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On March 9, 2021, ASTHO member and public health leader Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health, State of Washington, testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions the hearing “Examining Our COVID-19 Response: An Update from the Frontlines.”

On March 3, 2021, ASTHO members gathered virtually for Hill Day, to provide members of Congress with an update on the COVID-19 response in their states and territories and to discuss how federal funding is being used in state, territorial, and local health departments.

On Feb. 24, 2021, ASTHO member and public health leader Umair Shah, MD, MPH, secretary of the Washington State Department of Health, testified before a House subcommittee. where he answered questions from members of Congress in the hearing, “Ready or Not: U.S. Public Health Infrastructure.”

On Feb. 24, 2021, ASTHO member and public health leader Ngozi Ezike, MD, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, testified before the House Homeland Security Committee. Ezike answered questions in the hearing, "Confronting the Coronavirus: Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic One Year Later."

On Feb. 2, 2021 ASTHO and the assembly of members pledged to ensure equitable access of the COVID-19 vaccine and to collect accurate demographic data to assure detection and response to any potential disparities in vaccine administration.

On Feb. 2, 2021, ASTHO members and public health leaders Jill Hunsaker Ryan, MPH of Colorado, Ngozi Ezike, MD of Illinois, and Joneigh Khaldun of Michigan testified before a House subcommittee. Each panelist responded to questions from members of Congress in the hearing, “No Time to Lose: Solutions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in the States.”

2022 News Releases website

On Dec. 14, 2022 ASTHO released its list of the top ten state public health policy issues to watch in 2023.

State Health Officials Urge Families to Take Preventive Measures During Current Respiratory Virus Surge astho, association of state and territorial health organizations, anne zink, joseph kanter, manisha juthani, respiratory virus surge, respiratory illness, respiratory illness activity, centers for disease control, physician in chief, long term care facilities, influenza activity, infectious diseases, hospitalized surveillance, viruses surge, common respiratory, united states, respiratory viruses, cdc data, season influenza, children s hospital, disease control and prevention, week 40, influenza virus, flu season, pediatric hospital bed, difficulty breathing, health care Press Statement | ASTHO President Anne Zink is tracking the rise in respiratory illness activity across the country. Available for Interviews ARLINGTON, VA—Today, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) President and Chief Medical Officer of the Alaska Department of Health Anne Zink, MD, FACEP, issued the following statement given the rise in respiratory illness activity across the country and increasing strain on hospitals. "We are concerned about the surge in children's respiratory illnesses circulating in communities across the country. Many states are seeing a spike in children’s hospitalizations from COVID-19, flu, and RSV; adult cases are also on the rise. Unfortunately, this means that many hospitals are at or near capacity and it is beginning to strain healthcare systems. Public health officials are currently partnering with hospital systems throughout the country to increase bed capacity, explore ways to address workforce shortfalls, promote immunization, and communicate with the public on the best ways to prevent the spread of these diseases. The partnership between public health and healthcare is essential in ensuring individuals have the knowledge and tools to prevent illness and can access care when needed. State and territorial public health officials urge parents and families to take precautions now in order to be healthy and to avoid putting strain on hospital systems. The best way to avoid serious complications from many respiratory illnesses is for everyone to stay up to date on their vaccinations. Other prevention measures such as frequent handwashing and staying home when you are sick can also help stop the spread of illness.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

On Nov. 2, 2022, ASTHO announced the launch of PublicHealthCareers.com, a new website for job seekers in the field.

On Oct. 13, 2022, ASTHO CMO Marcus Plescia released a statement supporting ACIP's decision to encourage adding COVID-19 vaccinations to standard immunization schedules.

On September 13, 2022, ASTHO announced Anne Zink, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the Alaska Department of Health, as the association's 80th president.

On August 9, 2022, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, released a statement on the declaration of monkeypox as a national public health emergency.

On Aug. 3, 2022, ASTHO and the de Beaumont Foundation announced the 2021 PH WINS findings. They provide a unique snapshot of the state and local government public health workforce.

ASTHO sponsored a June 2022 special issue of the American Journal of Public Health on equitable and accessible contraception access.

