Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, Philadelphia Health Commissioner, discusses a measles outbreak that was detected in the city in early December; Grace DeLeon, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Overdose Preparedness and Response, tells us about an ASTHO report to help agencies better understand how to reduce stigma for people who receive opioids for chronic pain; an upcoming ASTHO webinar focuses on insights from a CDC-funded project identifying Medicaid-enrolled tobacco users and exploring their healthcare patterns; and an ASTHO blog explains how ASTHO members have come up with new ways to help people who are losing Medicaid coverage they received during the pandemic.

CDC Webpage: Measles Cases and Outbreaks

ASTHO Report: How Healthcare Providers Can Reduce Stigma to Improve Care for Patients Taking Long-Term Opioid Therapy

ASTHO Webpage: Opioid Preparedness – Disruptions in Access to Prescription Opioids 

ASTHO Report: How State Health Departments Can Reduce Stigma to Improve Care for Patients Taking Long-Term Opioid Therapy

ASTHO Webinar: Lessons with the State of Washington on Medicaid Data and Tobacco Use

ASTHO Blog Article: Ensuring Continuity in Healthcare Coverage While Medicaid Unwinds

Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO Member and State Health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, says new numbers in Alabama show infant deaths are dropping but the news isn’t all good; an ASTHO blog article outlines practical strategies for identifying and treating syphilis in pregnant individuals; Amelia Poulin-Obregon, ASTHO Assistant Director of Emerging Infectious Disease, for the last several months has been a student in a program offered at the Naval Postgraduate School; and ASTHO is looking to fill two positions.

WSFA 12 News Article: Alabama’s infant mortality rate decreased in 2022, ADPH says

ASTHO Blog Article: Promising Approaches to the Congenital Syphilis Health Crisis

ASTHO Webpage: Careers at ASTHO

Kayley Humm, ASTHO Senior Analyst, discusses a new ASTHO report that outlines a series of overdose prevention policies for consideration by public health agencies; Sarah Bonk, Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Response Coordinator for Erie County, tells us communication was a critical part of the response to storms that were among the worst on record; and there’s still time to join ASTHO's Contraception Access Learning Community for a virtual event on pharmacist-prescribed contraception.

ASTHO Report: Overdose Prevention Policy Considerations: A Policy Playbook for State and Territorial Health Officials and Agencies

ASTHO Webinar: Implementation of Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception: Clinical Training & Workforce Engagement

ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Julia Greenspan, ASTHO Director for Infectious Disease Infrastructure and Policy, says the FDA deciding to import a medication that treats syphilis is a step in the right direction; Caitlin Langhorne Griffith, ASTHO Director of Behavioral Health, tells us many states have passed laws to encourage firearm education and safety; an ASTHO webinar could help you learn new ways to leverage policy and funding to prevent adverse childhood experiences; and ASTHO’s Adverse Childhood Experiences Capacity Assessment Tool can help agencies identify opportunities to work on this important public health issue.

CNN News Article: FDA to allow importation of syphilis drug amid ongoing shortages

ASTHO Blog Article: Preventing Firearm Injury and Death with Safe and Secure Storage Policies

ASTHO Webinar: Leveraging Policy and Funding to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences

ASTHO Webpage: Adverse Childhood Experiences Capacity Assessment Tool Roadmap

Catherine Jones, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Government Affairs, says there are discussions underway to ensure the AI is managed properly; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO Senior Director for Government Affairs, tells us Congress remains busy as January nears an end; and Dr. Lindsay Weaver, State Health Commissioner for the Indiana Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, explains how Indiana leaders were able to win a 1500 percent increase in public health funding from their legislature last year.

ASTHO Blog Article: Balancing AI Innovation in Healthcare with Federal Legislation

ASTHO Report: Investing in Indiana’s Public Health Infrastructure Through Community-Driven Policy Change

ASTHO Webinar: Investing in Public Health Infrastructure – Indiana's Success Story

ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Josh Berry, ASTHO Director of Chronic Disease Risk Factors, says ASTHO is calling on the White House to implement a rule that would prohibit the sale of menthol-flavored tobacco products; Chrissie Juliano, Executive Director of the Big Cities Health Coalition, spoke about the need to ban menthol in a recent online news conference; and an ASTHO video dives into the importance of partnering pediatrics with obstetrics and gynecology to improve access to care for parents and children.

ASTHO White House Letter on Menthol

CNN News Article: With menthol cigarette ban still uncertain, American Lung Association calls for White House to act ‘swiftly’ to save lives

Big Cities Health Coalition News Release: BCHC urges Biden Administration to prioritize federal rule restricting use of menthol flavors

ASTHO Blog Article: Improving Access to Risk-Appropriate Care Through a Partnership Between Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics

ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, Chief Science Officer for the Washington State Health Department, says providing doses of naloxone to many schools in the state will save lives; Molly Cotant, Deputy Director for the Division of Local Health Services at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, says Michigan uses preventive health and health services block grants to support health-equity; and ASTHO has several job openings.

Washington State Department of Health Webpage: Department of Health offers naloxone to high schools to combat youth opioid overdoses

ASTHO Blog Article: Flexibility of PHHS Block Grant Supports Health Equity in Communities

ASTHO Webpage: Careers At ASTHO

ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Andy Baker-White, ASTHO Senior Director for State Health Policy, previews the state of the legislative calendar this year; Omar Khalid, ASTHO Director of Workforce Development, says leaders can support their teams by adopting a trauma-responsive approach; and prescription opioid use during pregnancy is the subject of a new ASTHO infographic.

ASTHO Webinar: Investing in Public Health Infrastructure – Indiana's Success Story

ASTHO Webpage: 2024 Legislative Prospectus Series

ASTHO Blog Article: Supporting the Public Health Workforce with Trauma-Responsive Leadership Skills

ASTHO Brief: Prescription Opioid Use During Pregnancy in 34 Jurisdictions

ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer of the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, tells us about a recent meeting with officials from the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Relations, outlines what Congress moving a funding deadline means for ASTHO members; Marty Link, Administrator of the Office of EMS and Trauma with the South Dakota Department of Health, says the Telemedicine in Motion program allows paramedics and EMTs to get help from doctors as the ambulance is en route; and ASTHO will host a discussion leveraging policy and funding to prevent ACES on January 29.

State of North Carolina News Release: Governor Cooper Signs Executive Order Establishing State Office of Violence Prevention

South Dakota Department of Health Webpage: EMS Telemedicine

ASTHO Webinar: Leveraging Policy and Funding to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences

ASTHO Report: Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Policy Toolkit

ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

Congressman Raul Ruiz, from California’s 25th District who is also a doctor, worries there aren’t enough doctors trained to deal with infectious diseases; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Relations, tells us Congress is once again punting on federal funding; and ASTHO's Contraception Access Learning Community is hosting a virtual webinar on pharmacist-prescribed contraception implementation on January 30.

Stat Opinion Article: Physician and Rep. Raul Ruiz – The infectious disease doctor shortage threatens future pandemic preparedness

ASTHO Webpage: Stay Informed

ASTHO Webinar: Implementation of Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception – Clinical Training & Workforce Engagement