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Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, Board President of NASOMH, discusses helping minority/health equity offices with capacity building, policy, and workforce development.

Inclusive practices that prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents, regardless of age or ability, are essential in ensuring effective disaster preparedness and response.

ASTHO invited five DELPH scholars to provide examples of how community and diversity shape their leadership within their local health department and share recommendations for a more inclusive workplace.

Cultivating Gen Z as Partners for Healthier Communities astho, association of state and territorial health officials, gen z, young adults, public health campaigns, stronger communities, public health, physically active, gen zers, adults ages, pew research center, members of gen, united states, young adulthood, young people, baby boomers, diverse generation, local communities, digital natives, age 18, people born, entered the workforce, previous generations, birth years, social media, health care, older generations Brandi Hight Bank, Emily Bonaparte, Nick O’Toole ASTHO | The importance of engaging and recruiting Gen Z in public health workforce. As seen in the midterm election results, young adults in Gen Z are a powerful, growing force in electoral politics and our communities. One in every eight voters in this past mid-term election was under age 30. Public health leaders are wise to communicate with this group, as a constituency whose interests—be it climate, economic security, or racial and ethnic equity—often align and intersect with public health. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many young people to public health for the first time as they witnessed and participated in local response. Interest in public health careers has grown over the past decade, but the desire to contribute spiked during the pandemic. In fact, applications to public health graduate programs applications rose more than 40% in 2021 compared to 2020. Taking stock during pandemic recovery and preparing for the challenges ahead, it is a unique moment to build and strengthen trust in public health with young adults. Why Connect with Young Adults More than 40% of the U.S. population—140 million Americans—is either in the Millennial (born from 1981-1996) or Gen-Z (born 1997-2012) cohort. Not only do young adults have significant influence over our collective future, they also have an uncharacteristically large stake in shaping that future. Debt, the climate crisis, and rapid technology shifts are just a few of the pressing issues waiting for them as they enter the workforce. Young adults are at a nexus of being both digitally native and highly concerned with societal woes. Given their heavy online presence, young adults are a critical audience for public health messaging and a potential powerful amplifier of behavior change and key messaging. Concern over major issues (e.g., mental health care, economic inequality, and racism) primes young audiences to be more aligned with organizations that have a strong mission statement and are passionate about the global good. How To Reach Young Adults It’s not news that young adults spend much of their time online. Young audiences expect public health campaigns to mirror their experience as a consumer, and public health leaders should be familiar with how to develop digital-first approaches. Going digital shouldn’t preclude partnerships and in-person events, but a strong online presence amplifies community engagement. It’s important to define your audience and which platform best reaches them. Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram rank highest in usership for young audiences, while Baby Boomers (or, simply Boomers) mostly utilize Facebook and YouTube. It’s critical to know both which platforms to use and how to convey your message. A few rules include: Make content digestible, visually appealing, mobile friendly, and video-based. Engage young audiences in co-creating products and messages on issues that affect them. Ask engaging questions, use hashtags, and invite engagement with your organization. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box! Consumer brands often create a noisy online environment and best practices mandate a social media presence. It’s more important than ever to ensure audiences can hear your “voice” and find your content. Luckily, public health officials have two important tools: authenticity and a social mission that naturally connects with many Millennials and Gen Z. These are strong competitive advantages that allow public health messaging to resonate with young audiences and cultivate their trust and engagement in building healthier communities. website yes

Susan Tharpe, the ASTHO disability and preparedness specialist placed in the Georgia Department of Public Health, discusses the importance of partnering with the Autism community on emergency preparedness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of we go about preparing and responding to public health threats. In collaboration with CDC, ASTHO embarked on an initiative to identify effective resources, policies, and model practices utilized by state and territorial health agencies throughout the pandemic response. In this blog, we highlight four areas of focus that are central to any successful preparedness effort.

