The NACCHO Podcast Series

On this month's podcast, Victoria Van de Vate, NACCHO's Director of Government Affairs, and Lauren Soule, Government Affairs Senior Specialist, discuss the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, which prevents a government shutdown and funds federal agencies at Fiscal Year 2026 levels through December 11, 2026. They also provide an update on health nominations and an upcoming NACCHO webinar on the next phase of CDC's Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG). The webinar will review the current structure of the grant, which runs from December 1, 2022 through November 30, 2027. While PHIG funding will continue beyond the grant period, it may look different because of how it is funded by Congress.

Later in the program, in recognition of National Preparedness Month in September, Senior Communications Specialist Beth Hess speaks with Jeana Vidacak, Community Services Manager at the Jefferson County Health Department in Missouri. Vidacak discusses the department's preparedness activities, including recent responses to cyclosporiasis, measles, tuberculosis, and events this summer. Vidacak also shares the department's experience with NACCHO's Project Public Health Ready (PPHR). PPHR is a nationally recognized, criteria-based training and recognition program developed by NACCHO in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is designed to help local health departments develop core public health and emergency preparedness competencies. Jefferson County Health Department has achieved PPHR recognition twice and has used the experience to train new preparedness staff members and bolster its capabilities.

On this month's podcast, Victoria Van de Vate, NACCHO's Director of Government Affairs, and Lauren Soule, Government Affairs Senior Specialist, cover news about the new Director of the CDC as well as the recent executive order on childhood vaccinations. In addition, they provide an update on federal funding and discuss tips for meeting with federal elected officials during August recess. Resources mentioned are available through NACCHO's Public Health is Local toolkit, and recordings of past Public Health is Local webinars can be found on NACCHO University. Let us know how your meetings went so we can track your great work and follow up with offices if necessary. The Public Health is Local one-pager is also available for you to bring to your meetings. Also on this podcast, Shannon Fox, Community Health Planner, Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department and Siani Antoine-Isijola, NACCHO Senior Program Analyst - Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health discuss NACCHO's Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program.

Washington, DC, June 11, 2026 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes a brief overview of key public health funding included in the House of Representatives' the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill, which was voted out of the subcommittee, has since passed the full committee on a party line vote, setting it up for a vote on the House floor. The Senate version has yet to be released. Speakers also shared resources related to the ongoing Andes virus and Ebola outbreaks, in addition to a New World screwworm detection.

On June 24, NACCHO will host a webinar, "Engaging Your Members of Congress", where participants will learn how they can educate policymakers on the critical role local health departments play in communities and how recent changes at the federal level have impacted public health across the country.

Later in the program (7:56), Tim Wiedrich, Director of the Health Response and Licensure Section at North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and guest speaker at the 2026 Preparedness Summit, joined the podcast to discuss the state's model for building and deploying a medical cache, which is available to public health agencies and health care entities across the state during and outside of emergencies. Wiedrich explained that this statewide model ensures that, when a need arises, operations such as logistics, transportation, and supply distribution are already aligned across sectors, aiding in a timely and effective response. He also explained that having uniform protocols across jurisdictions, having access to trained staff, and involving stakeholders in the planning process, including local health department and emergency management, are all necessary steps in building a strong system for stockpile management and distribution.

Read more about North Dakota's approach to strengthening response efforts across the state in a special feature by Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

###

About NACCHO

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.

Washington, DC, May 21, 2026 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes an update on a series of Congressional hearings where Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testified on the administration's Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) President's Budget Request. The President's budget request outlines the administration's funding priorities and proposed policy changes for the coming fiscal year. While the President's budget is not binding on Congress, it provides an important signal of proposed investments, program eliminations, and structural shifts that could significantly affect public health infrastructure. A full analysis of the administration's FY27 budget request can be reviewed on NACCHO Voice. NACCHO submitted testimony in support of federal public health to the House and Senate, to help inform their work in developing a final FY27 funding law. Updates are also provided on the FY27 Agriculture-FDA spending bill's status, which advanced through the House Appropriations Committee, and would impact key nutrition, tobacco, and regulatory programs.

Later in the program (7:50), Tommy George, Public Health Epidemiology Supervisor at Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) in Nebraska and guest speaker at the 2026 Preparedness Summit, joins the podcast to discuss the department's wastewater monitoring program. Lancaster County has two wastewater treatment facilities, and both sites recover up to 25 million gallons of water per day. Through LLCHD's WastewaterSCAN system, the team can track several potential public health threats including measles, mpox, and a wide range of respiratory viruses. George shared that the department stays actively engaged with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services by making sure collected data is regularly shared and discussed. As a member of NACCHO's Wastewater Monitoring Mentorship Program, George highlighted innovations and challenges in wastewater monitoring shared by mentees and provided recommendations for starting a new program.

###

About NACCHO

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.

Washington, DC, April 30, 2026 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes an update on the Fiscal Year 2027 President's Budget Request to Congress, and what that proposal would mean for public health funding. While the President's Budget Request is a set of non-binding recommendations that Congress may consider, the releasee of the Request initiates the congressional budget process. Visit NACCHO Voice to read a full analysis. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO's News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.

