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Dr. Lindsay Weaver, state health commissioner for the Indiana Department of Health, discusses the state’s campaign to increase investment in public health; Dr. Ralph Alvarado, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Public Health, explains how...
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, state health commissioner for the Indiana Department of Health, discusses the state’s campaign to increase investment in public health; Dr. Ralph Alvarado, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Public Health, explains how Tennessee agencies are working together this season to educate audiences about the dangers of excessive alcohol use; and an ASTHO webinar offering strategies to improve access to emergency contraception is open for registration.
ASTHO Webpage: 2024 Legislative Prospectus Series
ASTHO Webinar: Provider Strategies to Improve Access to Emergency Contraception
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, December 11, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
LINDSAY WEAVER:
When we first began to meet with legislators, and we met with them frequently and often did start with education around public health.
JOHNSON:
Indiana State Health Commissioner, Dr. Lindsay Weaver, talking about the state's campaign to increase investment in public health. Indiana lawmakers have agreed to spend $275 million on public and behavioral health programs. Weaver says the work to win approval began with education but included a healthy dose of metrics and a strong local focus.
WEAVER:
We learned during the pandemic that the program's lead at that local level were the most successful and I think that was another key part to the legislation getting passed because the legislators really appreciated that it was going to be live locally.
JOHNSON:
Weaver says the program sets expectations for the way counties will spend the money,
WEAVER:
At least 60% of the funding has to be spent on more health related or public health services like maternal and child health, immunizations, you know, led testing, referral to clinical services, for example, and no more than 40% could be spent on your more traditional and regulatory components of public health.
JOHNSON:
Flexibility is a consideration as well. For example, Weaver says counties will be able to hire where they need the most help.
WEAVER:
So, we heard from our local health departments that they're not, for example, able to recruit public health nurses because of funding that they're not able to compete with other nursing jobs in their community, so they could use this funding in order to help to support that.
JOHNSON:
Ultimately, Weaver says advocates were able to convince audiences that the health of the economy depends on public health.
WEAVER:
So, we were able to show that a state investment in public health is a key factor in economic development and success. So, a community can't have strong education, a strong workforce in every sector with having poor public health outcomes.
JOHNSON:
The Indiana campaign is examined as part of ASTHO's 2024 Legislative Prospectus series. We begin our coverage of the series today and continue with daily installments over the next few weeks. You can read more using the link in the show notes.
Alcohol consumption during the holidays is always a concern for health and safety officials in every jurisdiction. Tennessee agencies are working together this season to educate audiences about the dangers of excessive alcohol use and opportunities to seek treatment. This is Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Ralph Alvarado.
RALPH ALVARADO:
As, we have an opportunity to break down silos within state government. It's just an opportunity to be able to work with other agencies, all work together towards a common theme and that's trying to protect people.
JOHNSON:
Alvarado says the campaign kicked off with a multi-agency news conference in November.
ALVARADO:
Secondly, we released a joint statewide press announcement to reinforce and support the messaging provided during the launch press conference and third, collaborating on a holiday long social media awareness campaign complete with messages and graphics from each agency that tie into the overall Don't Let Alcohol Ruin the Holiday theme.
JOHNSON:
Alvarado says a key part of the message is focused on treatment.
ALVARADO:
Another goal of this campaign is to reduce the stigma associated with seeking treatment for alcohol misuse that may be keeping someone in a life-threatening situation.
JOHNSON:
There's a link to Tennessee's holiday campaign news release in the show notes. Also today, a meeting later this week can help you learn how to improve access to emergency contraception. O'Keyla Cooper has more.
O'KEYLA COOPER:
There's still time to register for the Provider Strategies to Improve Access to Emergency Contraception webinar hosted by the Contraception Access Learning Community on December 13 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. ET, gain insights into the current state of emergency contraception, learn about new options, and discover practical strategies to enhance accessibility. The registration link can be found in the show notes.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
Finally, this morning, stay connected to everything happening in public health when you sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Weekly email newsletter. There's a link in the show notes.
Before we go, we'd like to remind you to follow this newscast on your podcast player and ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. That'll do it for today.
We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
