State and local agencies develop and implement public health policies, looking for ways to improve health outcomes at the population level. Public health spans medical, behavioral, mental, and developmental health, among others. States often set the underlying regulatory standards that health institutions must follow, and manage much of the licensing to enforce those regulations. However much of the decision-making for the implementation of public health policy is relegated to county governments, which focus on the needs of specific communities. During times of emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic, state governments can issue guidance and convene county health departments to enable better coordination of services and policies. State and local governments have recently attempted to ameliorate poor health policy and outdated public infrastructure to improve future government response to health crises, making them an even larger actor in subsequent health response efforts.
ECO City Farms is a non-profit training and learning urban farm in Maryland that aims to sustain the local environment as well as provide healthy food to the surrounding community. CEO Margaret Morgan-Hubbard embraces the tenets of agroecology to enhance food security and access to nutrition to locals of Prince George’s County. ESAL discussed the holistic training practices and positive impact provided by ECO City Farms with Morgan-Hubbard.
Sarah Hendricks is a biologist that works on zoonotic diseases as well as provides researchers with access to cutting edge genomics resources. Hendricks got her Ph.D. in bioinformatics and computational biology from the University of Idaho and has worked at the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation as well as the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. ESAL spoke with Hendricks about how her interests in animals, humans, health, policy, and data have informed her career.
ESAL had the opportunity to speak with Meridith Perkins, current executive director of nonprofit Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, about canopy coverage in underserved communities and the importance of environmental education. Learn more about how Meridith brings empowers the local community with skills and opportunities to combat climate change in their own backyard.
Water quality field/lab technician Jan Paul and water resources planner Angie Reed discuss the importance of sharing data they collect and analyze from the Penobscot River with tribal, state, and federal audiences. Learn more about how the pair utilize its skills to improve public health outreach for Penobscot citizens.
Psychology PhD candidate Janey Dike shares her interest in trauma-informed, community-based supports and how it has motivated her goal to bridge science and policy.
Integrative life sciences PhD candidate Adele Balmer shares her experience with policymaking in Virginia and how the results from a mathematical model she built has inspired her to work in science policy after graduation.
Read about the impact of the work done by Professor Denise Chavira’s research group, the Culture and Anxiety Lab for Mental Health Advances (CALMA) at UCLA. The group targets the extra hurdles ethnic minorities in rural communities of the U.S. have to manage around stigma, knowledge, and access to mental health services. Chavira's group is dedicated to improving mental health services in chronically underserved communities by working and building trust in Imperial Valley, California.
One Health Institute (OHI) has played a role in connecting scientists and policymakers in crafting local, science-driven solutions for urban development. OHI has expanded in purpose and scope to serve as that platform for communication and develop brand applications and websites so diverse groups can develop projects together. ESAL had the pleasure of speaking with Professor Susan VandeWoude, director at OHI to learn more about their initiatives.
ESAL sat down to chat with Liz Snyder, a PhD turned co-founder turned Alaska state representative. Snyder uses her interest in environmental public health to lead initiatives that fortify Alaska's food systems at the state level. Snyder discusses how her education has impacted her long-term goals and career choices as well as her current projects.