Designing for Connection Webinar Series article no

State Health Officials, Medical Experts, and Safety Advocates Call on FDA to Seek Removal of Ultra-High Dosage Opioids ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), together with the Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, the National Safety Council, and the American College of Medical Toxicology, filed a petition today requesting that FDA seek removal of ultra-high dosage opioids from the market. The petition shows how the risks of these products outweigh their benefits. An example of an ultra-high dosage opioid is the OxyContin 80 mg tablet, which is equivalent to 24 regular strength Vicodin in one pill. “ASTHO continues to work with state health leadership across the nation to combat the opioid epidemic,” says Mike Fraser, ASTHO’s executive director. “These ultra-high dosage opioids are extremely deadly when misused and we hope that FDA responds accordingly to our request to remove them from the market.” The request for FDA to seek removal of these products comes on the heels of a report released last month by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) calling on FDA to overhaul its opioid policies using a new framework that factors in misuse. Scott Gottlieb, the recently appointed FDA commissioner, enthusiastically endorsed the NASEM report and the new framework for making opioid approval and removal decisions. State and territorial health agencies, along with partners across the nation, are working to prevent substance misuse and addiction, and working to educate providers on appropriate guidelines for treating pain. In 2015, roughly 11.5 million Americans misused prescription opioids. The most common form of misuse involves borrowing opioids from friends or family to relieve physical pain. When an ultra-high dosage pill is taken by someone with a low tolerance to opioids, fatal respiratory depression can occur. Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle accidents. Pharmaceutical companies began introducing ultra-high dosage opioids about 20 years ago as the practice of prescribing long-term, high dose opioids became more common. In response to soaring increases in opioid addiction and overdose deaths, CDC and state health officials across the country are now urging the medical community to prescribe more judiciously and in lower doses when these medicines are indicated. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

State Public Health Leaders Urged to Increase Efforts to Prevent Injuries ARLINGTON, VA—State public health leaders responded to a new “The State of Safety” report released by the National Safety Council today showing that every state has work to do to enhance safety measures for its residents. “The fact that not a single state received an overall ‘A’ rating in the report demonstrates that we have an urgent and continued need to prevent injuries and address a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States,” says Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “As the debate over healthcare continues, we have to ask ourselves whether or not we have invested appropriately in public health efforts to prevent injuries in the first place versus treating the impact of injury and violence through the healthcare delivery system.” While state and territorial health department injury and violence prevention programs work to promote and engage people in making safety behaviors to prevent injuries and violence before they occur, three areas identified in the report must be further addressed: Road Safety: Vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, are particularly at risk. Approximately 4,500 people a year are killed in motorcycle-related crashes, and another 90,000 are injured. Mandatory helmet laws, speed limits, and laws requiring motorists to stop when pedestrians are in the roadway are needed across states to reduce fatalities and injuries. Home and Community Safety: More than 70 percent of preventable injury deaths occur in homes and communities. Poisonings, suicides, and falls are the biggest threats to our safety, as well as drownings and home fire deaths. According to the report, the major culprit in drug-related deaths is opioid pain relievers. Workplace Safety: In 2015, almost 5,000 workers were killed and over 12,000 were injured each day. Transportation related deaths pose the greatest danger for workers. States can make the workplace safer by adopting drug- and smoke-free policies, implementing workplace violence policies, and offering occupational safety and health programs – including transportation safety policies and programs. “All Americans ought to have the opportunity to grow up and live safe and healthy lives. State health department injury and violence prevention programs play an essential role in providing leadership and support to ensure this vital work. The findings from this report reinforce the value of these efforts and highlight the grave need for consistent and continued investments in injury and violence prevention programs across the country,” says Amber Williams, executive director of the Safe States Alliance, a national organization representing injury prevention leaders in local, state, and territorial health agencies. ASTHO’s Executive Director added, “ASTHO and the Safe States Alliance are committed to partnering to advance the vital efforts of state and territorial health department injury and violence prevention programs. The National Safety Council’s report provides thoughtful insight into where states are succeeding in this regard and future steps they can take to further strengthen this work. I don’t think the issue is the will or interest in preventing injuries, I think the issue is having enough resource to truly move the needle on injury prevention in major ways across the country.” Preventable injuries, such as those due to falls, motor vehicle crashes, opioid drug overdoses, or incidents in the workplace, are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1-44. The critical need for greater investments in prevention cannot be overstated; one person dies every three minutes due to injuries and violence, and the total lifetime costs of injuries and violence sustained in a single year amount to $671 billion in medical and work loss expenses. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate Safe States Alliance Boilerplate website yes

