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The 2020 holiday season is coinciding with a nationwide surge of COVID-19 cases. With great concern that holiday travel to see loved ones may exacerbate community spread of the virus, many states are increasing public health measures before the winter holiday season. As of November 16, 2020, 13 states and D.C. had a quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers. The U.S. territories also have instituted travel restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Several states and territories, as well as many local governments, are going beyond recommendations and requiring individuals to wear face coverings when they are in public settings and spaces (i.e. grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants, public and private transportation services, parks, etc.). Ongoing research and evidence suggests the relationship between mandatory face coverings and declines in daily COVID-19 growth rates is statistically significant.

This brief examines the ways states can support certification for community health workers.

Opportunities for Public Health Agencies to Advance Sustainable Financing of Community Health Worker Programs Advancing Sustainable Financing of Community Health Workers Explore how health officials can play key roles as funders, administrators, and policy designers to advance sustainable financing of community health workers. Many states face upcoming funding gaps for community health worker (CHW) positions, with COVID-19 related grant funding streams expiring. Concurrently, many states are rapidly beginning to cover CHW services under Medicaid. In addition, Medicare launched a new reimbursement opportunity for CHWs in January 2024. These factors create an opportunity for state and territorial health agencies to develop or contribute to equitable reimbursement and robust implementation. This report details how health officials can play key roles as funders, administrators, and policy design champions to ultimately advance sustainable financing of CHW services. Get the Report (PDF) website yes

Supporting Resilience in Rural Areas Through Cross-Sector Partnerships ASTHO, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, rural health, public health, public health partnerships, health in all policies, government agencies, community organizations, academic institutions, rural populations, infrastructure improvement, healthcare systems, environmental determinants, climate change, sustainable practices, environmental challenges, extreme weather, environmental health risks, protective factors, engaging rural partners, building trust, idaho department of health and welfare, michigan department of health, health equity, austin climate equity plan, healthy start oregon, kansas department of commerce, wisconsin broadband access, chesapeake housing mission Ali Aslam The key to making rural communities more resilient is for public health to partner with community organizations, governmental agencies, and other critical partners. Working across sectors of government agencies, community organizations, businesses, and academic institutions is critical to address public health challenges in rural communities. Using a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach helps public health agencies better address the interconnected social, economic, and environmental determinants of health impacting rural communities and improve community well-being. HiAP brings together a multitude of perspectives to develop holistic strategies that can support infrastructure improvements, sustainable land use practices, diversified economic opportunities, safer and healthier home environments, and robust health care systems in rural communities. Through community leadership and collaboration, this cross-sector approach can enhance the capacity of rural communities to build resilience, adapt to climate change, and foster long-term sustainability to improve public health outcomes. Learn how states are implementing HiAP strategies to improve health in their rural communities in this report. Get the Report (PDF) website yes

A pressing public health issue before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the need for public health interventions to reduce tobacco use is heightened with a strong association between tobacco use, in all forms, with severe COVID-19 outcomes. Additionally, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., claiming approximately 480,000 deaths each year. Evidence-based policies to reduce tobacco use like raising the age of sale to 21, increasing tobacco pricing, and prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products are common public health strategies enacted through state legislation. As anticipated in ASTHO’s 2021 Legislative Prospectus on E-Cigarettes, states are considering many of these evidenced-based tobacco reduction strategies during the 2021 legislative sessions.