ASTHO Commends FDA for Strong Action to Remove Juul E-Cigarette Products from the Market ARLINGTON, VA—Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued marketing denial orders to Juul Labs Inc. for their Juul device and their tobacco- and menthol-flavored e-cigarette pods that comprise a significant portion of the e-cigarette market share in the U.S. These actions, which immediately prohibit the retail sale and distribution of these products nationwide without criminalizing individual use or possession, represent an important assertion of FDA’s authority to regulate tobacco products in order to protect the public's health. "This announcement is a continuation of e-cigarette regulatory decisions FDA has been releasing since the summer of 2021, and is an important victory for public health," says Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, chief medical officer at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). "The FDA should be recognized for making a significant and evidence-based decision to not allow Juul pods to be sold in the U.S. These products, once sold in a larger variety of youth-appealing flavors, have a huge role in the massive increase in youth e-cigarette use observed in recent years." While the evidence remains unclear about the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems in smoking cessation, there are many options available to individuals who want to quit even with the removal of Juul products. Quitting tobacco all together is the healthiest strategy for all Americans, and public health officials should continue to focus on this goal in the months and years ahead. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, Comments on COVID-19 Vaccine Approval for Children Ages Six Months to Five Years ARLINGTON, VA—Today, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Chief Medical Officer Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, made the following statement after FDA and ACIP approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children ages six months through five years: "State and territorial health officials welcome the addition of the COVID-19 vaccine for our youngest population, those aged six months through five years. This vaccine will help families keep their children safe as we head into the fall and winter seasons, and beyond. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been rigorously tested, retested, and are proven to be safe and effective for this population. Parents now have the option to vaccinate their small children against this highly transmissible disease. We hope that this tool in the fight against COVID-19 will put parents and their caregivers at ease knowing that an additional layer of protection is offered." ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

New ASTHO Report Outlines 10 Strategies to Improve Behavioral Health in Schools ARLINGTON, VA—In light of the rising rates of teen depression and anxiety in the United States, today, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is releasing a new report outlining 10 high-level strategies to improve behavioral health in schools. Per recent data from the CDC, among adolescents aged 12-17 years, 15% had a major depressive episode, 37% had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 19% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 16% made a suicide plan. “Youth rates of anxiety and depression have been climbing at an alarming rate,” said ASTHO CEO Michael Fraser. “The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these trends as many students were isolated from their friends, teachers, and mentors for months at a time. America’s youth needs to be supported, and there is no better place to do this than within our schools.”  ASTHO, in partnership with CDC Healthy Schools Branch, convened a School Behavioral Health Advisory Committee to identify policy gaps and strategies for delivering behavioral health services in schools. This advisory committee identified 10 strategies school leaders can implement to improve mental health among their students. The 10 strategies include: Collaborate with the Department of Education on a comprehensive mental health framework to guide student well-being, such as the Multi-Tiered System of Supports Framework Utilize shared and inclusive language when communicating work around school behavioral health. Use a strength-based approach when collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data highlighting the role of student connectedness and resiliency. Harmonize data sources between cross-sector agencies to understand a complete picture of youth behavioral health. Assemble a cross-sector team with representation across all relevant sectors and levels of implementation. Improve the capacity of the traditional and non-traditional school workforce to address behavioral health. Expand Medicaid reimbursement in school settings, by removing state restrictions on school health services, to align with national Free Care Reversal Guidance. Expand school telehealth service provision. Leverage recent federal school health funding to support school behavioral health services. Braid/layer funding to support a shared risk and protective factors approach to youth behavioral health. "Youth are suffering now more than ever as we continue to see the impact of the pandemic on their development and well-being," said Sharon Hoover, PhD, professor with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and co-director with the National Center for School Mental Health. "To promote the mental health of all children and adolescents, and to recognize and address mental health challenges early and effectively, state behavioral health officials must support young people where they are. Schools are an essential place to promote the well-being of all youth and to conduct early identification and treatment for those experiencing mental health challenges." The COVID-19 pandemic deepened existing inequities and increased exposure to variety of risk factors that may negatively impact the health and education of youth. However, changes in state and federal policies both before and during the pandemic have created opportunities for improving health equity and increasing behavioral health service access for youth. States can leverage cross-sector collaboration between education, Medicaid, health agencies, and community partners to address the behavioral health needs of youth. View the full report here: Improving Youth Behavioral Health Through School-Based Strategies. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

On April 7, 2022 ASTHO unveiled "Sustained Management of COVID-19: Considerations for State and Territorial Health Agencies," a set of actionable, evidence-based strategies for state and territorial public health agencies to consider over the next few months of the COVID-19 response.

The 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey indicates that more than half of America’s public health workers report at least one symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.