Sam Jarvis, community health division manager at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa, explains how his DELPH experience helps him prepare others to be leaders in emergencies; applications for ASTHO’s DELPH program are now open; Heather Tomlinson, ASTHO senior analyst for environmental health, updates us
Sam Jarvis, community health division manager at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa, explains how his DELPH experience helps him prepare others to be leaders in emergencies; applications for ASTHO’s DELPH program are now open; Heather Tomlinson, ASTHO senior analyst for environmental health, updates us on federal and state activity focused on PFAS chemicals; and August 14 at 2 p.m. ET is ASTHO’s next Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate webinar.
ASTHO Blog Article: How Public Health Can Better Manage Uncertainty
ASTHO Web Page: Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health
ASTHO Blog Article: States Continue to Address PFAS in U.S. Food and Water Supply
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, August 8, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
SAM JARVIS:
We're telling people this information and providing often bad news every day, if not weekly, for so long, we need to remember to give people something to hope for, and so, I think that's really important, and really took that to heart.
SILVERS:
Sam Jarvis is the community health division manager at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa, and he's also a DELPH scholar. Jarvis recently wrote a blog article outlining how public health can better manage uncertainty.
JARVIS:
I think often in crises and emergency response, there's a sense of urgency that we're trying to address. And so, I think understanding what we're doing and why we're doing it, who we're doing it for, is important, and not lose sight of that.
SILVERS:
Jarvis says in a crisis, we need to remember compassion for our communities and ourselves.
JARVIS:
We're not machines. We're all humans. We are also all very much likely thinking about how this is impacting our lives, or maybe applying this situation to our personal circumstances.
SILVERS:
Jarvis adds that his experience with the ASTHO DELPH program has equipped him for all types of situations.
JARVIS:
It's been a phenomenal experience to truly take a moment for "self," to examine our own leadership skills, our leadership style. And it's been amazing to be able to compare that, contrast that with others across states, territories, and just other experiences.
SILVERS:
If that sounds like something you are interested in, you may want to check out ASTHO's Developing Executive Leaders in Public Health program. Applications are now open for the 10-month intensive leadership development experience that includes skill-building, workshops, coaching, networking opportunities, and access to national thought leaders. Learn more and apply today by using the link in the show notes.
Forever chemicals are still on the minds of public health officials and policymakers, and a new ASTHO resource details recent activity to reduce public health exposure to PFAs chemicals at both the federal and state levels. Heather Tomlinson is with ASTHO's environmental health team.
HEATHER TOMLINSON:
FDA announced that the grease-proofing materials containing PFAs will no longer be available for food packaging in the U.S., and that's a big deal, because that's the primary source of dietary exposure from food contact surfaces. So, that was a big progress point in food exposure. Also at the federal level, EPA sets maximum contaminant levels, or MCLS, for PFAs in drinking water, and this would require states to monitor and provide public notification if levels are exceeded on that MCL. So, that will be going into effect in the coming years.
SILVERS:
Finally, taking a look at state actions...
TOMLINSON:
We saw 17 states introduce bills prohibiting the sale of food packaging containing PFAs, and some of those bills are also more expansive, and prohibit the manufacturing and distribution of PFAs packaging products, and then on the water safety side, we're seeing this legislative cycle that at least 20 states have set regulatory standards for at least one of the PFAs chemicals.
SILVERS:
Tomlinson writes about all of these actions and more in a recent ASTHO blog article. Check out the show notes to learn more.
And next week, ASTHO's next Ignite, Accelerate, and Activate webinar series is on Thursday, August 14, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. This...webinar will help you accelerate your communication skills, and it will equip you with a simple, yet powerful, four- step feedback model that is intentional and positive. Learn more by clicking the 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.
