Displaying 18 results for

ASTHO Awards Public Health Leaders and Agencies for Service BETHESDA, MD—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) presented several awards during its 2019 Annual Meeting and Policy Summit this week to commend public health leaders and agencies for their service and dedication to improving our nation’s health. “We’re pleased to recognize this distinguished group of health professionals and agencies,” says Elke Shaw-Tulloch, state health officer at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, past ASTHO president, and chair of ASTHO's Nominations, Awards, and Membership Committee. “The excellence we highlight today touches millions of lives and represents just a small sample of our nation’s dedicated public health professionals, who continuously strive to promote the public’s health and well-being.” The 2019 ASTHO awardees include: John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH, Secretary of Health, Washington State Department of Health Arthur T. McCormack Award Dr. Wiesman has served as Washington state’s health official since 2013 and currently co-chairs the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Under his leadership, the Washington State Department of Health is spearheading the End AIDS Washington program, developing the Healthiest Next Generation initiative, identifying and funding foundational public health services, implementing the governor’s executive order to reduce suicide and prevent firearm injuries and deaths, and addressing the public health impacts of climate change. Stephanie C. Williams, RNP, MPH, Senior Deputy, Arkansas Department of Health Noble J. Swearingen Award As deputy director for public health programs at the Arkansas Department of Health, Ms. Williams oversees and guides the work of the agency’s four operational centers: Health Advancement, Health Protection, Local Public Health and Public Health Practice. She also oversees the state public health laboratory and the state offices of Health Communication and Minority Health. Ms. Williams also advises and assists the state health official in setting policy and programmatic direction for the department and serves as state health official in his absence. Janae Price, MPH, Senior Epidemiologist, Illinois Department of Public Health State/Territorial Excellence in Public Health Award Ms. Price served the Illinois Department of Public Health from April 2016 to March 2019 as a member of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She led or co-led more than five nationally-funded statewide projects, ten committees or workgroups, and numerous complex multi-year projects. Price’s contributions led the health agency to strengthen its chronic disease epidemiology capacity by integrating evaluation and performance monitoring for chronic disease programs, developing critical partnerships, improving data collection and reporting quality, and using innovative methods to assess public health needs. Paul K. Halverson, DrPH ASTHO Alumni Award Dr. Halverson served as the state health official for the Arkansas Department of Health from 2005-2013. He oversaw the development of Arkansas’ statewide trauma system, which has become a model for other states, and he greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the Arkansas Public Health Preparedness Program and the Arkansas Public Health Laboratory. As a state health official, Dr. Halverson was a mentor to many new state health officials and a trusted colleague to his peers. After transitioning to his position as founding dean of the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, he has remained active as an ASTHO alumnus, serving as president of the ASTHO Alumni Society. Increasing Immunization Capacity in Texas Emergency Responder Facilities—Texas Department of State Health Services ASTHO Vision Award, First Place, Category A (Programs ≥ $250,000) ASTHO recognizes Texas Department of State Health Services for its work raising immunization rates for Texas emergency responders. Implementation of the New York State Prevention Agenda 2013-2018—New York State Department of Health ASTHO Vision Award, Second Place, Category A (Programs ≥ $250,000) ASTHO recognizes New York State Department of Health’s for its work developing a six-year state health improvement plan, which aims to make New York the healthiest state. Developed in collaboration with the Ad Hoc Committee to Lead the Prevention Agenda and more than 140 statewide organizations, the plan identifies New York’s most urgent health concerns and recommends ways statewide organizations and local health departments, hospitals, and partners from the health, business, education, and nonprofit sectors can work together to address them. Office of Grants Management—Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation ASTHO Vision Award, First Place, Category B (Programs less than $250,000) ASTHO recognizes the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for establishing the Office of Grants Management to improve coordination of the administration of all of the health agency’s federal programs and external funds. The office was created to oversee the financial and record keeping aspects of the annual grant-making process for the corporation and its divisions for all grants received or awarded. It also collaborates closely with all program managers to streamline and improve grant applications, implementation, administration, compliance, performance, and reporting requirements on all grants. Local and Tribal Public Health System Improvement Program—Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services ASTHO Vision Award, Second Place, Category B (Programs less than $250,000) ASTHO recognizes Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for its efforts to improve Montana’s local and tribal public health infrastructure. As part of this work, the health agency has strengthened partnerships between the healthcare sector and public health agencies; accelerated the use of the Public Health Accreditation Board’s national standards for public health practice by state, local, and tribal public health agencies; and strengthened local boards of health. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Current Measles Outbreaks Should Alarm Every American and Highlight the Critical Importance of Vaccination Programs ARLINGTON, VA—John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH, secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health and immediate past president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on the growing number of infectious disease outbreaks impacting the country. The hearing, “Vaccines Save Lives: What Is Driving Preventable Disease Outbreaks?” provided members of Congress the opportunity to discuss the current measles outbreaks affecting several states, along with children’s health and vaccinations and significant gaps in public health funding for programs to address preventable outbreaks. “Every American should be alarmed by the current measles outbreaks occurring in many states. Measles is an entirely preventable disease and we must redouble our efforts as a nation to spread the truth that vaccines save lives and address parental concerns about vaccinating their children,” says Wiesman. “No one should live in fear of contracting this disease and it is part of my mission as a public health official to protect the lives of American people. I am deeply grateful to the Senate HELP Committee for bringing broader awareness to the importance of vaccinations and better understanding the current gaps that exist in the public health system. Addressing these outbreaks will require a strong and coordinated response from federal, state, and local governments.” Wiesman recently authored an op-ed citing concerns about the nation’s public health system, which has suffered as a result of chronic underfunding as the population continues to grow. We are constantly reacting to crises rather than working to prevent them, Wiesman says. ASTHO and 80 other organizations are requesting Congress to raise CDC’s budget 22 percent by 2022 to address growing public health threats, including support for state and territorial vaccination programs, in order to protect our nation’s health system. For more information and to read Wiesman’s testimony, visit the committee’s website. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Health Officials Seek Sustained Investments to Protect Moms and Babies ARLINGTON, VA—Health officials say a new CDC study on Zika-associated birth defects is a stark reminder that emerging infectious diseases constitute a persistent threat to our nation’s health security. Given the higher rate and broader spectrum of disabilities associated with Zika during pregnancy, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) urges policymakers to direct continued resources to monitor the impact of Zika on mothers and babies. According to the largest report to date on health outcomes among babies in the U.S. territories one year or older, 1 in 7 have been diagnosed with health problems possibly caused by exposure to Zika. The report also presents new information on neurological conditions seen in infants affected by Zika—even those who appeared healthy at birth. “State and territorial public health departments are working with healthcare providers to collect and report medical information, share clinical guidance, and raise awareness about the risks of Zika,” says John Wiesman, president of ASTHO and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “To continue this and respond to both ongoing and emerging disease threats, we need sustained investments in the U.S. Zika Pregnancy and Infant Registry to strengthen our nation’s health security capabilities.” The height of the Zika outbreak has passed, but it remains a threat to mothers and babies who are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases and birth defects that can result from these infections during pregnancy. While the full extent of long-term health problems caused by Zika remains unknown, state and territorial health departments play a critical role in monitoring the health and developmental outcomes of children affected by many different types of infectious diseases and conditions, such as pandemic influenza, prenatal opioid exposure, and congenital syphilis. Unfortunately, funding to safeguard the public’s health has fluctuated drastically over time, dictated by emergency responses to specific disease events. “We urge Congress to provide at least $10 million to support initiatives to address emerging threats to mothers and babies. This will allow CDC to continue collaborating with state, tribal, territorial, and local health departments to monitor mothers and babies impacted by Zika and other infectious diseases,” says Michael Fraser, chief executive officer of ASTHO. “We need adequate resources in place so that we’re prepared for the next public health emergency.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Files Amicus Brief in Michigan Case, Argues Against Criminally Charging Health Officials During Major Public Health Crises ARLINGTON, VA—Last week, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) filed an amicus brief with the Genesee District Court in Michigan asserting that criminal prosecutions of health officials based on their professional judgment and decisions will weaken governmental public health’s ability to respond during health emergencies and present additional risks to the public. The court case is the first of its kind where a standing health official has been criminally charged for an alleged failure to notify the public regarding an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in Genesee County in 2014 and 2015. The outcome of this case is of great interest to ASTHO and its members who are concerned that the threat of criminal sanctions based on a health official’s professional, discretionary decisions will endanger public health. “We are very alarmed by this case, and the fact that a health official can be criminally charged to this extent for doing his job, especially during a public health crisis, is not right,” says John Wiesman, president of ASTHO and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “ASTHO’s board has carefully considered the allegations in the case. As public health officials, our decisionmaking does not fit within a one-size-fits-all model, but rather includes a thoughtful approach to limiting widespread panic, translating meaningful communication about public health risks and proper efforts to address the crisis at hand, especially when information is subject to change or incomplete.” “The outcome of this case could have an immediate chilling impact on the entire public health profession and a cascading effect on critical life and death decisions public health officials face every day,” says Michael Fraser, CEO of ASTHO. “The public must trust our public health officials to make the right decision at the right time and the fear of criminal prosecution will stymie their efforts.” The amicus brief also notes that “the basis for responsible public health communication is scientific knowledge and consensus,” and “[p]ractitioners have a responsibility to examine the quality of the available scientific information prior to performing any communication activity.