Public Health: What is Happening in OlympiaBy: Anne Burkland, MPA
With just under a month left in the 2019 legislative session, we’ve seen great advances in public health priorities. Below is a sampling of key priorities that are still in play.
Last week, we saw the House and Senate’s budget proposals. As a reminder, each chamber proposes a two–year budget. Then lawmakers quickly vote their proposals out of the chambers in which they were introduced, so that they can enter into a conference committee where the final budget is negotiated. I’m happy to report that the House proposed investing $22 million in Foundational Public Health Services; the Senate proposed investing $14 million. The Senate funds some of its investment through a new tax on vaping products, proposed in Senate Bill 5986. We are grateful the Legislature has shown its support for these services; they are vital in keeping communities safe. Yet the money proposed does not meet the overall gap of $450 million, so we are working with our legislative allies to increase the level of investment. You can learn more by visiting http://publichealthisessential.org/. And finally, many thanks to the nearly 150 people who joined us for Washington Public Health Association’s annual Legislative Education Day. Attendees educated their lawmakers about these key public health priorities. As seen by their advancement, your voices were heard. Legislative Education Day is an annual event where public health officials from across the state convene in Olympia, learn about key legislative priorities and then head to the Hill to meet with lawmakers. Please consider joining us next year! The 2019 legislative session adjourns Sine Die on April 28th. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on the final outcome of our many different priorities. Past blogs
How You Can Help Create the Healthiest Washington During National Public Health Week By: Heather Thomas, MPA, Public and Government Affairs Manager, Snohomish Health District  National Public Health Week will be celebrated April 1-7, and we want you to join us in recognizing the work of public health all week long. The American Public Health Association (APHA) makes it easy for all of us to participate by developing an annual theme and daily topics. The 2019 theme is “For science. For action. For health.” Come meet with us for networking and discussion on April 3rd before starting your workday for Public Health over Bagels and Coffee from 8:00 – 9:00 at 705 second ave, 6th floor meeting room, Seattle WA. Start giving some thought now for how you—and hopefully your organization—can take part. APHA has created a communications toolkit online, with logos, social media content and fact sheets that you can use. Better yet, look at their framework and see how you can share information, resources or photos of your work around these daily topics... Read page
Investing in the Future of Our Public Health System By: Ian Corbridge, Director of Quality and Performance, Washington State Hospital Association
This said, pivotal moments or crises in our lives often help us reprioritize what is important. My daughter was diagnosed with a serious medical condition after her first birthday. As new parents we were devastated, and we immediately began treatment. Once her care began, we started thinking about her long-term needs. What would she need to be successful? What would happen to our daughter if we, her parents, were no longer around? Faced with mounting challenges, we made the critical decision to invest in our daughter’s future to ensure she has a vibrant and happy life. Read page
Public Health in the New Year By: Ginny Weir, Director, Dr. Robert Bree Collaborative Live Well San Diego By: Nick Macchione, MS, FACHE, Agency Director 
When asked, what is Live Well San Diego? I say it’s all about improving lives. Live Well San Diego is a regional vision that we have adopted, which outlines what we are doing collectively to build better health, live safely and thrive. In County government, it’s our north star that helps guide the provision of housing, health and human services and resources. It’s how we do business and improve the lives of one in three or approximately 1.3 million San Diegans. It all started in 2008. I was the newly promoted director of the County’s Health and Human Services Agency. I was tasked with answering one question: “How do we help over 3 million San Diego residents lead healthier lives?” Seeking solutions was no simple or straightforward task. Complex problems require complex solutions, and in order to create sustainable improvements across a diverse and geographically vast region, we had to seek input representing a range of diverse perspectives in the brainstorming process. Read more.
Let's Talk Immunization By: Mackenzie Melton and Izzy BrandstetterWithinReach Immunization Experts  August 1, 2018Since August is National Immunization Awareness Month, we felt it’s only appropriate to highlight why the rush and overwhelm to immunize, in the summer months especially, are so crucial to maintaining health and wellness among our families and throughout our communities.With children spending the majority of the day together in a classroom during the year, it’s also the optimal breeding ground for many bacteria and viruses that can cause serious illness. Fortunately, a large portion of these illnesses can be prevented through routine immunizations. And for those with pre-existing health conditions that hinder them from being immunized themselves, we vaccinate so that they can be protected from illness, and benefit from community immunity. Read More. Rethinking Our Approach for Urban Indian Studies By Adrian Dominguez, MS and Rose James, PhDUrban Indian Health Institute, Seattle Indian Health Board
Summer Break with or without Hunger
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Public Health
Celebrating National Public Health WeekBy Ginny Weir, MPH, Director, Bree Collaborative  April 1, 2018 Public health is essential to building a healthier Washington and stands on foundational public health services like chronic disease and injury prevention, maternal and child family health, access to clinical care, environmental public health, vital records, and communicable disease control. Although Public health week has already passed, there are still plenty of ways to get involved and advocate for a healthy community. Read more. Legislative Education Day: What Comes Next?By Heather Thomas, MPA, Public & Government Affairs Manager, Snohomish Health District  March 1, 2018On February 7, more than 150 public health ambassadors from around the state gathered in Olympia for our annual WSPHA Legislative Education Day. The morning session kicked off with a welcome from WSPHA president David Reyes, followed by remarks from Secretary of Health John Wiesman. Secretary Wiesman shared his perspectives on a variety of public health issues at the state and federal level. Read more
Legislative Education DayBy Anne Burkland, Government Relations Specialist, Public Health Seattle and King County 
February 1, 2018
Join public health officials from across the state and have your voice heard at our annual legislative education day on February 7, 2018.Your day will begin with Secretary of Health John Wiesman. You’ll also hear from state lawmakers and your colleagues who are leading the charge for more funding dedicated to public health. You’ll be provided talking points and an opportunity to develop and practice the key messages you want your representatives to hear. Read more The Opioid Epidemic in WashingtonBy Ginny Weir, Program Director, Dr. Robert Bree Collaborative  January 1, 2018The opioid epidemic has impacted every community in Washington State. Across the country, opioid overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death. But some counties are hit harder than others and disparities exist between how racial and ethnic groups are burdened with the epidemic. Solutions must be both based in local communities and supported across the state. Our Washington state opioid response plan calls on all of us, state government agencies, local health departments, professional groups, community organizations, health care systems, and others to work together on priority areas. Read more.
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Like most Americans, investing and thinking about the future is not easy for me. Investing money now for when I’m 70 is a lot less appealing in the moment than buying a new carbon fiber mountain bike.
’d argue that nearly everything we do falls under the umbrella of public health. From responding to natural disasters to city planning, every sidewalk (or lack thereof), drop of (treated) water, and medical procedure has an effect on our health. Bill Foege, a past Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said this more poetically, “There is no human endeavor that is outside the realm of public health.” This is powerful and inspiring – but also makes telling the story of public health more difficult. How do we talk about public health if everything we do is in fact public health? Who can speak for public health if public health is part of all that we do? 
APHA is the national voice of public health and champions the health of all people and all communities. It is the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.