Aileen Benavente-Pangelinan, environmental health program manager at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, describes how the new food code adopted by the Northern Mariana Islands will improve public health safety; Jessica Hulsey, founder and CEO of the Addiction Policy Forum, explains...
Aileen Benavente-Pangelinan, environmental health program manager at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, describes how the new food code adopted by the Northern Mariana Islands will improve public health safety; Jessica Hulsey, founder and CEO of the Addiction Policy Forum, explains how new CDC provisional overdose data indicates that public health measures are working, and how to sustain success; ASTHO is kicking off its Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series next Wednesday, July 23; and ASTHO’s PHIG National Partners Connections newsletter keeps members up to date on all Public Health Infrastructure Grant news.
CNMI Law: Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Food Code
CDC: Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts
ASTHO Webinar: Public Health Nursing Workforce Learning Lab
ASTHO Subscribe: PHIG Connections Newsletter
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, July 18, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
AILEEN BENAVENTE-PANGELINAN:
Adopting the food code really provided this like clear, science-based framework for us to improve our food safety program, address foodborne illnesses, and really align us with national standards.
SILVERS:
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands recently adopted a new food code to improve safety measures in food production across the country. Aileen Benavente[-Pangelinan] with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation explains the impact the new food code will have on the islands.
BENAVENTE-PANGELINAN:
It introduced that risk-based inspection model, and it helps us prioritize our resources because, you know, funding is always a challenge for us, and staffing as well. And we also recognize that for us to make real progress on the FDA Retail Program standards, we needed that strong working [...] foundation
SILVERS:
Food code adoption has helped everyone get on the same page, bringing consistency to enforcement and industry compliance.
BENAVENTE-PANGELINAN:
Each food facility is required to have a Certified Food Protection Manager on-site, which we didn't have in our previous code. That really raises accountability. The code also strengthens training requirements to ensure that food handlers know how to prevent and report illness.
SILVERS:
Other territories looking to make updates to their own food codes can begin by looking at what is already being done.
AILEEN BENAVENTE-PANGELINAN:
Start by reviewing your current food safety rules so you know what's missing or what needs updating. Don't try to implement everything at once. Take it step by step, which is what we're planning to do.
SILVERS:
For more information about the updated Food Code, check out the link in the show notes.
The CDC's Provisional 2024 Overdose Death data [Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts] showed a reduction in overdose fatalities thanks to coordinated public health efforts across the country. Jessica Hulsey, with the Addiction Policy Forum, discusses what states have done to make an impact.
JESSICA HULSEY:
We're starting to see results from an array of interventions and changes from better resources having more dollars in our county systems and our states to address the issue, to better overdose education and naloxone distribution.
SILVERS:
In addition to more bountiful resources, data also played a key role.
HULSEY:
Having data more quickly available to policymakers and decision-makers meant that we could have public health alerts that were sent out that we could do things like drug checking and enhance naloxone distribution in hot spots, in areas where that was necessary. So, access to data, timely access to data, changes lives.
SILVERS:
Hulsey says a strong foundation can make a difference even when resources are scarce.
HULSEY:
When you build evergreen resources and you build education resources or programs that are evergreen and that you can expand quickly to other communities, I think it means that even when financial times are tight, or you have budget cuts or changes in sort of programmatic funding, then you have, sort of, core resources and materials that you need at-the-ready.
SILVERS:
You can read the CDC's Provisional 2024 Overdose Death data [Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts] online now. We have a link in the show notes.
Coming up next Wednesday, July 23, ASTHO is kicking off its Public Health Nursing Learning Lab Series. Join facilitator Shirley Orr of the Association of Public Health Nurses in the first session on the evolving role of nurses in public health. Head to the link in the show notes to register for the series.
Finally, want to stay up to date on public health infrastructure, grant deadlines, project updates, events, resources, opportunities, and successes? Subscribe to the PHIG National Partners Connections newsletter so that you never miss a beat. There's a link in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back on Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.
Aileen Benavente-Pangelinan
Environmental Health Program Manager, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation