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Public Health Leaders Note Great Progress in National Adult Smoking Rate Reduction, But More Needs to be Done ARLINGTON, VA—New data from CDC’s 2017 National Health Interview indicates that smoking rates among U.S. adults have hit an all-time low, with only 13.9 percent indicating they smoked last year. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) believes that these findings represent a major public health success, but more work needs to be done, as cigarette smoking is responsible for almost 500,000 deaths each year and the toll of tobacco use on heart disease and cancer alone has resulted in extensive human suffering.  For the past five decades, national public health leaders and state and territorial health departments have worked diligently to implement evidence-based practices and policies to curb tobacco use. ASTHO is pleased to see the positive results of these public health efforts, including evidence-based interventions such as smoke-free workplace policies, laws that increase the tobacco purchase age to 21, and state quitlines to help smokers quit, and increasing the cost of tobacco products. “Tobacco control is widely recognized as a priority by state public health leaders across the nation. State leaders have led the way by enacting evidence-based interventions that have made a difference,” says John Wiesman, president of ASTHO and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “However, we must address other tobacco related issues, such as e-cigarettes and vaping, and disparities like the high rates of tobacco use among individuals with behavioral health conditions, and challenge aggressive marketing practices targeting youth and minority communities where there is a greater prevalence of smoking, particularly those from lower income groups.” Continued tobacco control funding and implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies are still needed at the state and territorial level. Cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, but funding has been reduced from longstanding sources like tobacco taxes and Master Settlement agreement revenues. States are now on the front lines of reducing youth access to tobacco products and e-cigarettes that encourage addiction to nicotine. “While these declines are certainly encouraging, the battle is far from over,” says Nicole Alexander-Scott, president-elect of ASTHO and director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “Big Tobacco continues to shamelessly target youth and lower income communities with their dangerous, highly addictive products. We cannot stop fighting until every single person has an equal opportunity to breathe free and thrive, no matter what ZIP code they live in, and no matter their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, level of education, level of income, or insurance status. Together, we absolutely can make this happen.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO and Safe States Alliance Respond to Rising Injury Deaths Among Children and Adolescents ARLINGTON, VA—Today, CDC released a report showing that injuries, suicides, and homicides are leading to more deaths among children and young adults in the United States. “After several years of progress in reducing injury deaths among 10 to 19 year-olds in the United States, this alarming upturn in deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes, suicides, and drug overdoses demonstrates that significant challenges remain,” says John Wiesman, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “Preventing injuries and violence is a top priority for our nation’s health departments. ASTHO and the Safe States Alliance are committed to strengthening the capacity of state and territorial health departments to effectively advance these efforts.” While summer is the time of year when injuries among children dramatically increase, health departments are working year-round to create safe and healthy communities. “We urge Congress to invest in effective prevention programming. Expanding the CDC’s Core State Violence and Injury Program, for example, would provide necessary resources to health departments to ensure the safety and protection of all people, especially our youngest citizens,” says Rich Hamburg, executive director of the Safe States Alliance.  “As public health leaders, we find the 56 percent increase in suicides between 2007 and 2016 to be wholly unacceptable,” adds Wiesman. “To address this serious issue and save lives, we need to consider the role of mental and behavioral health and how to better integrate these principles within the governmental public health and healthcare systems. We must intensify our efforts to prevent these tragic deaths and direct greater investments toward childhood injury and suicide prevention programs.” In light of these findings, continued assessment, vigilance, and resources are needed to put proven prevention strategies into practice to save lives and prevent lifelong disability for America’s children. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate Safe States Alliance Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Statement on Resignation of CDC Director ASTHO Statement on Resignation of CDC Director Fitzgerald ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) president and executive director issued the following statements in response to the announcement on the resignation of CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald: “We respect Dr. Fitzgerald’s decision to step down from her role as CDC director and understand the difficult choice she had to make,” says Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “While her tenure was a brief six months, Dr. Fitzgerald created momentum for improving the health of our nation, specifically around her agency’s role in fighting infectious disease and promoting health security, addressing the opioid epidemic, combating this year’s deadly flu season, and bringing a public health perspective to early childhood development in a new way for CDC. ASTHO stands ready to support the future CDC director, whom we hope has the same depth of experience in leading a state, local, or territorial public health agency. It is also our hope that a new director will continue to value state and territorial public health leaders as primary partners in the implementation of CDC’s work. We know these kinds of changes can be disruptive to an agency that is already underfunded and works around the clock to protect us from our nation’s gravest health threats.” “As public health officials, we uniquely understand that the role of CDC director is critical to protecting and promoting the health and well-being of the American people above all other interests,” says John Wiesman, ASTHO’s president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “We hold Dr. Fitzgerald in great esteem for her many contributions as Georgia’s health commissioner, where she spearheaded efforts to reduce childhood obesity and promote early brain development, laying the foundation to help people enjoy longer and healthier lives. We accept her decision to step down, and we look forward to working closely with CDC’s next director to continue advancing the work of our nation’s top public health agency.”   ASTHO is supportive of HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s announcement of Anne Schuchat as the interim CDC Director. “Dr. Schuchat’s experience working in the field and at CDC headquarters gives her the perspective one needs to understand the breadth, scope, and importance of the agency,” Fraser says. “We look forward to working with her during her tenure as interim director.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

State Health Officials Commend Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address Opioid Epidemic ARLINGTON, VA—Members of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump today at the White House for a meeting declaring the nation’s opioid crisis a public health emergency.  “While emergency declarations are normally reserved for natural disasters or infectious disease outbreaks, the President’s announcement recognizes the work that states and territories are already undertaking to address the crisis and will allow for increased collaboration and coordination of regional and federal assets across the country for an even more effective response,” says John Wiesman, ASTHO president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. “We hope the public health emergency declaration, combined with future additional federal investments in substance abuse treatment and prevention, will lead to fewer deaths and better health for all Americans.” State and territorial health officials have been at the frontlines of this crisis working to address the many facets of the epidemic. Six states have already declared emergencies in their jurisdictions: Alaska Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia. “While federal leadership has been working hard in partnership with states to address this crisis, many states have taken executive and legislative action to address the epidemic including implementing new laws and regulations around prescribing and providing additional funding for treatment services and evidence-based public health interventions to prevent substance misuse in the first place,” says Michael Fraser, ASTHO’s executive director. “The federal emergency adds to the work that states and territories have been doing in many different ways across the country.” Treating and preventing substance use disorders and addiction is very complex. “Opioid addiction is challenging because many people first become addicted when receiving the medications through the healthcare system. Addiction is not a moral failing on the part of the individual; it is a health condition we must address in healthcare and across all sectors as a society at the national, state, and community levels,” says Jay Butler, ASTHO’s immediate past president and chief medical officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. “Addiction is treatable and, more importantly, preventable with appropriate evidence-based interventions. The declaration today will help us respond even more effectively to the loss of life and devastating impact of substance misuse and addiction.” ASTHO, in partnership with the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), recently released a framework on public health responses to the opioid crisis that was developed to assist health officials in combating the epidemic. As federal agencies and Congress look to implement their response to this public health emergency, ASTHO urges national leaders to provide additional resources focusing on both treatment and prevention of addiction. “This is a crisis we ultimately are not going to arrest—or treat—our way out of; instead, we have to prevent our way out of this,” adds Fraser. “Like any public health emergency, addressing this problem calls for important steps to prevent the disease in the first place. We hope that the President and First Lady’s attention to the opioid epidemic will help us focus on both treatment and prevention. That is the work of public health, and states and territories are committed to mustering all resources available to end this epidemic.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

