Each September, the United States observes National Preparedness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of public health preparedness. Preparedness—a field that readies our nation to respond to a range of emergencies—is a newer ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the intersections of social determinants of health, such as transportation, education, and housing, and their impact on the health of individuals and communities. As the moratorium on evictions ends in ...
This policy update emphasizes the importance of policymakers choosing to increase funding for public health infrastructure and important initiatives, such as health equity, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the country prepares for the inauguration of President-Elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Wednesday, the incoming administration has highlighted several priorities over the next four years. This post is a summary of priorities that are ...
I think we all welcomed 2021 with open arms as we look to put the worst of 2020 behind us. We have all been through a lot—we have lost family members and friends to COVID-19, we have seen public health officials harassed and maligned, we ...
After decades of underinvestment, health departments received increased funding for disease intervention services, strengthening the existing workforce, and providing opportunities to expand workforce capacity.
An analysis of the state of the federal budget in the wake of the May 2023 agreement between lawmakers and President Biden, who struck a last-minute deal to raise the nation’s debt limit until 2025.
The ASTHO Federal Government Affairs team answers questions about the work Congress has done for public health so far in 2022.
COVID-19 Highlights Need to Fund State Public Health Association of state and territorial health officials, astho, covid-19, covid-19 pandemic, public health, public health infrastructure, state health agency, public health workforce, ...
In May 2021, President Biden released full details of the fiscal year 2022 budget. Overall, the budget request combines President Biden's American Jobs Plan, his American Families Plan, and funding priorities for the Pentagon and ...
One of President Biden’s first actions just before being sworn into office was to draft up the American Rescue Plan, a sweeping proposal that ASTHO has committed to working with the Biden Administration on. The proposal offers a national ...
Well before COVID-19 hit, an increasing share of American households faced housing challenges. This is a public health concern because stable, affordable, and accessible housing has a direct and well-documented impact on physical and ...
An Ounce of Prevention (and Public Health Fund) Is Worth a Pound of Cure Catherine Murphy The Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) is critical to state public health work. Historically it has faced cuts even though prevention has ...
What’s Next? An Update From the Hill Devon Page The new year began with a storm. A rare snowy blaze was unleashed on D.C., causing confusion, bewilderment, and inactivity. Though the snowfall subsided, its remnants melted, and Sen. Tim ...
Learn about chairs of key committees in the 119th Congress, their priorities, and what may be in store for public health funding in this federal health policy update.
Braiding and layering funding allows state health departments to leverage diverse fundings sources and amplify their impact. Learn more about this strategy and its importance.
Predictions regarding how the health system would be impacted in the event of a U.S. default paint a grim picture for the country and for public health.
Though now an illegal practice, government contracts, policies, and practices have generally excluded women, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Still, practices and existing structures continue the inequitable distribution of all ...
Over the years evidence has expanded on community health workers (CHWs) improving outcomes and even reducing disparities in heart disease and many other public health priority areas. However, their presence in state and local public health ...