Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for government affairs, previews ASTHO president Dr. Scott Harris’ testimony before Congress today; Anna Bradley, ASTHO senior analyst with the public health infrastructure and performance improvement team,...
Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for government affairs, previews ASTHO president Dr. Scott Harris’ testimony before Congress today; Anna Bradley, ASTHO senior analyst with the public health infrastructure and performance improvement team, details a new ASTHO toolkit that assists you with virtual engagement; and the Alaska Department of Health has launched a new website to better serve all Alaskans.
Appropriations Web Page: Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education - Public Witness Day
ASTHO Web Page: Engaging Partners in a Virtual Space
State of Alaska Web Page: Department of Health
ASTHO Web Page: State and Territorial Administrative Readiness (STAR) Center
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, April 9, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
JEFFREY EKOMA:
We're really grateful that our president, Dr. Scott Harris, will be providing testimony before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, a related agency committee later on this afternoon.
JOHNSON:
ASTHO, President Dr. Scott Harris will testify in front of a House subcommittee today. ASTHO's Jeffrey Ekoma gives us a preview of the topics Harris plans to speak about.
EKOMA:
It's really the importance of sustaining investments to state and territorial health departments. He's also going to talk about how important it is to provide governmental public health agencies with flexibility in how they use federal funds and also how federal funds are spent.
JOHNSON:
Ekoma is optimistic about how the hearing will play out.
EKOMA:
We're hoping that there will be a lot more consideration, a lot more understanding of really, the amazing work that's happening in public health departments across the country, and just how impactful and influential state health departments and territorial health departments are in saving lives in the communities, and also improving lives of the individuals that live in their communities.
JOHNSON:
The hearing starts at 10:30 a.m. ET. You can watch it online using the link in the show notes.
A new ASTHO toolkit aims to help you get better at engaging partners in a virtual space. ASTHO's Anna Bradley tells us more.
ANNA BRADLEY:
So, the toolkit focuses on creating a supportive organizational culture for virtual and hybrid events, creating the conditions for a successful event, and then details about actually holding the meeting.
JOHNSON:
Bradley believes the toolkit can help a team with administrative readiness.
BRADLEY:
Administrative readiness means that the public health workforce is trained and has the right tools to complete their work, as well as the ability and skill to perform foundational public health services. So, that readiness is a combination of leadership, workforce, funding, data, emergency response, communication, and more.
JOHNSON:
Bradley says improving your virtual engagement will pay dividends.
BRADLEY:
And health agencies that can successfully supplement in-person meetings with intentional use of virtual platforms will enhance their administrative readiness by improving adaptability in dynamic environments, building and maintaining strategic cross-sector partnerships, increasing access to participatory processes. All of those facets can help with administrative readiness.
JOHNSON:
That ASTHO toolkit is online now. You can use the link in the show notes to learn more.
Also, the Alaska Department of Health has launched a new website to better serve all Alaskans. The new site has enhanced mobile optimization, simplified navigation and improved search functions, so finding health services and information is easier than ever. Check it out by clicking the link in the show notes.
Finally, this morning, ASTHO's State and Territorial Administrative Readiness, or STAR, Center offers resources and tools to help state and territorial health agencies modernize and strengthen administrative and organizational capacities. Use the link in the show notes to access it today.
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.
