Cyanotoxins can be a major summertime public health concern for freshwater bodies. The rapid growth of blue-green algae in these waters can be harmful to humans and animals, particularly children, and it is difficult to decide if an algal bloom is toxic just by looking at it. Officials from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) had to handle this the hard way when there was an outbreak of cyanotoxins found in the drinking water supply of the state's capital city, Salem, in 2018. This podcast will fo...
Oct 08, 2020•21 min
In 2017, nearly 64,000 children under six had elevated blood levels as defined by the CDC. There is no safe blood lead level in children, and even low levels of lead have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. To decrease maternal and child morbidity and mortality associated with lead exposure, families need access to systems of coordinated care in order to address their needs related to lead exposure. This episode will discuss how Louisiana and Iowa have us...
Sep 10, 2020•30 min
Initially started after the 1979 Surgeon General's Report, Healthy People began as a way achieve health improvement through a national commitment to disease prevention and health promotion. Now in its fifth iteration, which kicked off last week, Healthy People 2030 charts the course for public health over the next decade. In this episode, public health leaders share their perspectives about where state and territorial health agencies intersect with Healthy People 2030 and why it should be treate...
Aug 24, 2020•31 min
In the past decade, 120 rural hospitals have closed—leaving many vulnerable Americans without care. As communities age, medical care is becoming harder to find due to the shortage of physicians in rural areas. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic is shining even more of a light on the growing health disparities faced by rural communities and the emerging needs of the rural health workforce. On this episode, speakers will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on rural health infrastructure and workforc...
Aug 13, 2020•32 min
COVID-19 is amplifying why systemic racism in America is a public health issue. Communities of color are being disproportionately burdened by this pandemic due to persistent inequities that increase their risk to more severe bouts of COVID-19 and death. America is currently engaged in dual crises to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to advance racial justice. On this episode, speakers will address both issues and highlight the importance of public health agencies leading with and integrating equit...
Jul 30, 2020•32 min
Increasing and maintaining vaccine coverage is an important way to prevent the spread of disease and keep communities healthy. Efforts to reduce COVID-19 transmission, such as social distancing, led to fewer people seeking non-urgent medical care and receiving routine vaccinations. Recent studies demonstrate that childhood vaccine uptake has decreased since the onset of COVID-19, leaving many children under or unvaccinated. Ensuring routine vaccination services during the COVID-19 pandemic is an...
Jul 15, 2020•30 min
Leading a governmental health department is a complex job during the best of times, but particularly so during a pandemic when leaders must navigate every step carefully. In this episode, our guests introduce and discuss a concept called 'polarity thinking,' which invites leaders to embrace situations or problems from the opposing perspectives, or 'poles.' As public health leaders have to communicate messaging that many people may not want to hear – like wearing a mask in public or urging the pu...
Jul 02, 2020•32 min
For people with substance use disorders or those who rely on opioids to manage chronic pain, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted gaps in these systems of care. Access to services has been severely impacted in areas around the country, and some states and territories are experiencing increases of fatal and nonfatal overdose. In some places, overdose deaths have outpaced COVID-19 deaths. State and territorial health leaders are thinking long-term about how policy changes made as a response to th...
Jun 15, 2020•30 min
May is Mental Health Month, and this year, health officials are tasked with navigating the impact of COVID-19 on the behavioral health system. The rates of depression, suicide, and substance use are expected to surge as communities continue to struggle with COVID-19 cases — along with the fear, isolation and unemployment that comes with the pandemic. It's essential that policymakers ensure that communities have continued access to mental health and substance use disorder services not only during...
May 29, 2020•36 min
The current COVID-19 pandemic serves as a case example that highlights the fundamental need to more aggressively use the Shared Risk and Protective Factors (SRPF) Framework to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), suicide, and opioid misuse. This episode explains what the SRPF framework is, and how states and territories can collaborate with a broader range of partners to implement research-based programs, policies, practices, and strategies that will improve the existing fractured and u...
