Dr. Diane Hall, Director of the CDC Office of Rural Health, dives into the CDC’s new Rural Public Health Strategic Plan; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations, tells us how Congress avoided a government shutdown this week; and Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, announces the launch of the new Lead-Free CT Campaign.

CDC Web Page: Rural Public Health Strategic Plan

ASTHO Web Page: Summary of FY25 Continuing Resolution

Connecticut Network Web Page: Capitol News Briefing

Dr. Sheena Patel, Executive Director for Public Health Modernization at Crisp Shared Services, discusses the role Crisp Shared Services will play in the Implementation Center program; Lisa Peterson, ASTHO Senior Director for Preparedness, discusses the upcoming annual Directors of Public Health Preparedness Meeting; and the CDC has issued a Health Update for Mpox through the Health Alert Network.

Data Modernization Implementation Center Program Web Page

CDC Web Page: Prevention Strategies for Mpox, including Vaccinating People at Risk via Sexual Exposure, for U.S. Travelers Visiting Countries with Clade I Mpox Outbreaks

Brianne Zaborowske, Lead Crisis Coordinator in the Division of Care and Treatment Services at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, discusses new crisis stabilization facilities across Wisconsin; Elizabeth Conklin, Connecticut Data for Action Participant, tells us about being part of the first cohort for the Healthy Brain Initiative Data for Action Project; and it is Falls Prevention Awareness Week.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services News Release: Five Crisis Stabilization Facilities Now Open Across Wisconsin

Public Health Review Podcast Episode: Enhancing Brain Health with Data-Driven Solutions

ASTHO Report: Expanding Falls Prevention Through Surveillance, Community-Clinical Linkages, and Strategic Planning and Evaluation

CDC Web Page: Trends in Nonfatal Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, 2012–2018

Dr. Lisa Richardson, Division Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at the CDC, breaks down a recent ASTHO report on cancer messaging; Andy Baker-White, ASTHO Senior Director for State Health Policy, tells us about two ASTHO webinars focused on public health agency rulemaking; and Dr. Umair Shah, Secretary of Health for the Washington State Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, was recently featured on an episode of the podcast “Reimagining Government for the Digital Age”.

ASTHO Report: Improving Public Health Messaging: Exploring the Reach and Effectiveness of Cancer Prevention Communications

ASTHO Webinar: Navigating the Rulemaking Process

Podcast Episode: Reimagining Public Healthcare with globally renowned innovator, Dr. Umair A. Shah, M.D., MPH

Karl Ensign, ASTHO Vice President of Island Support, talks about the work to address COVID-19 health disparities in the U.S. territories and freely associated states; Christina Severin, ASTHO Director of Public Health Law, summarizes several recent Supreme Court decisions that could affect public health; and you can still ask your questions about the new Data Modernization Implementation Center Program at an upcoming office hours opportunity.

American Journal of Public Health Article: Reducing COVID-19 Health Disparities in the Territories and Freely Associated States

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Article: Defining and Advancing Health Equity in the US Territories and Freely Associated States

ASTHO Blog Article: Public Health Full-Court(s) Press

PHIG Web Page: Data Modernization Implementation Center Program

Captain Heather Dimeris, Director for the Office of the Advancement of Telehealth at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, discusses investments in telehealth as we celebrate Telehealth Awareness Week; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO Senior Director for Government Affairs, updates us on the latest federal spending developments; and ASTHO has a new guide to help you procure data visualization software.

HHS Telehealth Web Page

ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed

ASTHO Web Page: Procuring Contractor Support to Build a Data Dashboard

Tanya Carter, Suicide Prevention Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Health, discusses the state’s preventable death data which showed some improvements; Chikamso Chukwu, ASTHO Analyst with the Population Health Team, tells us about a Primary Care Office survey; an ASTHO brief has five recommendations to enhance governmental public health workforce recruitment and hiring; and the CDC has a toolkit that promotes emotional well-being during October and beyond.

Minnesota Department of Health News Release: Preventable deaths by suicide declined in 2023

ASTHO Web Page: 2024 Primary Care Office Annual Technical Assistance Survey

ASTHO Brief: Five Recommendations for Enhancing Governmental Public Health Workforce Recruitment and Hiring

CDC Emotional Wellness Month Partner Toolkit

Zach Lowenstein, Program Manager with the EPA’s Office of Waste Water Management, discusses the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap initiative; Jon Lujan, Program Manager for the Guam Public Health and Welfare Secretariat Program, details the expansion of a public health warehouse on the island; and Meghan Fadel, Associate Director with the Healthy Brain Initiative at the Alzheimer’s Association, tells us about an effort to help states integrate data on brain health and caregiving into public health planning efforts.

EPA Web Page: SepticSmart Week

EPA Web Page: Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap

SepticSmart Week Proclamation

ASTHO Web Page: Modernizing Infrastructure and Facilities for Readiness and Response

Public Health Review Podcast Episode: Enhancing Brain Health with Data-Driven Solutions

Elizabeth Hertel, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO Member, discusses the allocation of  $300 million to address substance use disorder; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, spoke to Route Fifty about COVID-19 vaccinations; Maya Goldman, a Reporter for Axios, tells us about a new report that says the U.S. will be short thousands of health care workers by 2028; and an ASTHO webinar will help create a workplace that promotes psychological safety.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services News Release: MDHHS Director Hertel visits Detroit Recovery Project to discuss nearly $300 million in FY 2025 budget to address SUD

Route Fifty News Article: $62M available for state, local health agencies to offer free vaccines

Axios News Article: Health worker shortages forecast thru 2028

ASTHO Webinar: Grounding Leadership and Engagement in Psychological Safety to Promote a Culture of Equity

Catherine Jones, Senior Analyst, Government Affairs, ASTHO, outlines a new ASTHO blog article about the federal response to rising temperatures; Bobbi Krabill, Deputy Director, Office of Performance and Innovation, Ohio Department of Health, discusses ensuring those with disabilities are included in emergency planning; and an ASTHO webinar on Tuesday, September 17th, details campaign messaging to promote pharmacist-prescribed contraception. 

An Impact Evaluation of the Disability and Preparedness Specialist Program

Ohio Includes Stakeholders of All Abilities in Public Health Planning

ASTHO Webinar: Implementation of Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception: Public Outreach & Awareness