Later in the program (12:38), Sara Barra, Director of the Office of Preparedness and Response at the Maryland Department of Health (MDOH) and guest speaker at the 2026 Preparedness Summit, joins the podcast to discuss how the agency prioritizes preparedness efforts across Maryland, emphasizing why sustaining strong multi-sector partnerships is critical to help communities prepare for, withstand, and recover from public health emergencies. MDOH currently has 35 team members in the preparedness office, and each of the state's 24 local health departments operate with preparedness programs. Barra explains that Maryland's preparedness and response systems relies on strategic coordination and regular meetings with several local partners including public health agencies, emergency medical services, hospitals, community providers, specialty care, and law enforcement. She also describes advances and barriers with data sharing, key lessons learned in preparedness planning, and the importance of the Governor's Declaration of Preparedness.

###

About NACCHO

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.

Washington, DC, March 20, 2026 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes an update on NACCHO's Local Public Health on the Hill event, where more than 100 public health professionals from across the country traveled to Washington, DC to meet with their federal elected officials. Participants shared the importance of federal investments in local public health to help communities prepare for emergencies, prevent disease, and improve health outcomes. You can see visuals from the day here. Now that FY 2026 funding is law, NACCHO is focused on securing FY 2027 funding, including through a new action alert for members to engage. New advocacy training modules are now available on NACCHO University and include Engaging with Policy Change, Federal Legislative Process, and Federal Budget and Appropriations. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO's News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.

Later in the program (6:05), Kelly Warnock, Nutrition Program Manager at Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) in North Carolina, joins the podcast to discuss how the department works to address food insecurity and the lack of nutritious food options for families with children in Durham County. For nearly a decade, Durham County has identified food access as a public health priority, with more than 1 in 6 families with children experiencing food insecurity. DCoDPH has focused on forming strategic community partnerships to increase education and access to nutrient-dense foods throughout the county. Some of these partnerships include working with early education and childcare centers to improve nutritional programs for underserved families with children under 5, the Durham Public School System to teach nutrition and cooking lessons to more than 30,000 students, and farmers' markets to increase access to healthier food options by implementing a SNAP benefits incentive program called, "Double Bucks."

###

About NACCHO

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.

Washington, DC, February 17, 2026 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes an update on full year Fiscal Year 2026 funding for public health programs that became law earlier this month, including discussion of funding levels and other provisions that could help provide stability to the public health field. NACCHO's analysis of the new law, can be found here: NACCHO Voice. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO's News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.

Later in the program (6:28), Nalini Padmanabhan, Communications Director at de Beaumont Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss the Foundation's new resource titled, "Communicating about Public Health with Policymakers." The toolkit is designed to support public health professionals in their conversations with local elected officials and policymakers to help elevate the work of local health departments, emphasize the impact of community engagement, and raise important issues affecting public health outcomes.

Washington, DC, January 16, 2026 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes discussion of significant changes to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, announced on January 5 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NACCHO issued a joint statement opposed to the change, and published an analysis about what this means for local public health practice. The episode also includes updates on the Rural Health Transformation Program and the status of FY26 federal funding negotiations. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO's News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.

Later in the program (6:00), Dr. Michael Kilkenny, NACCHO Immediate Past President and Chief Executive Officer and Health Officer for Cabell-Huntington Health Department, discusses how his department is navigating the many changes occurring in public health and offers advice to public health leaders on how to thrive in 2026. Dr. Kilkenny shared that, despite losing funding for their syringe services program in 2025, Cabell-Huntington Health Department remains committed in providing overdose prevention services.

As the 2026 Preparedness Summit approaches in April, Dr. Kilkenny emphasized that emergency preparedness and response start at the local level. At the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, officials are focusing on recruitment and capacity building within their Medical Reserve Corps and are excited to bring responders and community leaders together to discuss efforts to address key public health concerns.

###

About NACCHO

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.

Washington, DC, December 12, 2025 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes discussion of NACCHO's positions on recent actions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including changes to CDC's vaccine and autism webpage and the impact of CDC's vaccine advisory panel vote to change its hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns. It also includes an update of efforts to fully fund the federal government FY26, as the Senate is expected to consider a package of additional spending bills that would support important public health programs. Ask your congressional representative to support funding for federal health agencies in the Senate Labor-HHS bill. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO's News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.

Later in the program (7:10), experts discuss a new journal article titled, Burnout, Belonging, and Mental Well-Being: Predictors of Turnover Intent Among Local Public Health Professionals, published by NACCHO. The article examines how burnout, belonging, and mental well-being can influence turnover and disrupt program services at local health departments, ultimately having direct implications on community health outcomes. NACCHO researchers also offer recommendations to sustain workforce capacity.

In addition, NACCHO published a separate journal article titled, Local Health Department Governance Classifications: Are They Even Important?