Health Officials Alarmed by Declining U.S. Vaccination Rates, Country Could Face Scenario Like Europe's Measles Outbreak ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is concerned about the latest skepticism and resistance originating from the anti-vaccination movement, especially as we enter another deadly flu season. Health officials are alarmed that this pushback may put our country at risk for significant infectious disease outbreaks and their related health consequences, including death, because of declining vaccination rates. “Vaccines prevent diseases,” says Nicole Alexander-Scott, ASTHO president and director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “It is absolutely paramount that public health and healthcare professionals across the nation join together to share the facts about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The health concerns that parents have over the risks of vaccination need to be addressed with compassion and with care, but also with facts so that informed decisions can be made, and so that people can protect themselves and their loved ones from dangerous, vaccine-preventable diseases.” Last year’s flu season was one of the deadliest in years, with a record-breaking estimated 960,000 hospitalizations and nearly 80,000 deaths in the United States. “It is unconscionable to see a child or adult suffer from any vaccine-preventable disease because an individual decides against immunization based on bad information and unsupported claims,” says Michael Fraser, CEO of ASTHO. “Parents with vaccination concerns should consult a healthcare provider, as they have spent years in training to understand the science behind vaccines and have seen countless studies proving they are safe.” There are some risks associated with vaccines, but they are not what the anti-vaccination movement claims. “The false science being spread erodes trust in the public health system. Clearly, the anti-vaccination movement is taking advantage of the current climate of government distrust and the trend toward believing political statements over scientific ones to question vaccine safety. At a time when investments in public health resources have been declining, recent reports from CDC about declining vaccination rates in the United States and a widespread measles outbreak in Europe should be of great concern to all Americans,” continues Fraser. “What’s really unsafe here are the cuts to public health programs that support vaccine education and immunization nationwide,” says Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers. “Our members see the disease outbreaks. They see the devastating impact of decisions not to vaccinate. There is no question that their benefits exponentially outweigh any risks associated with their administration. Let’s get real: we didn’t make great advances in life expectancy and disease elimination without vaccines. It’s not even a question.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Mixed Progress on Preventing Preterm Births Concerns State and Territorial Health Officials ARLINGTON, VA—Today, the March of Dimes released its 2017 Premature Birth Report Card, which found that few states have lowered prematurity rates, and in some states, prematurity rates have increased among all racial/ethnic groups. Preterm birth remains disproportionally higher among African-American women and minority groups. "Preventing preterm births is vital for healthier babies and mothers. Such births have both short-term and long-term negative impacts, and disproportionately impact women of color. We must do more to address this problem and think beyond simply the doctor's office or a prenatal visit. We must work to reach women in their communities and look at the social determinants of health—the conditions in which we live, work, and play,” says Karyl Rattay, MD, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health and chair of ASTHO’s Healthy Babies Subcommittee. “These determinants can have a significant impact not only on women's access to care, but also increase their risk for preterm birth." The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) remains committed to helping states and territories reduce prematurity rates. Preterm birth, a complex, multifaceted issue without a single solution, is the largest contributor to infant death in the United States. “As a country, we have made many strides toward improving access to care for pregnant women and children and reducing non-medically necessary early elective deliveries. But the slight increase in some states’ preterm birth rate is a call for all of us to collectively redouble our efforts,” says Michael Fraser, ASTHO’s executive director. “This report card provides data that should spur continued efforts to reduce preterm birth and further address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities. As Congress debates funding for our nation’s public health and prevention programs, I hope they do not forget to prioritize the neediest among us—our children—as well as support state and territorial health programs.” Infants born before 37 weeks gestation are more likely to die or experience long-term negative health outcomes and lifelong morbidity. Most preterm infants have a low birth weight, which places the infant at greater risk for developing chronic health conditions as an adult, such as diabetes, which in turn becomes a future risk factor for preterm birth. Other potential health impacts of premature births include breathing problems, jaundice, vision loss, and intellectual delays. There are many reasons why preterm births occur, including access to healthcare, even in a time of expanded coverage, as well as unplanned or closely spaced pregnancies, and environmental concerns in communities. State and territorial health departments work daily to improve the health of mothers and babies and create conditions to achieve optimal health for all. To learn more about how states are working to improve birth outcomes, view ASTHO’s Healthy Babies map. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO, NACCHO, and NCSD warn of rising tide of STDs threatening millions of American lives

Explore ASTHO's Medicaid Oversight Governance Map to understand the governance structures of state and territorial health agencies across the country.

