736: Flexibility Helps Indiana Funding Succeed, New Health in All Policies Evaluation Tool

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, August 26, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

LINDSAY WEAVER: 

We definitely heard from our local public officials some concern and worry about overreach from the state. Too much state involvement directing them what to do.

JOHNSON: 

Excitement in Indiana over record investment in public health following the pandemic was mixed with concern among some local leaders that the state would require them to join the resulting Health First Indiana initiative. State health commissioner and ASTHO member, Dr. Lindsay Weaver, says flexibility has been key to helping some get comfortable with the program.

WEAVER: 

So it wasn't mandatory. Wasn't anything that happened to them. It was a conscious choice. And number two, we specifically said in the statute that if they did opt into the funding and the program, that that wouldn't give any control to the state if they were to do so.

JOHNSON: 

Weaver says the approach, coupled with a 1500% increase in public health funding, is starting to yield results.

WEAVER: 

They have seen, you know, an increase in immunizations in some communities, and other communities as we've reduced our health care costs, because we have invested in mobile integrated health, and are working with the hospital to specifically target people who are frequent flyers.

JOHNSON: 

And Weaver expects local communities will become strong advocates for the program as it continues to make an impact.

WEAVER: 

And so my expectation, and what I think is going to happen, is that they're going to be talking to their - well, I know they're talking to the legislators. They're letting them know, hey, this is the best thing that's happened in our community in a long while.

JOHNSON: 

You can check the progress of the Health First Indiana initiative on their website. The link is in the show notes.

Partnerships with teaching hospitals, scholarships, and changes to state student loan programs. Those are some of the tools ASTHO members are using to increase the number of people trained to address behavioral health needs in their communities. This is ASTHO's Takiyah Thomas.

TAKIYAH THOMAS 

By creating these pipeline programs, providing educational opportunities, such as the internships and student loan assistance. These are ways in which health agencies can help address the need for behavioral health professionals. This will increase their rate of retention, recruitment, and education for behavioral health professionals to come.

JOHNSON: 

A new ASTHO blog article offers more detail about behavioral health related workforce initiatives happening across the states and territories. You can read it by clicking the link in the show notes.

Also today, many agencies are thinking about whether to incorporate a health in all policies strategy into their public health practice. ASTHO has created a tool to help with the evaluation. You can download it now using the link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, stay connected with everything happening on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures across the country. When you sign up for ASTHO's legislative alert emails. You can join the list 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're 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.