What's New

• Become an Ambassador for CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Program12/18/2018 12:49:00 PMCDC has announced a funding opportunity for state and territorial "ambassadors" for its Learn the Signs. Act Early. Program. The program aims to improve early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, including autism, by promoting parent-engaged developmental monitoring (regularly tracking milestones) so children and their families can get the services and support they need as early as possible.There are 42 available "ambassadorships" for selected states and territories. Find out if your state or territory is eligible and apply for the program! Applications are due January 18, 2019.
• Now Open-Public Comment Period for Healthy People 203012/11/2018 1:37:00 PMThe US Department of Health and Human Services is soliciting written comments-including those from members of the public-on the proposed objectives for Healthy People 2030. Comments can include proposed new objectives. Heathy People 2030 will continue to represent critical public health priorities by addressing the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and driving action at the national, state, and local levels. Comments on the proposed objectives will be accepted from December 3, 2018, to January 17, 2019. Learn more and submit your comments today!
• Nine Newly Accredited Health Departments 12/4/2018 8:41:00 AMNine more public health departments have been awarded five-year national accreditation status by the Public Health Accreditation Board. Now, 73% of the US population is served by an accredited health department. USA MEDDAC Fort Riley Department of Public Health in Kansas is the US Army's first public health department to achieve national accreditation, and the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin became the second tribal health department in the US to achieve accreditation. Congratulations to both and also to Greene County Public Health (OH), Harris County Public Health (TX), Iowa Department of Public Health, Princeton Health Department (NJ), Richland County Health Department (MT), Sandusky County Health Department (OH), and Scott County Health Department (IA)!
• Behavioral Health Training Institute for Health Officials 11/27/2018 9:18:00 AMThe National Council for Behavioral Health is accepting applications for the Behavioral Health Training Institute for Health Officials, a leadership program developed in partnership with CDC's Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial support. Selected participants will connect with leaders in behavioral and public health through a two-day in-person summit, a series of coaching calls, webinars, and attendance at NatCon19-the National Council's annual conference-to develop resources that respond to needs in their communities. Applications are due by 11:59 pm (EST) on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Learn more and apply today.
• Key Findings from CDC's Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation11/26/2018 11:30:00 AMCDC's Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support has released a report about its evaluation of the Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant. The report's findings show that the grant is supporting vital public health activities in grantees' jurisdictions. Grantees are using PHHS Block Grant funds to improve their ability to collect essential data; improve the quality of programs and services; address emerging needs; and implement interventions that are known to work.
• Nonpharmaceutical Interventions for Pre-Pandemic Influenza Planning, Preparedness and Response 11/14/2018 3:41:00 PMThe US is not currently experiencing a flu pandemic, but we must be prepared. Take CDC's training to learn about nonpharmaceutical interventions to help slow the spread of pandemic flu. FREE CE for public health professionals!
• Advancing Team-Based Care Through Collaborative Practice Agreements11/6/2018 9:34:00 AMThis pharmacy education course, part of the Public Health Law Academy's Legal Epidemiology Center, defines collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) and their role in providing team-based care. It also identifies resources available for pharmacists looking to establish a CPA. A free toolkit, Advancing Team-Based Care Through Collaborative Practice Agreements: A Resource and Implementation Guide for Adding Pharmacists to the Care Team, is also available as a supplementary aid to the training.
• New CDC Progress Report on Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)10/30/2018 9:04:00 AMCDC has published the 2016 Healthcare-Associated Infection Progress Report. The report consists of national and state-by-state summaries of HAIs-infections patients can get while receiving medical treatment in a healthcare facility-across four healthcare settings: acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals and critical access hospitals. These data can be used to highlight progress, as well as target areas that need improvement.
• CDC's 6th E-Learning Institute Fellowship 10/16/2018 12:57:00 PMCalling all public health instructional designers and health educators! CDC, in partnership with the Public Health Foundation, invites professionals who develop online training products to apply for CDC's free, six-month E-learning Institute (ELI) fellowship. Applicants do not need to have formal education in training development; ELI expert training developers serve as mentors for the fellows. Learn more about ELI and apply before November 2.
• Implementing the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain10/9/2018 11:19:00 AMCDC has released a new tool in the fight against opioids-the Quality Improvement and Care Coordination: Implementing the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain resource. This resource offers primary care providers, hospitals, and healthcare systems a framework for managing patients who are on long-term opioid therapy.
• Call for Public Comments on Community Health and Prosperity Report10/2/2018 11:56:00 AMThe US Surgeon General has published a federal register notice and seeks comments to inform his report and call to action on community health and prosperity. The Office of the Surgeon General, with support from CDC, plans to develop and produce a report by the Surgeon General on the link between investments in community health and community and other measures of well-being and economic prosperity. Share the link with your partners and stakeholders that might be interested in commenting. The comment period ends November 5, 2018.