John Wiesman Named ASTHO President ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) announced the appointment of John Wiesman, secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health, as ASTHO’s new president, effective Sept. 21. “I am thrilled to serve as president of this amazing organization and to help tackle the many public health challenges facing our country,” says Wiesman. “ASTHO is a non-partisan public health powerhouse and I look forward to working with states and territories to further achieve optimal health for all.” Wiesman has served as secretary of health for the Washington State Department of Health since April 2013. During his career, Wiesman has transformed health departments from providing individual clinical services to implementing policies, systems, and environmental changes that make healthy choices easier and less expensive. In Washington state, he is working to create the healthiest next generation, end AIDS, reduce suicide deaths, and identify and fund foundational public health services across the state.  Wiesman is a native of Wisconsin and has worked in four local public health departments in Washington and Connecticut. He started his public health career in Connecticut in 1986 and was in one of the first groups trained to provide HIV counseling and testing. He earned his Doctorate of Public Health in public health executive leadership from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2012. He received a Master of Public Health in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University in 1987 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Lawrence University in Wisconsin in 1983. “We are extremely honored to have Dr. Wiesman serve as our new president. He has a breadth of experience, he is a wonderful mentor, and he walks the talk,” says Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “As a local health department director, he understands the urgent need to address specific community health problems and his statewide perspective as secretary gives him the point of view an ASTHO president needs to inform national policy on behalf of states. I am truly excited to work with and learn from John in the year ahead.” Other ASTHO leaders elected at the meeting include Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, who will serve as president-elect, and Gerd Clabaugh, director at the Iowa Department of Public Health, who will serve as secretary-treasurer.  ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Leading Through a Pandemic: Teamwork and Crisis Communication Hear former and current State Health Officers and their Public Information Officers reflect on working together during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1/4 bottom Speakers Lee A. Norman, MD, MHS, MBA: Alum-KS John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH: Alum-WA Jessica Baggett, MPH: Former Public Information Officer (WA) Ashley Jones-Wisner: Former Public Information Officer (KS) Arundi Venkayya: Current Public Information Officer (OH) website yes

State and Territorial Health Leaders Commend Selection of John Wiesman as Co-Chair of Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) commends HHS Secretary Azar for appointing John Wiesman, immediate past president of ASTHO and Washington State Secretary of Health, to serve as co-chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). “Both as a clinician caring for patients with HIV and as a policymaker working to eliminate the disease, I have witnessed firsthand John’s commitment, passion, and expertise when it comes to HIV. He is supremely qualified to co-chair the reconstituted Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and will lead bold public health actions to stop HIV,” says Nicole Alexander-Scott, ASTHO President and director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “State and territorial health leaders throughout the country are committed to collaborating with the council to implement its recommendations. It is through these efforts at the federal, state, and local levels that we can bring an end to this disease that affects so many communities throughout the country.” Wiesman was the president of ASTHO from 2017-2018 and has served as secretary of health for the Washington State Department of Health since April 2013. Wiesman began his public health career in 1986 as an HIV/AIDS test counselor in Connecticut where he was a member of the first group of people in the state trained to conduct HIV counseling and testing services. Today, he is working in Washington state to end AIDS, create the healthiest next generation, and expand foundational public health services across the state. Wiesman is a native of Wisconsin and has worked in four local public health departments in Washington state and Connecticut. He earned his doctor of public health (DrPH) in public health executive leadership in 2012 from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He received his master of public health (MPH) in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University in 1987, and his bachelor of arts (BA) in biology from Lawrence University in Wisconsin in 1983. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Illnesses on the Rise from Mosquito, Tick, and Flea Bites Remain Top Issue for Health Officials ARLINGTON, VA—Today, CDC released a Vital Signs report on the nation’s increasing risk of vector-borne disease and what can be done to reduce those risks. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) applauds CDC’s rigorous review of data to shine an evidence-based spotlight on how vector-borne diseases affect humans but is concerned about how states will address these growing disease threats with limited funding. Key points stressed in the report include: A total of 642,602 cases of vector-borne disease spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas were reported from 2004-2016. The number of reported cases of vector-borne disease tripled during this time period. Risks of vector-borne disease appear to be increasing, with nine new vector-borne diseases discovered in the US since 2004. Unfortunately, 84% of vector control programs report needing improvement in one or more of five core vector control competencies. Every state is vulnerable. States and local public health agencies can help mitigate the growing threat of vector-borne disease by building and sustaining public health programs, training vector control staff, and educating the public about how to prevent bites and control