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Susan Bsharah, associate director at Guidehouse, discusses an upcoming TEFCA webinar set for April 4; Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO member, tells us about the “Good Housing = Good...
Susan Bsharah, associate director at Guidehouse, discusses an upcoming TEFCA webinar set for April 4; Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO member, tells us about the “Good Housing = Good Health” initiative; Dr. Pattie Tucker, Director of the Office of Women's Health at the CDC, talks about the Power of Partnerships Health Equity Alliance; and an ASTHO blog article lists 7 public health podcast to listen to in 2024.
ASTHO Webinar: TEFCA Overview and Perspectives from the Field
ASTHO Blog Article: Seven Public Health Podcasts to Listen to in 2024
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, March 27, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials,
SUSAN BSHARAH:
TEFCA is poised to help public health agencies overcome challenges they may be experiencing with the current state of data exchange.
JOHNSON:
TEFCA is the trusted exchange framework and common agreement, a secure approach to share health information across otherwise disconnected networks and systems. A three member panel including ASTHO president, Dr. Steven Stack will explain TEFCA at a webinars set for Thursday, April 4. This is moderator Susan Bsharah with consulting firm, Guidehouse.
BSHARAH:
The April 4 session aims to enhance awareness of how TEFCA will function as a whole, and the role that public health agencies will play in the data exchange network, leaving participants in a more informed place to help them make decisions about how to participate moving forward.
JOHNSON:
Bsharah says webinar panelists will talk about everything agencies need to consider when deciding whether to take part in the TEFCA network.
BSHARAH:
Agencies need to think about compatibility of requirements, legal requirements, examining their current data exchange environment, funding and cost interoperability standards partnerships with [...]. That's quite a lot to navigate without the benefit of education, and a forum to collaborate with their peers.
JOHNSON:
You can sign up to attend the webinar by clicking the link in the show notes.
A housing initiative in Michigan is working with families to help improve their living conditions in the name of better public health. State health director and ASTHO member Elizabeth Hertel says there's a direct connection between housing and health outcomes.
ELIZABETH HERTEL:
We see a number of people in health departments or in clinicians' offices, sometimes in emergency rooms, where negative health outcomes are prompting acute emergency situations or adding to chronic health problems like asthma because they don't have healthy housing.
JOHNSON
The Good Housing = Good Health Initiative is about six months old, but Hertel says it's already helped hundreds of families in the state.
HERTEL:
Fundamentally, we are working to increase access to safe and healthy housing. We're working to provide education and resources to individuals and families so that they don't lose their housing. And we're working to strengthen the health and well being of households facing those highest barriers and making sure that they're maintaining safe and affordable housing.
JOHNSON:
The money for the initiative runs out in the fall, Hertel says the state wants lawmakers to continue to fund housing-related programs in the new fiscal year.
HERTEL:
So we continue to focus on and ask our legislature to partner with us to ensure that we can provide these services moving forward and that it's not a year-to-year project that we're trying to scrape by.
JOHNSON:
Hear more about the Michigan initiative in a new episode of the Public Health Review podcast coming soon everywhere you stream audio. Also today, as part of Women's History Month, we're thinking about the Power of Partnerships Health Equity Alliance. Pattie Tucker is director of the CDC's Office of Women's Health. She says the alliance has a key role in advancing health equity among women and girls.
PATTIE TUCKER:
It brings together a diverse range of people and organizations to broaden perspectives and understanding of issues affecting women and girls health.
JOHNSON:
ASTHO, the CDC, and the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health work together to create the alliance. Tucker says it grows stronger with every new member.
TUCKER:
The more state, local, and territorial offices that join the alliance, the more communities and population groups who are reached and have an opportunity to attain their highest level of health possible.
JOHNSON:
Finally this morning, we appreciate having you along with us every day but if you're looking for more public health audio content, ASTHO has a list, O'Keyla Cooper explains:
O'KEYLA COOPER:
ASTHO's top public health podcasts for 2024 blend humor, creativity, and cover diverse topics such as environmental health, policy, and mental and emotional wellness. Check out the full list to discover new favorites and enhance your podcast lineup with a range of informative and inspiring content. Access the full list by clicking the link in the show notes.
JOHNSON:
Before we go, a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with 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.