• State- and Territory-Specific 2017 Data on Adult Obesity Prevalence9/26/2018 10:49:00 AMCDC released new data on self-reported adult obesity prevalence for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Key highlights from the data analysis include a data table with adult obesity prevalence by state and territory for 2016 and 2017, a data table with adult obesity prevalence by sociodemographic characteristics for 2017, and data tables with combined adult obesity prevalence by race/ethnicity and state and territory for 2015-2017. State and community leaders, employers, government agencies, healthcare providers, and individuals all have an important role in preventing and managing obesity.
• Public Health Surveillance: Preparing for the Future9/14/2018 10:00:00 AMCollecting data, connecting data, and using data to inform action is one of the most foundational activities of public health. This new CDC report chronicles CDC's efforts to improve the agency's surveillance systems and approaches. The report gives an in-depth look at the initiatives, innovation, and partnerships that took place under CDC's Surveillance Strategy from 2014 to today. It also describes ongoing improvements and a vision for the future to encompass both public health data and IT modernization.
• CDC's 2018 Annual Surveillance Report of Drug-Related Risks and Outcomes 9/5/2018 11:22:00 AMThis second annual surveillance report includes data on national opioid prescribing patterns, drug use/misuse, treatment, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and overdose deaths. Key findings show that between 1999 and 2016, more than 630,000 people died from a drug overdose in the United States, and drug overdose deaths in 2016 reached a new record high. The crisis continues to be fueled by both prescription opioid pain medications and illicit drugs, such as heroin and synthetic opioids, and a low percentage of those needing treatment for substance abuse are able to access it. In addition to expanding treatment options and access, additional measures are needed to prevent illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse in a dynamic drug landscape.
• Twelve More Health Departments Accredited Through the Public Health Accreditation Board8/30/2018 1:22:00 PMTwelve more public health departments have been awarded five-year national accreditation status by the @Public Health Accreditation Board, bringing that number to more than 235 health departments across the United States. Across the nation, nearly all states now have at least one PHAB-accredited health department (local, tribal, and/or state) within their borders. Congratulations to Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Knox County Health Department, Mount Vernon, Ohio; Lincoln County Health and Human Services, Newport, Oregon; Livingston County Health Department, Howell, Michigan; Logan County Health District, Bellefontaine, Ohio; Marion Public Health, Marion, Ohio; Onondaga County Health Department, Syracuse, New York; Plumas County Public Health Agency, Quincy, California; Saint Louis County Department of Health, St. Louis, Missouri; Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Springfield, Missouri; Williams County Combined Health District, Montpelier, Ohio; and Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, Wisconsin!
• CDC Resources to Help Clinicians Reduce Falls and Avert Costs 8/28/2018 9:00:00 AMA recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM), The Potential to Reduce Falls and Avert Costs by Clinically Managing Fall Risk, found that clinically identifying and managing fall risk factors could prevent as many as 45,164 medically treated falls and avert up to $442 million in direct medical costs annually. The report looked at the population-level impact of seven evidence-based interventions on reducing falls and lowering direct medical costs among community-dwelling older adults. CDC's Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries, or STEADI initiative, has tools and resources to help clinicians prevent falls and reduce healthcare costs.
• Texting/Emailing While Driving Among High School Students in 35 States, United States, 20158/21/2018 9:00:00 AMThis journal article explores individual- and state-level factors associated with texting while driving among teen drivers in the United States. The findings show that texting while driving among high school students varies widely across states (26%-64%). States that issue learners' permits to teens who are less than 15 years old had a higher percentage of high school students who text or email while driving. This research can help target prevention efforts and underscores the need for strategies to reduce texting while driving in teen drivers, particularly in states where adolescents begin driving at younger ages.
• Naloxone Administration Frequency During Emergency Medical Service Events - United States, 2012-20168/15/2018 12:00:00 PMFrom 2012 to 2016, the rate of naloxone administration in emergency medical service (EMS) events increased by 75%. A new MMWR report concludes that EMS data regarding naloxone administration provides a more complete evaluation of the potential injury burden and a means of benchmarking for communities and EMS agencies to better address the evolving opioid epidemic.
• Opioid Use Disorder Documented at Delivery Hospitalization - United States, 1999-20148/15/2018 8:30:00 AMA recent MMWR surveillance summary shows that the number of pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) at labor and delivery has gone up more than quadrupled from 1999 to 2014, with significant increases in all 28 states with available data. The findings illustrate that OUD during pregnancy is a growing national problem. These national and state-level data can guide the development and tailoring of prevention and treatment efforts.
