Public Health Review Morning Edition

Dr. John Wiesman, the former Secretary of Health in Washington state, gives his assessment of the nation's pandemic response since the first COVID-19 case was discovered in his state two years ago this week. He discusses what has worked, what remains a challenge, and what to do next; Katey Redmond, a public health specialist in Alaska, says the announcement of crisis standards of care in a community can cause anxiety among people living with disabilities; and ASTHO offers a blog article describing the goals of a new partnership with the EPA and the Environmental Council on States. CDC Webpage: CDC Museum COVID-19 Timeline ASTHO Webpage: Public Health Review Podcast ASTHO Blog Article: Joining Forces to Advance Resiliency to Complex Disasters

Dr. John Wiesman, the former Secretary of Health in Washington state, reflects on the moment the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in his state and thus the U.S.; Dr. Alexis Travis, Michigan's State Health Officer, says it's never too late to review and revise crisis standards of care to reflect input from vulnerable groups, including people living with disabilities; and ASTHO and NACCHO team up to report on state and local health departments who've implemented a "health in all policies" approach to their COVID-19 response. CDC Webpage: CDC Museum COVID-19 Timeline ASTHO Webpage: Public Health Review Podcast ASTHO Blog Article: HiAP Strategy Works in States, Locally to Meet Equity Challenges in COVID-19 Response

Robin Matthies, Director of Public and Behavioral Health Integration at ASTHO, explains why it's important to consider restorative justice approaches to discipline in schools; Andy Baker-White, ASTHO's Senior Director of State Health Policy, says jurisdictions have policy options when promoting vaccinations among workers; and ASTHO is hiring for several open positions. ASTHO Reports: Restorative Justice in Schools – An Upstream Approach for Addressing Inequities in the Risk of Incarceration ASTHO Webpage: Job Opportunities in Public Health and at ASTHO

Maggie Davis, ASTHO's Director of State Health Policy, provides an overview of a new ASTHO report about restorative justice in schools; Annie Evans, a senior analyst of disability integration and preparedness at ASTHO, marks the first anniversary of a program that sent disability experts to help several jurisdictions better serve people living with disabilities; and an ASTHO blog article examines two top policy issues to watch in 2022, health equity and rural health, while another rounds up the top online resources of 2021. ASTHO Reports: Restorative Justice in Schools – An Upstream Approach for Addressing Inequities in the Risk of Incarceration ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO Policy Watch – Health Equity and Rural Health ASTHO Blog Article: ASTHO's Most Used Resources of 2021

ASTHO CEO Mike Fraser considers Dr. Martin Luther King's influence on public health and his impact on the organization's approach to equity; Dr. Alexis Travis, Michigan's State Health Officer, tells us how the civil rights icon has influenced her work in public health; Dr. Kimberlee Wyche Etheridge says Dr. King's impact on public health remains strong; and former Washington State Secretary of Health Dr. John Wiesman explains how Dr. King's lessons can inform our approach to health equity today and in the future.

Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, outlines the organization's 2022 federal policy agenda and tells members what they ought to expect from Washington this year; ASTHO CEO Mike Fraser says public health needs to spend more time thinking about communications and messaging; and ASTHO issues a report about period poverty, a growing public health concern. ASTHO Document: 2022 Federal Legislative Agenda National Academy of Medicine webpage: Public Health COVID-19 Impact Assessment ASTHO Blog Article: Period Poverty – A Growing Public Health Concern

Robert Jennings, Executive Director of the National Public Health Information Coalition, discusses communications lessons learned during the pandemic; ProPublica journalist Caroline Chen hopes Congress reads her story about the funding public health needs to address congenital syphilis; and ASTHO announces new job openings. Website: National Public Health Information Coalition ProPublica Website: Babies Are Dying of Syphilis. It's 100% Preventable. ASTHO Webpage: Job Opportunities

Dr. Joseph Kanter, Louisiana's State Health Officer, explains the evolution of messaging required by the fast-moving Omicron variant during an appearance on C-SPAN's Washington Journal morning show Monday; ProPublica journalist Caroline Chen considers the impact her story about congenital syphilis might have on the debate over funding for public health, especially in rural America; and ASTHO shares success stories of several disability and preparedness specialists working in jurisdictions across the country. C-SPAN Washington Journal: Dr. Joseph Kanter CDC News Release: Reported STDs Reach All-time High for 6th Consecutive Year ProPublica Website: Babies Are Dying of Syphilis. It's 100% Preventable. ASTHO Blog Article: Embedded – One Year Review of Disability and Preparedness Specialists Project

Caroline Chen, a journalist for the non-profit news organization ProPublica, reports on public health's work to combat a rising number of syphilis cases in the nation; ASTHO offers a new blog article with ideas and guidance for public health planners looking to do more for people living with disabilities during times of crisis; and the CDC prepares to accept applications for its two-year, paid Public Health Associate Program. ProPublica Website: Babies Are Dying of Syphilis. It's 100% Preventable. ASTHO Blog Article: Embedded – When Disaster Strikes for People Living with Disabilities CDC Webpage: Public Health Associate Program

Lawrence Gostin, law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C., tells us what to expect from today's Supreme Court hearing on two Biden Administration COVID vaccine mandates; ASTHO CEO Mike Fraser says states and territories are prepared for a rush of kids seeking protection from the Omicron variant as classes resume nationwide; a new ASTHO report highlights the role immunizations can play in reducing health disparities; and ASTHO has a new online tool to help members address the need for more forensic pathologists in their jurisdictions. ASTHO Report: Advancing Health Equity Through Immunization ASTHO E-Learning: Forensic Pathology Workforce Shortage – Context and Considerations for Public Health