, as the world ...
The need for food and nutritional assistance is growing. Based on Feeding America’s food insecurity projections released in March, it is anticipated that 42 million people may experience food insecurity this year—up from 35 million ...
A once obscure public health issue that’s gotten more attention in recent years, polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals used in products such as nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain resistant ...
As the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, ASTHO is committed to the T in our name. The health officials from the territories and freely-associated states are valued members and we are committed to advocating for the ...
As Black History Month comes to a close, we wanted to reflect on racial equity and how it is intrinsically connected to the work ASTHO does every day in public health. We spoke to our CEO Michael Fraser and Gail Christopher, DN, the ...
One of tools presidents have to implement and drive their strategy are executive actions. Executive orders and presidential memoranda carry the force of law and allow presidents to move quickly, deliver a clear message, organize the ...
Community engagement is essential in the fight to end the HIV epidemic. By prioritizing a health equity lens, those battling HIV can be better heard and involved in improving their health.