vector-borne disease in their communities. "Today’s report vividly demonstrates that diseases like West Nile Virus, Zika, Lyme, dengue, plague, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and other emerging pathogens carried by mosquitos, ticks, or fleas, increasingly remain a clear and present danger to the public’s health," says John Wiesman, ASTHO president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. "Community-based vector control services are all-to-often neglected and under resourced." State, territorial, and local public health departments have a critical role in the nation’s main defense against the increasing threat of these diseases. Demands on public health agencies across the country for services such as vector and disease tracking, laboratory testing, epidemiologic investigation, vector abatement and control, pesticide resistance testing, and public education are also increasing, but funding levels are not keeping pace with these demands. "Everyone has a role in protecting themselves against mosquito and tick bites and controlling mosquito and ticks in and around their home and property,” says Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “Government policy and decision makers also have a role in taking the necessary steps to increase our investments in preparedness and response in order for states and territories to have comprehensive and effective vector prevention and control programs." For more information on vector control, check out these ASTHO resources: Before the Swarm: Guidelines for Managing Vector-Borne Disease Outbreaks Communicating about Effective Mosquito Control Public Health Confronts the Mosquito ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Urges Congress to Increase Funding for Public Health Programs ARLINGTON, VA—Today, John Wiesman, ASTHO president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health, submitted written testimony to the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee urging Congress to provide increased funding to support public health programs in FY19. This funding would allow federal agencies that support state, local, and territorial public health departments to improve the health of the population by addressing the opioid epidemic, enhancing preparedness programs, and continuing services through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. “Our federal partners, including CDC and HRSA, provide a level of financial support to health departments that state budgets simply cannot fulfill on their own. We are pleased Congress recently provided the most significant increase for public health in over a decade, however, we must build upon this momentum and provide states and territories with sustained, predictable, and hopefully increased funding in FY19 and beyond. State and territorial health officials are saving lives every day and health departments rely heavily on these federal funds to achieve broad impact and sustain high levels of success. The health of our nation is a matter of national security. ASTHO and our members stand ready to assist Congress and the Administration in our shared work of protecting and promoting the public’s health.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Statement on the Appointment of CDC Director, Robert Redfield ARLINGTON, VA—John Wiesman, ASTHO president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health, issued the following statement on the appointment of Dr. Redfield as the director of CDC. “ASTHO looks forward to meeting and building a positive working relationship with Robert Redfield, MD, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the nation’s premiere resource for public health practitioners and their partners, CDC provides critical resources, scientific expertise, and technical assistance to state, local, and national programs to strengthen public health capacity, share timely and critical information, and improve health and save lives daily.” “ASTHO believes a strong CDC is essential to the strength, economic well-being, and productivity of the American public. We are eager to share the priorities and perspectives of state health leaders and continue to ensure the use of sound scientific evidence when making policy decisions to protect, improve, and promote our nation’s public health. We are confident that Dr. Redfield will value and draw upon the expertise of state and local public health leaders as he begins his tenure as director of the agency.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Top State and Territorial Public Health Issues Revealed in New Building a Healthier Nation Report ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) released a new report today that highlights the top five public health issues facing state and territorial health agencies in 2018. The report, Building a Healthier Nation: The State of State and Territorial Public Health, calls on policymakers to fund the nation’s fragile public health infrastructure and demonstrates how public health affects our daily lives. “The top five issues identified by state and territorial health officers represent some of today’s greatest threats to public health nationwide. However, if we act now, they also present tremendous opportunities to protect and promote health,” says Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO. “The work of public health spans many communicable and non-communicable diseases, and capacity to support this work requires a skilled workforce and a well-resourced public health infrastructure.” “It is through preparedness, health promotion, and disease prevention activities—the core work of state and territorial health agencies—that we will truly improve our nation’s health and realize savings in our healthcare system. It is far more effective to prevent illness than to treat it. Congress and the Administration must work together to provide states and territories with predictable, sustained funding for these population health efforts if we are to see long-term improvements in health and reduced spending on healthcare,” says John Wiesman, ASTHO President and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health. The top five priorities featured in ASTHO’s report include: Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Preventing