Learn how health agencies can pursue public health partnerships with Community Action partners to strengthen immunization infrastructure.

Health Officials and Attorneys General Convene to Discuss Legal and Public Health Solutions to Opioid Epidemic ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute, a branch of the National Association of Attorneys General, held an inaugural three-day summit with health officials and attorneys general on Nov. 14-16 to promote coordination across public health, law enforcement, and medical professionals to address opioid abuse and misuse, an epidemic that claims the lives of 78 people each day and has now become one of the nation’s most urgent public health threats. At the meeting, health officials and attorneys general discussed the importance of working together to change the conversation about people with substance use disorders, and the need to move from punitive approaches toward compassionate, evidence-based treatment. Health and law enforcement officials are intensifying efforts to improve prescribing practices, apply effective regulatory and enforcement measures, and eliminate stigma and misconceptions about individuals who seek addiction treatment. “We need to reframe the conversation about addiction, from one about bad choices and moral failings to one about chronic health conditions that affect the brain,” says Jay Butler, ASTHO president and chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. “Together, public health and law enforcement officials have a critical role to play in ending this epidemic that continues to devastate our families and communities.” ASTHO’s 2017 President’s Challenge, led by Butler, centers around public health approaches to preventing substance misuse and addictions. Through the challenge, ASTHO will unite and rally state health officials, affiliates, and other cross-sector partners to take action on this critical and urgent public health issue within states and communities. State health officials will work to expand primary prevention efforts in their states to educate consumers, prescribers, families, policymakers, and other partners about opioid use, and address risk factors in communities to reduce demand for drugs and other addictive substances. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli also delivered remarks on Monday, calling for greater integration of substance use disorder services into the healthcare system so that addiction can be treated with the same precision and urgency as other health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Nationally recognized experts and thought leaders from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the American Medical Association, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health also described federal and state policy options, strategies for engaging medical professionals, and promising community-based prevention initiatives. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Public Health Organizations Unite in Call to Restore State and Local Emergency Funding and Approve Emergency Supplemental for Zika ARLINGTON, VA—As the weather warms and the threat of Zika virus intensifies, state and local health agencies are faced with the dilemma of a significant funding cut, as documented in two new reports released by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). Absent dedicated funding from Congress to prepare and respond to the threat of Zika virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last month announced it will need to reprogram $44.25 million from the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) fund to help combat Zika. State and local health agencies depend on PHEP funding to prepare and respond to health emergencies, everything from natural disasters to terrorist or mass casualty events. Preparing for and responding to emerging infectious disease is also a primary use of PHEP funding, meaning state and local health agencies will have less capability to find, control, and mitigate localized outbreaks of Zika as a result of the reallocation. ASTHO, in cooperation with CSTE, APHL, and NACCHO, asked their members what the consequences of the PHEP reprogramming would be, should the cuts take effect on July 1. The results raise significant concern showing that state and local emergency response will be compromised. Major findings from the surveys include the following. Community Preparedness Will Suffer the Most Both state (77%) and local (75%) respondents listed “Community Preparedness” as the area that will be most negatively affected. Scenario planning and training exercises will be curtailed or eliminated. Volunteer recruitment and training will slow or cease. Community partnerships and contracts with specialized vendors will be compromised. Laboratory Testing and Surveillance Capacity Will Diminish More than 70 percent (72%) of state respondents said they expect that functional preparedness programs, including disease surveillance, epidemiology, lab services, and mosquito control, would be negatively affected. Labs would be forced to delay or eliminate new equipment purchases or scheduled equipment maintenance. Public Health Staff Cuts State and local agencies suffered significant job losses—up to 20 percent—during and after the Great Recession that started in late 2007, and they have not come close to adding that number back since. Both state and local survey respondents report likely staffing cuts as a result of the PHEP reprogramming. Almost two-thirds (64%) of local health agencies responding to the survey said they expect to lose at least one health preparedness staff person. There is significant fear that this could worsen significantly if the reprogramming continues in future years as the threat of Zika is not expected to abate in the short term. Zika Response at State and Local Level Will Be Compromised as a Result of the Reallocation State and local health agency leaders are unified in saying the reduction of PHEP funding will harm their ability to respond to and control Zika once it establishes itself in the U.S. Our capacity to identify localized outbreaks and our capability to control and eliminate virus transmission will be slower. Local agency responders cited the following concerns: A decrease in staffing, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit, or volunteer sustainability. A reduction in opportunities to provide staff trainings as well as plan and conduct exercises. An inability to conduct surveillance or epidemiologic investigations. At the state level, 61 percent of respondents say decreased PHEP funding in their state will significantly harm their ability to prepare for and respond to Zika. One respondent wrote: “The PHEP funding in [our state] is the resource we have for providing a response to Zika, and any other novel communicable disease. By reducing this funding you are reducing our ability to respond to a Zika event in [our state].” All public health sectors—federal, state, and local—have worked hard to build and sustain an all-hazards preparedness infrastructure that can deliver on their mission to protect and enhance the health and well-being of their constituents. However, large-scale emergencies, such as the 2009 influenza pandemic, Ebola, and Zika, require sufficient and reliable core funding to maintain a solid and ready public health infrastructure and additional emergency funds to provide the enhanced protections and services those living in the United States deserve and expect. Robbing the fund that sustains the all-hazards infrastructure to pay for large, widespread emergencies, no matter how necessary, ensures that infrastructure will deteriorate. Dedicated emergency funding that will enable all public health sectors to prepare for and respond to Zika is essential. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate NACCHO Boilerplate APHL Boilerplate CSTE Boilerplate website yes

