Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of health for the State of Vermont and an ASTHO Member, looks back on his time as commissioner as he gets ready to depart his post; Melissa Touma, ASTHO director of the Public Health Infrastructure Program, tells us how a...
Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of health for the State of Vermont and an ASTHO Member, looks back on his time as commissioner as he gets ready to depart his post; Melissa Touma, ASTHO director of the Public Health Infrastructure Program, tells us how a toolkit aims to help with the funding of local subrecipients; an ASTHO report explores how New York, Connecticut, and Illinois are working to improve nutrition for infants and young children; and CDC has issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory about the measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.
ASTHO Web Page: Funding Local Subrecipients Toolkit
ASTHO Report: Early Childhood Nutrition Security
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, March 11, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
MARK LEVINE:
None of them would be possible without the professional, dedicated, resilient, and passionate people at the Department of Health. It really does take a village, and I'm proud to have been part of a great team.
JOHNSON:
That's Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of health for the State of Vermont. He's talking about his great team and reflecting on his accomplishments leading the department since 2017. Levine will be leaving his post later this month. Aside from shepherding the state through COVID, Levine has a list of highlights.
LEVINE:
We've been leaders in addressing mental health and particularly substance use disorder, contributing to decreases in opioid overdose now for the first time, and we think that's through embracing innovation and funding harm reduction approaches.
JOHNSON:
He says his tenure focused on all people.
LEVINE:
We strive to make some very positive health impacts across the lives of the Vermonters we serve, from the traditional role of public health, and family and child well-being, to what I have introduced, which is a complimentary focus on healthy aging.
JOHNSON:
Levine has some advice for the next leader.
LEVINE:
So, I'd like my successor to hear from me that the only way public health can accomplish its goals, to impact health-related social needs, to advance health equity, and foster the population's health as a whole, is to really work with your fellow commissioners across your agency of human services, and especially to work across all government sectors in a Health in All Policies approach.
JOHNSON:
We want to thank Levine for being a friend of this newscast and making time to speak with us about important public health issues. We wish him the very best in the next chapter.
A new ASTHO toolkit was developed in response to a need ASTHO was hearing from members. ASTHO's Melissa Tuma, who worked on the kit, explains.
MELISSA TOUMA:
The Funding Local Subrecipients Toolkit really came about because we were hearing a lot from states who are looking to fund local health departments and also CBOs in a more impactful way. They wanted to maximize the impact of their funds in those communities.
JOHNSON:
The toolkit provides a lot of guidance.
TOUMA:
So, the toolkit really provides a comprehensive approach for public health agencies to effectively allocate funding to local organizations. Key strategies in the toolkit include engaging communities early to understand their unique challenges and solutions, even before announcing funding opportunities.
JOHNSON:
Simplification of the application process, which is a main priority of the toolkit, helps both the applicant and the funding agency.
TOUMA:
For applicants, it reduces the time spent navigating complex documents and makes it easier for community-based organizations to submit high quality applications. And of course, for funding agencies, a simplified process means clearer, more focused proposals from local organizations, and this also reduces the administrative workload during the application review.
JOHNSON:
You can find out more about the ASTHO toolkit by clicking the link in the show notes.
March is National Nutrition Month, and three states are working to improve health for young children. O'Keyla Cooper explains.
O’KEYLA COOPER:
A new ASTHO report explores how New York, Connecticut, and Illinois are working to improve nutrition for infants and young children through key informant interviews. The report highlights strategies, challenges, and resources needed to advance nutrition security for children ages zero to three. Download the full report by using the link in the show notes.
JOHNSON:
Also today, CDC has issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory about the measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico in preparation for the upcoming travel season. Read the full advisory when you click the link in the show notes.
One last thing before we go, make sure you stay tuned to this newscast later this week, because we'll have reactions straight from ASTHO's 2025 [Spring] Executive Leadership Forum happening this week in DC. Hear all the latest developments as soon as they happen, right here, and make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
