ASTHO's opportunities for digital badges and certificate programs.
Making Contact: A Training for COVID-19 Case Investigators and Contact Tracers The nation's ability to quickly contain infectious disease outbreaks is more important than ever, and an expanded contact tracing workforce is critical for this effort. ASTHO and the National Coalition of STD Directors are pleased to offer this free online course to support the rapid training and scale-up this new contact tracing workforce. Interested in taking the course? Check out our FAQs for Learners (PDF). Interested in directing your learners to the course? Check out our FAQs for Public Health Authorities and Training Providers (PDF). Additional questions? Contact the training team. Looking for additional contact tracing resources? Visit ASTHO's COVID-19 page. website no
Building Core Policy Skills: A Discussion Guide for STI Prevention Efforts Building Core Policy Skills for STI Prevention Efforts JoAnne Deehr, Lana McKinney Get insight into the ASTHO Policy Academy On Demand training, with practical examples and reflection questions focused on real-world STI prevention challenges. This discussion guide provides insight into and builds on the ASTHO Policy Academy On Demand training — deepening participant engagement through practical examples and reflection questions focused on real-world STI prevention challenges. While the training provides foundational understanding of the policy development process and how it supports programmatic work across health departments, this guide helps translate those concepts into practice by: (1) prompting discussion, (2) exploring implementation scenarios, and (3) connecting policy tools to day-to-day decision-making in STI prevention efforts. Module 1 – What Is Policy? This module provides a foundation for understanding how policy serves as a tool for public health intervention and establishes a foundational understanding of the policy development process. It covers the spectrum of policy actions, from formal state laws to agency-level protocols. Question 1: How can internal policy tools (e.g., updated clinical protocols or statewide guidance for universal prenatal syphilis screening) help to create near-term protection while considering broader legislative or payer policy changes, and how do these different policy levers compare in speed and impact? Question 2: When you think about a change, like expanding prenatal syphilis screening or covering at-home STI test kits, what parts do legislation drive versus internal agency policy or payer rules? Which decisions occur at the federal, state, and local levels, and how do those layers of authority influence what can be changed through legislation versus agency or payer policy? Module 2 – Problem Identification Effective policy begins with using data to understand and define a public health problem and its impact on specific communities. This module focuses on using surveillance to explore the problem that you can use policy to address and tools you can use to analyze the root causes of the problem. Question 1: When confronted with rising STI rates or screening gaps, how do you integrate quantitative data (surveillance, claims, lab metrics) with qualitative input (provider or community feedback) to define the problem? And what additional information would strengthen your analysis? Question 2: If you apply a root-cause method like the "5 Whys" to rising STI rates or missed prenatal screening, what are underlying drivers that might emerge? How would you determine whether the root cause is workflow, funding, access, or policy structure? Module 3 – Interested Parties Engagement and Education Policy development is a team sport. This module focuses on identifying internal and external partners, from community-based organizations to legislative leaders needed to move a policy forward. Question 1: When advancing policies related to STI testing access, congenital syphilis prevention, confidentiality protections, or Medicaid coverage, which interested parties must be engaged for approval, implementation, and community uptake? How do responsibilities differ between those who make policy decisions (e.g., legislators, Medicaid leadership) and those who operationalize them (e.g., clinics, maternal and child health programs, community partners)? Where might you find champions on the issue, coordination challenges, competing priorities, or confidentiality concerns that create friction? Question 2: In a medication shortage where prioritization decisions are required, how would you include perspectives of highest-risk patients and frontline providers? How might priorities differ among payers, clinicians, and community organizations? Module 4 – Policy Analysis This module examines the legal frameworks that empower health departments to act. It introduces methods for evaluating which policy options are legally sound within a specific jurisdiction. Question 1: When using an impact matrix to compare policy options — such as screening requirements, coverage mandates, or partner services expansion — why is it important to include the “status quo” as a baseline? How does that help you weigh feasibility, cost, impact, and potential unintended consequences? Question 2: When weighing the status quo against a proposal, such as at-home STI testing coverage, how would you assess long-term health impact, tradeoffs, operational feasibility (e.g., provider capacity, lab processing, reimbursement workflows) and possible unintended consequences? What sources of evidence would guide your decision-making? Module 5 – Policy Strategy and Design Translating data into a compelling narrative is key to building support for a policy. This module covers how to tailor messages for different audiences, including the media and policymakers. Question 1: When developing and thinking of pitching a policy like at-home STI testing coverage, which partners could help sell the proposal, and how would you address real world implementation constraints? Question 2: When communicating urgency around medication prioritization during a national shortage, which messaging strategies are most effective? What supporting policy