499: Equity Strategies Cohort Forming, Federal Shutdown Looms

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, September 8, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

JESSICA FEPELSTEIN: 

Along with our partners, we've been able to give STRETCH states the tools and the space to learn from us and each other on how to sustain equity work and keep it moving forward.

JOHNSON: 

The STRETCH initiative brings states and community partners together to create or expand equitable public health approaches. ASTHO's Jessica Fepelstein says ten states so far have taken part in the Strategies to Repair Equity and Transform Community Health initiative. A second group of agencies will look to build on their work.

FEPELSTEIN: 

Together, the state agency and this community partner or partners will form a STRETCH collaborative, and that is our first level of engagement. So, these collaboratives will engage together in intensive capacity building, focused on relationship building, and addressing the root causes of inequities. To assist with these efforts, the community will receive a small amount of funding from the STRETCH project, and we anticipate STRETCH 2.0 having between five to seven STRETCH collaboratives.

JOHNSON: 

Learn how your agency can be part of the new STRETCH initiative cohort by using the link in the show notes. You might want to check out that link as soon as possible, because the last day to apply for the program is October 6.

It's back to work next week on Capitol Hill. Carolyn Mullen is here to tell us what that means to ASTHO members, In her latest 'View from Washington, D.C.' report.

Carolyn Mullen, always good to see you. Thank you for coming on the newscast to give us the latest update from Capitol Hill. We hear Congress is back next week. What is on their agenda?

CAROLYN MULLEN: 

They are back next week. They've been gone for the entire month of August, back in their home districts and traveling around the world. But they have a lot on their to=do lists. The most important item is funding the Federal government. If they do not fund the Federal government, there could be a shutdown. They also have a number of other priorities including PAHPA reauthorization, the reauthorization for the All Hazards and Pandemic Preparedness Act expires at the end of the month. So, that is on their to-do lists, along with a number of other authorization bills.

JOHNSON: 

So, it's always busy in the fall when Congress comes back from a long break and many times in September and October, we worry about shutdowns, is that your biggest concern going into the fall?

MULLEN: 

It is a huge concern of mine. I believe there's a 90% probability that we will shut down. And the reason for this is the rhetoric coming out of the House, in particular, the Republican Study Committee, the Freedom Caucus, etc., seem to be indicating that they're unwilling to approve a short-term continuing resolution. So, what that means for Speaker McCarthy is he's going to have to cobble together a coalition of members to approve probably a short-term CR to fund the federal government beyond September 30. And also work with the Senate Democrats and Republicans, because anything on that side of the aisle requires 60 votes. So, it's going to be a very interesting time to see if Speaker McCarthy is going to be able to negotiate across both sides of the aisle, but it's unclear at this moment in time, if he'll be able to do that.

JOHNSON: 

What's the impact of all of this uncertainty around the budget?

MULLEN: 

It creates a lot of stress and confusion in the field. And it's really just the worst possible outcome for what Congress is supposed to do every year, which is to fund the federal government. It means that federal workers will be furloughed, they won't be paid. There's also workers who will be deemed essential. So, they'll essentially have to work without receiving a paycheck. It means our national parks could shut down. But for public health, specifically, the impact on this state public health departments, it really depends on the timing. So, if it's a short-term shutdown, the impact won't really be felt. But if it lingers on for a couple of weeks or a month, we will start to see that impact, particularly with our members, maybe not being able to access important data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But all that guidance on what happens and the impact of a shutdown will be released by HHS, probably about a couple of days or so if a government shutdown seems very likely. And that's really the main mechanism by which everyone gets information about, 'what happens in a shutdown, what will the impact be?' And we will share that information with our members if it appears likely that a shutdown is going to happen.

JOHNSON: 

And we know you're tracking this. As always, this isn't the first time we've talked about shutdowns. We'll look forward to those updates as we move into the fall.

MULLEN: 

Thank you so much.

JOHNSON: 

Also today, one of ASTHO's many rising stars is on this year's de Beaumont Foundation 40 under 40 in Public Health list. Alicia Justice is ASTHO's senior director of programmatic health equity initiatives. She says the honor reminds her of her teenage days. Justice would like the award to inspire others who hear her news.

ALICIA JUSTICE: 

You know, you're growing up, you're achieving where you know you're supposed to be, but still not fully having all of the awareness to kind of affirm yourself and having a lot of doubts, you know about who you are. And so with this award, and this recognition does right now, is it reminds me the power of affirming myself and really having this award to kind of reinforce that, and just being in community with other people. I hope that through my participation in this program, while I know it's centered on helping to grow the professional development of those of us who are being recognized, I'm really hoping to create a domino effect. So ,the things that I'm learning and that I have access to, that I'm able to create space for other folks to have access to some of those same things that I'm getting the opportunity and privilege to be a part of, through the 40 Under 40 network.

JOHNSON: 

There's a link to the de Beaumont 40 Under 40 in Public Health webpage in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, ASTHO welcomes new members to the organization. Dr. Kaitlan Baston is the new ccting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health. And Dr. Puthiery Va is now director of the main Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more about their appointments using the links in the show notes.

And if you have a minute, please take the time to follow us and give us a review. We'd like to know what you think about the newscast.

That'll do it for today. We're back Monday morning with our 500th episode. And as always, it'll include the latest ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.