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A Q&A with DELPH participants James Bell III and Sandy Noel about their experiences in the program and why it is so important to develop your own brand as a leader.

North Dakota Lead Exposure Outreach Program North Dakota Develops Tribal Communication Plan to Support Lead Poisoning Prevention Learn how North Dakota's lead prevention team built strong partnerships with tribal communities in this blog post. Madison Novosel, Paula Comeau Tribal Communication Plan Partnerships with local jurisdictions are crucial to the effectiveness of the North Dakota Lead Prevention Program. This collaboration enhances the depth and sustainability of the community outreach. One priority after transitioning the program from the Department of Environmental Quality to North Dakota Health and Human Services was to connect with local public health units and ensure they were informed about the change. When reaching out to local partners, the lead prevention team realized that there was not a document that clearly outlined who the correct contacts were between tribal communities and state agencies for lead-related events. Recognizing this gap led the team to develop a communication plan to strengthen coordination between the tribal and state lead prevention programs with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s environmental health official. This communication plan established points of contact between the state program and tribal government officials if a lead-related event were to occur involving tribal members or on tribal land. It clearly charted out the corresponding contacts for specific scenarios, which included: A tribal community member who lives on or off the reservation receives an elevated blood lead result. A tribal community member in the Head Start Program receives an elevated blood lead result. An environmental assessment or remediation is requested/needed on tribal lands. Tribal government officials are interested in hosting a screening event or identifying a screening clinic. Community Engagement The outreach to Standing Rock resulted in more opportunities for collaboration. NDHHS staff were invited to attend a community health event at the local high school. This opportunity revealed a gap in the state lead program; no formal outreach guidelines had been developed yet, as the program was (and still is) in its infancy. The team began to create a lead prevention curriculum guide to be used for low-cost outreach activities at the state and local level. The activities range from interactive lead-safe nutrition games to identifying potential lead hazards in a model home. The team was able to pilot one of the activities in the curriculum guide at the Standing Rock Community High School’s “Walk for Wellness.” Students and community members were asked to play a game that teaches dietary tips for preventing lead poisoning for a prize. Over 30 students and 10 community members came to the table to learn about lead prevention and have open discussions around environmental health. This engagement not only strengthened connections between NDHHS and the Standing Rock community, but also expanded education on lead poisoning prevention to a new population. Future Impact Attending the Walk for Wellness event enhanced collaboration with local public health staff also participating in the event. These in-person conversations offered firsthand insight into the challenges rural communities are facing in accessing care and lead testing. The team walked away with a better understanding of what needs to be addressed to support an increase in statewide lead screening, as well as deeper connections with new and existing partners. The lead outreach team at NDHHS will continue to seek more opportunities to conduct outreach efforts throughout the state, including other tribal communities. While spreading lead prevention education through outreach is important, having the opportunity to connect with those in communities face-to-face around the state is invaluable. These connections are essential to decreasing the burden of lead exposure across North Dakota. article yes

In recognition of National Infant Immunization Week, ASTHO and AMCHP interviewed Michael Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP, and Associate Administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), for his thoughts on how we can protect our infants and children from vaccine-preventable diseases during this extraordinary time. Especially now, as COVID-19 vaccination expands across the country—including the hope for a vaccine for children (five years and older), and with the promise of a return to in-person education, families and communities must quickly catch up on missed vaccinations.

If there is any word to describe 2020 it is “unprecedented,” with the work of health agencies front and center since COVID-19 emerged in the U.S. But as we approach Public Health Thank You Day and the Thanksgiving season, ASTHO wants to send a special appreciation to our entire state and territorial public health workforce. We have been so impressed by your tireless work to address COVID-19 in your jurisdictions and you have wowed us all with your dedication and commitment to the work of health protection and improvement. Thank you all for all you do to keep your communities healthy!

While COVID-19 remains a top public health priority, the pandemic has also intensified the need for strong tobacco control policies and marketing campaigns. CDC recognizes current or former tobacco users as one of several groups at higher risk of severe illness, including hospitalization and death, after contracting COVID-19. It is distressing to see signs that our success in encouraging tobacco users to quit has been slowed over the course of the pandemic. Fortunately, amid these challenges, many tobacco control groups have stayed focused.

A discussion with Meredith Allen, ASTHO’s Vice President for Health Security, about how the first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccinations have been a major turning point for the pandemic and a milestone moment for U.S. public health history.

In August 2020, the Big Cities Health Coalition and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials released a co-produced public service announcement to support public education in our members’ communities. The call to action in the PSA is straightforward: Americans need to put aside our respective differences and, simply, #MaskUp.

While the COVID-19 response has strained tobacco prevention and control efforts, the pandemic has afforded health officials unique opportunities to retool their tobacco prevention response. This brief spotlights new findings on tobacco use and COVID-19, opportunities for tobacco prevention during the pandemic, guidance for communicating risk, and recommendations for engaging state health officials.

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

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