elements (e.g., provider guidance, prioritization protocols, or reporting expectations) should be built in from the start to make the strategy workable? Module 6 – Policy Authorization and Enactment This module focuses on the formal process of moving a policy from a proposal to an official law or regulation. It includes navigating the legislative calendar and understanding the rulemaking process. Question 1: What concerns might arise when proposing coverage mandates or new screening requirements, and how would you address them proactively? Question 2: If you were advancing a policy such as expanded prenatal screening requirements or broader congenital syphilis prevention efforts (i.e., closing gaps between screening, treatment, and postpartum follow-up), which key decision-makers would need to be engaged? At what level of government (federal, state, or local) do they operate, and how would that distribution of authority shape your strategy and cross-program collaboration (e.g. maternal and child health, Medicaid, community organizations)? Module 7 – Policy Implementation Enactment is only the first step; implementation involves turning policies and/or laws into functional programs. This module covers the creation of guidance documents and the training of staff to ensure a policy’s success. Question 1: After a policy like expedited partner therapy is approved, what operational steps (i.e., training, workflow updates, and coordination) are required for successful rollout? Question 2: What behind-the-scenes barriers — such as low provider awareness of new requirements (e.g., expedited partner therapy authorization or prenatal screening mandates) or limited public awareness of benefits like at-home STI test coverage — most often undermine implementation and how can early coordination, promotion, and targeted communication address them? Module 8 – Developing the Evaluation Process Plan The final module focuses on measuring whether a policy achieved its intended health goals. It emphasizes using data to refine and improve policies over time. Question 1: Following implementation of policies related to screening access, congenital syphilis prevention, confidentiality, or Medicaid continuity, what indicators would signal success? What frontline feedback would inform policy refinement? Question 2: What indicators would show at-home testing policies are reaching the high-need groups, and how would you respond if the impact differs from what is expected? article yes
Webinar attendees learn about the review process, strategies for moving Maternal Mortality Review Committees data to action, and hear an example of how the state of Texas took recommendations and turned them into actions.
Training modules detail what it means to be a state trusted contact for ORRP and provide background for state trusted contacts to better prepare for, and respond to, disruptions in access to opioid prescriptions.
On this episode, graduates of ASTHO’s Essentials of Leadership and Management share how the program has improved their work and helped them grow as leaders.
Information and resources regarding PRAMS, an ongoing, site-specific, population-based surveillance project.
Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact Power up your public health leadership skills through this series of engaging trainings. The Essentials of Leadership and Management (ELM) Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad for Impact equips public health leaders with the strategic insights and tools needed to lead with confidence and drive meaningful change. Over the course of five sessions, these insightful one-hour programs explore key leadership competencies essential for driving organizational success. The Leadership Power Hour prepares supervisors and managers to become more effective in their roles within governmental public health agencies. The power hours are designed to improve professional skills as a leader, which includes learning how to: Improve decision-making and credibility. Lead through conflict and handle strategic conversations. Take a high-performing approach to giving and receiving feedback. Lead with trust in complex environments. Identify roadblocks that impede growth. This program includes live, facilitated online training, opportunities to collaborate with peers, and access to in-depth self-paced learning. The Leadership Power Hour: Your Launchpad is a part of the ELM suite, which provides training that develops and sharpens skills among new and emerging public health leaders, resulting in a better and more sustainable work environment. Session Details Lead with a Clear Lens: Decision-Making that Fosters Trust Date & Time: March 12, 2026, 2-3 p.m. ET Speaker: Alice J. Schenall, DrPH, MPH, Senior Advisor, Leadership and Learning Unit, ASTHO Description: Leaders that deal with competing demands in uncertain times build trust through intentional decision-making. In session one, attendees explore frameworks for decision-making and strategies for engaging with teams, communicating with clarity, and prioritizing competing demands. Participants will learn key techniques to articulate decisions in ways that build trust and drive action. Participants will: Explore prioritization frameworks to inform evidence-based decision-making. Examine decision-making under uncertainty. Describe methods of communicating with trust and clarity. Registration for Session 1 is now closed. Padding Block - Medium(10) Leading Through Conflict with Strategic Conversations Date & Time: March 26, 2026, 2-3 p.m. ET Speaker: Dawn Morriston, MPH, Director of Faculty Advancement, Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development, UNC School of Medicine Description: Leaders committed to building strong teams must be able to navigate conflict effectively in professional and personal interactions and manage difficult or strategic conversations with confidence. Session two, Leading Through Conflict with Strategic Conversations, introduces practical strategies essential to strengthening team performance and enhancing professional credibility. This includes how to maintain productive forward momentum when leading critical discussions