Public Health Review Morning Edition

Rachael Banks, Public Health Director for the Oregon Health Authority, says policymakers need to address the problem of synthetic nicotine; Dr. Scott Harris, State Health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, says stigma often gets in the way of reaching and treating people with HIV; registration for ASTHO's third annual Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum opens February 1st; and ASTHO's Breastfeeding Learning Community enters the final year of a five-year project focused on improving policy and sharing best practices in 16 states. ASTHO Webpage: 2023 Legislative Prospectus Series ASTHO Webpage: Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum ASTHO Brief: Breastfeeding Equity Through Community Engagement

Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont Department of Health's Commissioner of Health, discusses the opioid crisis in America and the policies his state has employed to save lives; Alicia Justice, ASTHO Senior Director of Programmatic Health Equity Initiatives and Strategy, helps members assess their approach to health equity policies; Arthur San Agustin, Director of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, says the omnibus spending bill now before Congress would help U.S. territories avoid a crisis known as the Medicaid cliff; and Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, reminds us that a new Congress means new interest in pandemic-related programs.

Mike Fraser, ASTHO CEO, discusses the purpose of the organization's annual legislative series which identifies the top 10 public health issues to watch in the new year; Dr. Dan Edney, State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, says workforce capacity is critical to public health success; Brent Ewig, Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers, published a book with Fraser titled: Vaccinating America – The Inside Story Behind the Race to Save Lives and End a Pandemic; and ASTHO is making plans to host its third annual Public Health Tech Expo and Futures Forum in May. ASTHO Webpage: 2023 Legislative Prospectus Series American Public Health Association Webpage: Vaccinating America ASTHO Webpage: Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum

Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, is getting set to work on key public health policy issues with a new Congress taking office in a few weeks; Rachel Scheckman, ASTHO Senior Policy Analyst, says if we want to end the HIV epidemic we will need to enact policies that reduce or eliminate stigma; and according to a new survey, 19 of 41 state and territorial health agencies say they have programs to address public health impacts of climate change. ASTHO Blog Article: Policies that Reduce Stigma are Critical to Ending the HIV Epidemic Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Report: Climate Change Adaptation Activities and Needs in US State and Territorial Health Agencies ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Dr. Kathryn Mishkin, Head of the Office of Data Science and Mission Strategy with the March of Dimes, discusses the rise in preterm birth in the United States; Emma Carlson, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Environmental Health, says mold and mosquitos are two of the hazards public health agencies must deal with following a hurricane; ASTHO has a report about climate change and environmental justice; and ASTHO has announced its top 10 public health policy issues to follow in 2023. March of Dimes Webpage: 2022 March of Dimes Report Card March of Dimes Webpage: Policy and Advocacy ASTHO Blog Article: Responding to Environmental Health Threats Following Hurricanes ASTHO Report: Climate Change and Environmental Justice: A Snapshot of Jurisdiction Activities ASTHO News Release: ASTHO Unveils Top 10 Public Health Policy Issues to Watch in 2023

Brent Ewig, ASTHO Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer, marks the second anniversary of COVID-19 vaccines this week; Jamie Pina, ASTHO Vice President of Public Health Data Modernization, says states and territories are taking action to improve public health data; and The Change Management Series is the latest eLearning opportunity from ASTHO. ASTHO Webpage: 2023 Legislative Prospectus Series ASTHO Webpage: ASTHO Change Management eLearning Course ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Lindsey Myers, ASTHO Vice President for Social and Behavioral Health, discusses the growing mental health crisis, and options available to public health leaders looking to help people; Jazmyn Covington, ASTHO Director of Maternal and Infant Health, reminds us that breastmilk is good for babies when they're sick; and as part of ASTHO's Public Health – Hope, Equity, Resilience, and Opportunity initiative, the organization highlights some ways leaders can practice showing gratitude. CDC Webpage: Breastfeeding and Caring for Newborns if You Have COVID-19 CDC Webpage: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) CDC Webpage: Breastfeeding ASTHO Blog Article: Building a Culture of Care: Showing Appreciation for Your Public Health Team ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Brent Ewig, Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers, is tracking legislative attempts to weaken local immunization laws; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, CDC Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, says the nation's experience with HIV has helped inform the Mpox response; and learn how to align the goals of your public health and state Medicaid agencies in a new webinar planned for today at 3 p.m. eastern time. ASTHO Webpage: Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships in Virginia ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO President and Chief Medical Officer for the State of Alaska, discusses the significance of ASTHO's 80th anniversary; Dr. Nirav Shah, ASTHO's Immediate Past President and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reflects on his time as ASTHO's President, which overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic; and changes may be on the way to the WIC food package approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. National WIC Association News Release: Broad Support for USDA Effort to Enhance Access to Healthy Foods for WIC Families ASTHO Webpage: Be in the Know

Sidnie Christian, ASTHO Analyst for Infectious Diseases, calls attention to the public health impacts of hurricanes; Mike Fraser, ASTHO CEO, discusses the organization turning 80 years old this year; and ASTHO recently hosted a call with the Climate Change Collaborative to discuss initiatives, capacity, and challenges related to climate change and environmental justice. ASTHO Blog Article: Preparing for and Responding to Infectious Disease Threats Following Hurricanes ASTHO Report: Climate Change and Environmental Justice: A Snapshot of Jurisdiction Activities