May 14, 2020•28 min
If there's anyone who has spent their career preparing for a global pandemic, it's Anne Schuchat, MD. Currently, she serves as the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She served as acting CDC director from January-July 2017 and February-March 2018. In the past 15 years, Dr. Schuchat worked on CDC emergency responses for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza response, the 2003 SARS outbreak in Beijing, and the 2001 bioterrorist anthrax response. She's wor...
Apr 29, 2020•19 min
In just a matter of weeks, the situation around COVID-19 in the United States altered dramatically. Now, dozens of states have called for non-essential businesses to close and for residents to stay at home. It's an evolving situation that's testing many aspects of American life. On this episode, we speak with two public health veterans who led state health departments during times of public health uncertainty--like H1N1 and Ebola. Our guests discuss the lessons they learned during trying times, ...
Mar 27, 2020•34 min
State, territorial, and local governments continue to grapple with substance misuse and addictions. Today's episode discusses why there needs to be a comprehensive response in public health surveillance, in particular around the opioid epidemic. After all, without thorough data, it's tough for lawmakers to drive action that will reduce the prevalence and incidence of drug overdoses. This episode also explores states that are considering novel initiatives to address non-fatal drug overdoses. Toda...
Mar 12, 2020•28 min
Every year, state and territorial health officials descend on the Nation's capital to educate lawmakers on the importance of increased funding for public health. This year is no different, though there is a shadow hanging over this year's events: COVID-19, an infectious disease that's been spreading across the globe. On the first day of ASTHO's "Washington Week," the organization formally requested emergency supplemental money with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NA...
Feb 25, 2020•23 min
Blink and you might have missed it: In December, the federal government passed a bill that raises the legal age to buy tobacco to 21, now in effect. On top of that, the federal government also issued enforcement guidance that will remove some flavored e-cigarette products from the shelves. These laws are in response to the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, with 27.5 percent of high schoolers reportedly using them. This podcast investigates what these federal policies might mean for youth e-ciga...
Jan 30, 2020•35 min
Since 2016, 30 states have experienced hepatitis A outbreaks, primarily among individuals experiencing homelessness and/or those struggling with substance abuse. State health departments, with support from the CDC, have mounted a robust public health response, with vaccination as a cornerstone for prevention. Hear from our experts about the national perspective and on-the-ground action to stop the spread of hepatitis A—as well as challenges that remain with these complex populations. Guests: Cat...
Dec 11, 2019•30 min
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's extreme response to an infection and can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Sepsis can be caused by a wide range of infections but is most commonly linked to infections of the lungs, kidneys, skin, and gut. Based on CDC estimates, at least 1.7 million American adults developed sepsis in 2014 and nearly 270,000 died as a result of sepsis. CDC investigations showed that sepsis begins outside of the hospital for four ...
Nov 22, 2019•31 min
Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to behavioral health issues, including depression and substance misuse. According to American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), depression is the most common mental health disorder experienced during pregnancy, with estimates that 14% to 23% of women experience perinatal depression. Leaders in Louisiana discuss how they're providing more support for women across the span of their reproductive life, and the challenges they still face on...
Nov 05, 2019•25 min
It's that time of year again…flu season. Each year, the United States battles seasonal influenza, leaving thousands of people sick, hospitalized, or worse. Public health professionals across the nation are on the front lines, doing their best to prepare for and respond to seasonal flu in the hopes of reducing the likelihood of a pandemic event. This episode will focus on the burden of seasonal and pandemic flu, and highlight key planning activities and strategies that federal, state, and local p...
Oct 16, 2019•31 min
In the United States, three main types of fungi—coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis—can cause lung infections like pneumonia when people breathe in fungal spores from the air. Depending on where you live, you may be more likely to come in contact with one of these fungi. Some fungal diseases go undiagnosed and cause serious infections in people in the United States and around the world, leading to illness and death. Increased awareness about fungal diseases is one of the most i...