or delivering challenging information in the workplace. Participants will: Explore conflict management approaches. List and describe types of conversations that lead to negotiation. Learn skills to navigate conflict and structure productive conversations. Registration for Session 2 is now closed. Padding Block - Medium(11) High-Impact Strategies for Giving and Receiving Feedback Date & Time: April 2, 2026, 2-3 p.m. ET Speaker: Laura E. Knights, LCSW, Founder and CEO, Knights Consulting Description: In fast-moving public health environments, the ability to give and receive feedback effectively is essential for building high-performing, mission-driven teams. Session three of this series, High-Impact Strategies for Giving and Receiving Feedback, introduces leaders to a strategic approach to feedback that strengthens trust, accelerates learning, and supports psychological safety. Participants will explore communication habits, a framework for delivering clear and actionable feedback, and practical tools leaders can immediately use. Participants will: Feedback behaviors that contribute to accountability, learning, and psychological safety. How mindset impacts feedback exchanges. Frameworks for giving and receiving feedback that support healthy and collaborative team dynamics. Registration for Session 3 is now closed. Padding Block - Medium(12) Trust Under Pressure: Leading Teams with Confidence Date & Time: April 9, 2026, 2-3 p.m. ET Speaker: Tim Rosselet, Manager, Digital Learning Design, ASTHO Description: Intentional leaders create conditions for teams to flourish. This includes behaviors that cultivate trust under pressure such as transparent communication, empathy, and emotional regulation. Session four of this series, Trust Under Pressure: Leading Teams with Confidence, explores how steady leadership under pressure contributes to trust. Participants will learn actionable methods to identify trust gaps and lead teams with confidence in complex and demanding environments. Participants will: Define trust and its role in leadership effectiveness. Build and sustain trust under pressure. Recognize early signs of stress in self and in a team. Create a leadership action plan. Registration for Session 4 is now closed. Padding Block - Medium(13) The Adaptive Leader: Mastering Clarity, Resilience, and High-Impact Teams Date & Time: April 23, 2026, 2-3 p.m. ET Speaker: Christy "Coach Chris" Jones, Co-Founder, Monday Solutions Group Description: Adaptive leadership requires balancing complex decision-making, competing priorities, and leading diverse teams. The fifth and final session, The Adaptive Leader: Mastering Clarity, Resilience, and High-Impact Teams, focuses on the critical skills that foster trust, promote accountability, and enable collaborative team dynamics under pressure. Leave with renewed clarity, actionable tools, and the confidence to inspire trust and drive meaningful outcomes, even in times of uncertainty. Participants will: Lead Decisively: Confidently focus on what matters most while sustaining trust and managing stress. Build Connection: Communicate authentically and cultivate strong, collaborative team relationships. Create Your Roadmap: Develop a personalized leadership plan that translates insights into practical, high-impact action. Registration for Session 5 is now closed. article
March-July 2026
Education & Events Association of state and territorial health officials, Washington week, techexpo, health equity summit, insight and inspiration series, public health thought leaders, public health professionals, state and territorial public health, public health practice, public health policy, microlearnings, astho microlearnings, learning communities, public health innovations, professional development, elearning center, astho elearning center, public health improvement ASTHO offers tools, resources, and events designed to help leaders respond to challenges and guide public health into the future. Explore our offerings now! ASTHO offers a robust library of educational tools, resources, and events. These resources help leaders respond effectively to daily challenges and guide public health improvements for the future. Explore our offerings to see what best suits your learning style and needs. Related topic: Leadership Development Events Events Page Intro Webinars ASTHO, in collaboration with various public health thought leaders and subject-matter experts, present an interactive virtual learning series for public health professionals. Our ASTHOConnects webinar series provides the latest and most relevant information on a broad range of emerging trends and issues affecting state and territorial public health. These free, zoom-based events are designed to provide the skills, knowledge, tools, and collaborations needed to formulate sound public health policy and ensure excellence in state-based public health practice. e-Learning Center The ASTHO e-Learning Center houses on-demand professional development offerings, including event and meeting recordings, and microlearnings. Microlearnings are bite-sized teaching sprints with just the right amount of information to help a learner achieve a specific goal. These web-based, self-paced bursts of content are designed for engagement and fast learning while still supporting long-term retention. They are the perfect way to communicate complex information—from onboarding staff, to introducing new concepts, and more. Learning Communities Learning communities are cohort-based communities that seek to advance an area of public health practice. These communities create unique opportunities to shed light on job-specific challenges and work towards actionable improvements. We collaborate with experts to create purposeful groupings across state health agencies, territorial health agencies, and multi-sectoral partners to drive public health innovation. website
ASTHO informatics and innovation leaders gathered for an introduction to AI and its potential applications in state and territorial public health.
The Fostering Breastfeeding Equity Through Community Engagement webinar series emphasizes the importance of community engagement when developing policies.