226: CDC’s Multi-Billion Dollar Investment

ROBERT JOHNSON:

This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, July 25th, 2022. I'm Robert Johnson.

Now today's news from the association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

NICK DAVIDSON:

This has the potential of, in my opinion, being more impactful to our frontline and delivery systems for public health to our clients than really anything we've seen in a long time.

JOHNSON:

That's the voice of Nick Davidson, the senior deputy for public health in South Carolina. He's talking about the CDC's plan to invest almost $4 billion in public health capacity data and workforce upgrades. Davidson says the South Carolina team put together a committee and subcommittee process to make certain the state's application was complete.

DAVIDSON:

Well, I think the inclusivity of our staff and of our programs and this grant has really been groundbreaking for us because it is so large. It is so impactful that it's absolutely necessary to be able to share far and wide within our department. And so, inclusivity is one thing that I think we will benefit from and continue to do, maybe do more of in the future.

JOHNSON:

Davidson says the application process has led to innovations. His department will use on future grant applications.

DAVIDSON:

We have put some systems in place as far as our review process for proposals that I think is likely to benefit us. That's, you know, everything from databases to capture those proposals and methodologies of reviewing those proposals that we've sort of been forced to do and do quickly here because of the scope and size of this. That will likely even benefit us on smaller grants because those systems are now in existence and we can use them in the future.

JOHNSON:

He adds the investment is a game changer for public health.

DAVIDSON:

It really is amazing the amount of money that is being provided to public health around the nation. And so, this is going to involve significant capacity building within our health departments within public health, within the state. And I think truly it's going to be transformational for public health across the nation.

JOHNSON:

Tomorrow, Indiana deputy health commissioner Pam Pontones tells us how her state wants to invest money from the grant.

The deadline to apply is August 15th. You can read the CDC announcement using the link in the show notes.

The Louisiana legislature created a commission that, in turn, authorized a collaborative to bring together the people and organizations needed to support pregnant and postpartum people struggling with opioid use. State health officer Joseph Kanter says the organizational structure has been critical to early success of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

JOSEPH KANTER:

So, that allows the collaborative to speak with a more independent voice than it would if it was solely run directly under the health department. And in that independent voice, it's easier to bring in stakeholders. It's easier to bring in law enforcement. It's easier to bring in people who have perspectives that are not always the same as the health department's perspective.

JOHNSON:

Dr. Kanter and the collaborative's manager Dr. Amy Ladley discuss the collaborative on a new episode of the Public Health Review podcast, coming soon everywhere you stream audio.

Finally today, public health equity teams are getting ready to attend the Health Equity Summit 2022 this Wednesday, July 27th.

ASTHO's Dr. Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge says attendees will benefit from the chance to gather around the topic.

KIMBERLEE WYCHE-ETHERIDGE:

So, when you start feeling like you're out there alone, then hopefully you will make some of these connections to be able to really help out in the future. And we want people to leave with their tools and their enthusiasm and their dedication to keep this fight going.

JOHNSON:

You have two days left to sign up. If you want to attend the online event, look for the link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.