Multistate Measles Outbreak Drives Up State Health Agency Costs and Points to Importance of Quality Immunization Communication ARLINGTON, VA—With the Disneyland measles outbreak up to 87 cases in seven states as of Jan. 26, state health departments are responding to the disease by educating primary care providers and the public about measles and conducting contact tracing. Measles is airborne and one of the most contagious diseases in existence-it can linger in a room for up to two hours after the infected person has left. It also remains pervasive around the world and can easily be imported into other countries. WHO reports that although measles deaths decreased by 73 percent worldwide between 2000 and 2013, measles still caused 145,700 deaths globally in 2013. "Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. Sadly, this status is endangered," says Paul Jarris, MD, MBA, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) executive director. "Many parents and physicians have never seen a case of measles before. This outbreak demonstrates why we can never let our guard down against vaccine-preventable diseases." Due to its highly infectious nature, health departments have to respond rapidly and thoroughly to contain outbreaks and save lives. If a measles patient has traveled to school, the grocery store, or any other public space, a large group of people may have been exposed to the disease. State health departments are responsible for ensuring that patients are isolated to prevent further spread. They then identify potential contacts, educate them about measles symptoms, advise them on when to go to the doctor, and encourage them to become immunized if they aren't already. "At ASTHO, I'm proud of the work that the California Department of Public Health and other states are doing to protect our children by containing this outbreak, preventing future ones, and bringing us closer to maintaining full elimination status," Jarris says. In addition to the time spent containing a measles outbreak, responding to them is expensive for state and local governments. A March 2014 study found that there were 16 measles outbreaks in 2011 that resulted in 107 cases, which cost local and state public health departments an estimated $2.7 million to $5.3 million. However, these outbreaks and their time and economic burdens are preventable. Every dollar spent on the child measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine saves $23.30, according to CDC. "This is an important opportunity for public health to continue to articulate the benefits of immunization," says Kathy Talkington, ASTHO's senior director of immunization and infectious disease. "This measles outbreak illustrates that we live in a global world, and as long as these diseases exist in other countries, we must continue to protect ourselves in all communities through high immunization rates." See ASTHO's blog StatePublicHealth.org for the full article on the measles outbreak, as well as tips on how public health professionals can communicate with the public and primary care providers about how vaccines can prevent outbreaks and save lives. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Public Health Leaders’ Joint Statement in Response to the Attack on CDC In response to the horrific shooting that occurred on Friday, August 8, targeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the public health community stands in solidarity with our CDC colleagues. We denounce acts of harassment, terror, and violence against the public health workforce. Our hearts break for the family of police officer David Rose who lost his life protecting his community. Two hundred bullets struck and caused damage to six federal buildings and over 500 rounds were fired at the CDC campus. We are saddened, alarmed, and deeply concerned about the health and safety of our colleagues. The shooting was an attack on an American workplace and on the people and infrastructure that keep us all healthy and safe. We are committed to working together to support our nation’s dedicated public servants who comprise the public health workforce and call on others to do the same. It is critical to the health of all communities that CDC and all people working in public health across the country are able to continue to make their invaluable contributions to advancing health and well-being without the fear of harassment or violence. People choosing public health as a profession are committed to advancing our nation’s health and recognize that good health in every community benefits everyone. It is our hope that all Americans will stand with us to support the vital role that CDC and the entire public health workforce play in supporting safety and well-being in every community. Their expertise and commitment to advancing health deserves all Americans’ unwavering support. American Public Health Association Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs Association of Public Health Nurses Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Association of State and Territorial Public Health Social Workers Association of Public Health Laboratories  Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health Big Cities Health Coalition CDC Foundation Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists de Beaumont Foundation National Association of Chronic Disease Directors National Association of County and City Health Officials National Network of Public Health Institutes Prevention Institute Public Health Accreditation Board Safe States Alliance The Kresge Foundation Trust for America’s Health website yes