Substance Misuse and Addiction: Overdose deaths have reached epidemic proportions: in 2016, the United States saw over 60,000 drug overdose deaths—more than 100 deaths daily. Health agencies are working around the clock to end this epidemic; however, more funding is needed to support CDC and health agency prevention activities. Reducing Illnesses and Deaths from Preventable Chronic Diseases: Injuries and illness from chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and substance misuse are the most common, costly, and preventable health conditions facing America today. State and territorial public health agencies rely on federal dollars to bolster their chronic disease prevention efforts. Preventing Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Largely preventable infectious diseases are posing a grave threat to the nation’s health. Sexually transmitted diseases are rising at an alarming rate. In 2016, reported cases of gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia increased for the third consecutive year. Furthermore, healthcare-associated infections, including antimicrobial resistant pathogens, cause hundreds of thousands of illnesses and deaths among U.S. patients each year. Many of these infections could be prevented with increased investments in public health agencies. Managing Public Health Emergencies: Preparation, Response, and Recovery: Three major hurricanes, several wildfires and mudslides, floods, as well as record-setting cold temperatures across the nation challenged both public health and state and local governments in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, the overall cost of weather-related disasters exceeded $300 billion, making it the costliest year on record. Unfortunately, critical federal investments in state and territorial public health preparedness have declined over the last several years, despite increasingly severe natural disasters and other threats. Protecting Our Drinking Water from Environmental Health Threats: The United States has one of the safest drinking water supplies in the world and public health agencies rely on sustained federal funding to maintain excellence in drinking water safety. Existing and emerging challenges must be addressed, including improvements to an aging infrastructure, addressing chemical and microbial contaminants, nutrient overloading, as well as harmful algal blooms. Building a Healthier Nation Report Boilerplate ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

ASTHO Applauds Bipartisan Budget Deal ASTHO Applauds 2018 Bipartisan Budget Deal ARLINGTON, VA—Today, President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 into law ending the very brief government shutdown. John Wiesman, ASTHO’s president and secretary of health at the Washington State Department of Health, issued the following statement in response: “We applaud Congress and the Administration for their approval of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. This bi-partisan law will greatly assist state and territorial public health in promoting and protecting the health of all Americans. Specifically, this law provides the necessary resources for states and territories recovering from the recent natural disasters, and ensures stable funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. During negotiations of the bill, Congress also promised to provide $6 billion to help address the ongoing opioid crisis. Given the current public health emergency declaration, ASTHO strongly urges Congress to allocate a portion of this funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and states and territories so they can scale up evidence-based public health prevention programs. The deal does restore funding to the prevention and public health fund for FY19-FY21, which we greatly appreciate. These funds support core work detecting and responding to outbreaks, preventing tobacco use, and immunizing our children. However, ASTHO remains very concerned about cuts to the fund after 2022 and the core public health programs that these funds support. It urges Congress and the Administration to reconsider that decision in the out years. Health promotion and disease prevention activities require robust and sustained federal funding. The Bipartisan Budget Act is an important step in the right direction and we look forward to working with Congress to develop the FY18 omnibus appropriations bill to ensure additional resources are allocated to public health so we can continue our mission to improve the health and wellbeing for all.” ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

Opioid Epidemic Remains a Public Health Emergency ARLINGTON, VA—ASTHO President John Wiesman issued the following statement in response to Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan’s announcement about the renewal of the public health emergency declaration to address the opioid crisis.  “Renewing the public health emergency declaration is an important step in the right direction. However, this renewal must be coupled with resources so states and territories can scale up their public health interventions. We also hope the public health emergency can spur efforts to reduce the stigma that can be associated with substance use disorder and treatment, and fund prevention efforts with our youth and families to help end this crisis.”  “Ninety days have passed since the President first declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. Neither the Administration nor Congress has requested or provided additional resources to address this epidemic that is plaguing our nation. Since the initial declaration in October, nearly 4,140 people have died from opioid overdoses and 90,000 have been treated in hospital emergency departments. Congress needs to take action and increase federal support for treatment, recovery, and prevention programs.”  ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes

In this episode, Ami Klin discusses early detection of developmental disabilities as a strategy to improve access to early care and treatment. John Wiesman shares Washington state’s success story in supporting healthy early brain development through collective impact and cross-sector collaboration.