• APHA 2018-Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now8/9/2018 10:00:00 AMRegistration is open for the American Public Health Association's (APHA's) annual meeting and expo. The meeting will take place November 10-14, 2018, in San Diego, California. This year's theme is "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now," putting health equity at the center of the public health field's attention.
• Executive Summary for the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map, 2018-20238/9/2018 10:00:00 AMThe Healthy Brain Initiative's (HBI) State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia, The 2018-2023 Road Map charts a course for state and local public health agencies and their partners to act quickly and strategically to prepare all communities by stimulating changes in policies, systems and environments.
• Notice of Funding Opportunity: Enhancing Public Health Surveillance of Autism Spectrum Disorder 8/7/2018 4:28:00 PMCDC's Developmental Disabilities Branch within the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has published a notice of funding opportunity-Enhancing Public Health Surveillance of Autism Spectrum Disorder through the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to enhance the capacity of surveillance programs to implement a population-based, multiple source program for autism spectrum disorder. The application deadline is October 1, 2018, at 11:59 pm (EDT).
• School District Crisis Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Plans - United States, 2006, 2012, and 20168/7/2018 4:22:00 PMCDC recently released an MMWR article that addresses the concerns about insufficient school-based emergency planning to address the unique needs of children and the adults who support them. This article examines the improvements over time and gaps in school preparedness plans, coinciding with Healthy People 2020 objectives related to improving school preparedness, response, and recovery plans. Strengthening plans for infectious disease outbreaks, especially in rural districts, could help ensure that children and communities remain healthy and productive.
• Competencies for Performance Improvement Professionals in Public Health 8/2/2018 4:00:00 PMThe Public Health Foundation has released "Competencies for Performance Improvement Professionals in Public Health," a set of skills desirable for performance improvement (PI) professionals working in public health settings-such as state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments. These competencies were developed to offer additional guidance in PI for public health professionals with responsibilities related to developing or implementing plans and activities in the areas of quality improvement, performance management, workforce development, accreditation readiness, or community health assessment and improvement planning.
• State by State Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing Map8/2/2018 10:00:00 AMCross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS) models vary based on state and local characteristics. The Center for Sharing Public Health Services has developed this map to highlight CJS initiatives across the nation.
• PHLP News: July Edition7/31/2018 3:23:00 PMThe Fifty Nifty! In honor of Independence Day, the Public Health Law News runs the Fifty Nifty as a celebration of public health law activities and issues in every state. This edition includes an interview with the executive director of community benefit, Community Health Network, Inc., Priscilla Keith, JD, MS. Highlighted legal tools include an issue brief by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) discussing planning for unaccompanied minors in shelter operations, the Public Health Learning Navigator by Public Health Learning Network, and a 50-state map of scope of practice legislation.
• Continuing Education Activity: Containing Unusual Antibiotic Resistance 7/31/2018 3:20:00 PMCDC's MMWR and Medscape have introduced a free continuing education activity that describes approaches to controlling emerging antibiotic resistance in healthcare settings. This online course is intended for public health professionals and multi-disciplinary practitioners who treat and manage patients with multidrug-resistant organism infection. To access the activity, register for a free account on Medscape.
• Comprehensive Assistance to Shared Services (COMPASS)7/26/2018 12:00:00 PMDeveloped by the Center for Sharing Public Health Services, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and partnership involvement from the CDC, COMPASS assists public health agencies and policymakers with access to tools, methods, and models to explore, prepare for, plan, implement, and improve a cross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS) arrangement. Use the "Roadmap to Develop Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing Initiatives" to guide the implementation of CJS relationships that can have positive effects on the communities you serve.
• Free Continuing Education Credits: CDC's Environmental Assessment Training Series (EATS)7/26/2018 11:00:00 AMCDC estimates that 48 million Americans get sick from a foodborne illness each year. EATS addresses the role of environmental assessments within the broader context of outbreak investigations and the food safety system. Public health professionals can benefit from this training because it shows health inspectors how to identify a foodborne disease outbreak's environmental causes. The skills needed to investigate outbreaks of foodborne illness are different from those needed to inspect restaurants, and having trained environmental health staff is critical.
• Report-Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing Implementation and Impact Measurement Program7/24/2018 1:30:00 PMCould cross-jurisdictional sharing benefit your health department? Cross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS) is a growing strategy that can be used at state, tribal, local, and territorial levels to address opportunities and challenges, such as tight budgets, limited key staff expertise, increased burden of disease, and regional planning needs. In 2015, the Center for Sharing Public Health Services, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and partnership involvement from the CDC, developed a model and identified four test sites to measure the impact of CJS arrangements on service and program effectiveness and efficiency. The final report provides more information about these projects, including promising findings, such as cost savings and increased number of clients served by public health services.

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