ASTHO Partners with Veritas Data Research and HealthVerity to Launch the First-of-its-Kind Public Health Data Consortium ARLINGTON, VA — The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) announced today a partnership with Veritas Data Research and HealthVerity that establishes a first-of-its-kind public health data consortium. This novel consortium brings together ASTHO, jurisdictional health departments and private partners united in a shared mission to improve public health outcomes through enhanced data access and quality, and to address long-standing challenges that hinder our nation’s public health data infrastructure. “There is tremendous opportunity when we connect the strengths of private industry with the mission of public health,” said Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH, ASTHO CEO. “By working together in a structured way, we can close long-standing data gaps and build a stronger, more responsive system for the future.” The consortium’s central mission is to improve the quality of and access to real-world data and public health data relied upon by a broad range of stakeholders to drive public and population health decisions and understand longitudinal outcomes. State health agencies, providers, payers, researchers, and others rely on this data, which is often difficult to obtain. Through this public-private partnership, members aim to expand access in ways that strengthen communities and support health care and public health systems. “Our nation and communities need a robust, sustainable model that leverages the capabilities and expertise across both private industry and public health. For too long, there have been challenges in bringing private and public entities together to address the gaps that plague our nation’s public health data and technology infrastructure,” said Jen Layden, MD, PhD, ASTHO senior vice president of population and innovation, and former CDC and state public health leader. “This consortium, by uniting on a common mission and placing governance in the hands of public health, is primed to be a game changer.” Jurisdictional health departments will gain access to real-world data and technical capabilities and will play a key role in strengthening the quality and availability of critical data. The consortium will initially focus on mortality data, a foundational asset for a variety of use cases. "This consortium represents an excellent example of public-private partnerships in healthcare," said Jason LaBonte, CEO at Veritas Data Research. "Under the governance of ASTHO, all state and territorial health agencies can securely pool their data to improve clinical practice and innovation. In return, the agencies can combine their data with national real-world data to power better public health. Veritas is pleased to facilitate these data exchanges using our robust ingestion and delivery platform, and to make appropriate data available to a wider group of stakeholders with use cases pre-approved by the state and territorial health agencies.” “We are proud to serve as a founding operating partner, applying our expertise in identity resolution and data privacy to solve the 'linkage' problem that has long plagued public health,” said Andrew Kress, CEO of HealthVerity. “Through this consortium, we are enabling a standard of data exchange that respects patient privacy while providing a level of clinical truth that will accelerate research and improve the speed of public health interventions.” To support the consortium, ASTHO is creating an advisory network to provide organizations with opportunities to stay informed and offer guidance as the initiative evolves. To learn more about the consortium or advisory network, please contact phdc@astho.org. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate   Veritas Boilerplate   HealthVerity Boilerplate website yes

Leandro Mena and Thomas Dobbs discuss the importance of whole person care and status-neutral approaches to STI treatment.