Sep 24, 2019•24 min
Nearly 34 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes. About two out of every three of them want to quit and more than half will try to quit each year. Quitting can be difficult, but if we come together and double down on our efforts, we can help people who smoke make 2019 the year they quit—and quit for good. CDC's Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has designated 2019 the Year of Cessation, providing a coordinated opportunity across state and territory public health agencies to enhance their capacity...
Sep 05, 2019•30 min
Medicaid and public health partnerships play an important role in advancing a statewide approach to addressing chronic disease and population health. Collaboration and shared priorities between agencies play a significant role in addressing health conditions. In this episode, Deborah Fournier, senior director of Clinical to Community Connections at ASTHO, and Mark Larson, vice president of policy at the Center for Health Care Strategies, share some of the common misconceptions about each agency'...
Aug 14, 2019•34 min
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are stressful events, including child abuse and other household challenges, that can have a negative impact on early brain development and lifelong health. In this episode, Judy Cameron, a psychiatry professor at the University of Pittsburgh, discusses her research on how early life experiences shape brain development and brain plasticity. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services and a pediatrician by training, describes...
Jun 12, 2019•31 min
Each year, nearly 700 women in the United States die from complications related to pregnancy or delivery, with black women 3 to 4 times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy-related cause. Three in five of these deaths can be prevented, but it involves a collaborative approach, including consistent care and cross-sector partnerships. In this episode, ASTHO's president and leadership from CDC and HRSA discuss efforts to prevent maternal mortality and the role states and communities...
May 30, 2019•39 min
The opioid epidemic is the biggest public health crisis we currently face, with an average of 130 Americans dying every day from an opioid overdose. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder that combines FDA-approved medication with counseling and behavioral health therapy but is often associated with stigma therefore limiting access and availability. In this episode, we explore Pennsylvania's multi-pronged approach to addressing the opioid ep...
May 15, 2019•25 min
Overview: In March 2018, Robert R. Redfield became the 18th director of CDC, bringing to the role more than 30 years of experience as a public health leader engaged in the clinical research and care of viral infections and infectious diseases, especially HIV. Since then, HHS and President Trump have announced an ambitious plan to end HIV in America, a cause which Redfield considers a prominent part of his life's work. But public health challenges remain, including the opioid epidemic and anti-va...
Apr 30, 2019•51 min
Overview: Advocating on Capitol Hill for strong public health systems is critical to advancing the work of state and territorial health agencies. Earlier this month, the nation's top health officials came to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and raise awareness around key issues, including raising the caps on non-defense discretionary spending, supporting the 22x22 campaign to increase the CDC's budget 22% by FY22, and prioritizing funding for public health programs. "Washington...
Mar 28, 2019•31 min
In recognition of American Heart Month, this episode focuses on the important role that community health workers (CHWs) play in Virginia's statewide approach to addressing health disparities and heart disease, in particular. Across the nation, CHWs serve as linkages between patients and the healthcare system to address health disparities and provide social support. These individuals have a deep understanding of their communities and share personal, cultural, linguistic, and other characteristics...
Feb 22, 2019•29 min
This episode emphasizes the importance of addressing heart disease and stroke prevention through approaches that center on health equity, including systems-level changes, quality improvement, and community development. CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention is partnering with ASTHO to support jurisdictions in successfully integrating efforts with healthcare and community partners and implementing best practices and evidence-based policies to identify, control, and improve blood p...
Jan 02, 2019•36 min
The midterm elections may be behind us, but how will our nation's political dynamics impact the public health agenda? On this episode, we examine opportunities for bipartisanship and forecast what the public health landscape may look like in the next Congress. Emily Holubowich joins us from the Coalition for Health Funding to point out key issues to watch as the federal budget process unfolds. Former Alaska health commissioner Jay Butler also explains why it's important for health officials to b...
Dec 06, 2018•33 min
