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Katie Steffens, deputy program manager for the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, is working to give potential employees the skills they need to thrive; Suja Shunmugavelu, ASTHO senior director of Engagement, discusses this...
Katie Steffens, deputy program manager for the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, is working to give potential employees the skills they need to thrive; Suja Shunmugavelu, ASTHO Senior Director of Engagement, discusses this week’s Executive Leadership Forum; John Auerbach, senior vice president for Public Health at ICF, tells us about a high-level discussion on the social determinants of health that you can now watch; and an ASTHO brief explains how Guam public health officials are working to centralize their grants management and procurement processes.
ASTHO Blog Article: Tobacco Control Programs Use Business Process Mapping to Strengthen Workforce
ASTHO Webpage: Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health
ASTHO Brief: Centralizing Administrative Functions, with Lessons Learned from Guam
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, June 25 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
KATIE STEFFENS:
Not everyone comes into these positions with public health skills, let alone tobacco prevention and control skills.
JOHNSON:
Katie Steffens wants to do what she can to overcome that challenge. She's part of Alaska's Tobacco Prevention and Control program involved in a workforce development pilot learning community hosted by the Tobacco Control Network.
STEFFENS:
We had been seeing some issues with hiring and retention, especially with the pandemic and then noticeable workforce fluctuations in our state, but specifically our program and our funded partners.
JOHNSON:
Steffens says the agency pursued the pilot opportunity to help stabilize the team and create a robust training program for new employees.
STEFFENS:
So really, to get them into that position, give them the skills they needed, and not have to rely to just learn everything about the job by themselves. Really give them those tools to give them a good launching pad.
JOHNSON:
Learn more about the pilot project using the link in the show notes.
ASTHO plays host to Public Health Executives this week in Kentucky Suja Shunmugavelu helped plan the Executive Leadership Forum gathering in Lexington.
SUJA SHUNMUGAVELU:
This meeting is really about connections, learning about real time examples of what's working or not working in the field and problem solving together.
JOHNSON:
Members of six ASTHO peer networks will meet through Thursday. Much of the agenda is focused on different kinds of communication.
SHUNMUGAVELU:
Things like how do I more effectively communicate with Human Resources or my attorneys or my financial leaders like really, really tailored communication within governmental public health.
JOHNSON:
There's also a meeting today with the CDC.
SHUNMUGAVELU:
We really want to help bridge connections between those on the ground and those at the national level, and continue to strengthen those relationships.
ROBERT JOHNSON:
Members of ASTHO's Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program also are part of this week's meeting. Learn more about the DELPH program and ASTHO's peer networks using the links in the show notes.
Also, today, you can watch a recording of a high level discussion about the social determinants of health held earlier this month online. John Auerbach with ICF says this is a critical time for those interested in this topic.
JOHN AUERBACH:
The White House has issued a playbook for the first time endorsing social determinants of health. CMS is requiring hospitals to screen all inpatients for social determinants of health. And communities across the country are looking at the ways that they can strengthen this work.
JOHNSON:
On the other hand, Auerbach says there's also a funding problem.
AUERBACH:
CDC has a line item it hasn't grown. There isn't much specialized staffing in public health departments to do this kind of work. And so that creates some real complications and how to advance it.
JOHNSON:
You can hear Auerbach and a panel of leading public health experts discuss the social determinants on the ICF website. Sign up to watch the event using the link in the show notes.
Finally, this morning, Guam public health officials are working to centralize their grants management and procurement processes. Both are expected to make their work more efficient. You can read a new ASTHO brief about these initiatives using the link in the show notes.
Before we go, a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We are on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
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.
Deputy Program Manager, State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Public Health
