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Public Health in the New Year

By: Ginny Weir, Director, Dr. Robert Bree Collaborative
 

I’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?


These types of questions make me thankful for the Washington State Public Health Association. For me, our Association connects our traditional governmental public health space with the wide world of the everything else of public health (where I work). The Association serves as a platform for us all to speak a common language. We do this through these monthly newsletters and blog, through our Legislative Advocacy Day (save the date for March 6, 2019), and at our Annual Conference (save the date for October 1-3, 2019). The Association also connects me with people that I wouldn’t otherwise meet and keeps me talking and thinking about public health, health equity, and everything that matters at my job with the Bree Collaborative, at home, and beyond.

With this in mind, I have a couple New Year’s challenges (or resolutions) to kick off 2019. You can plan on giving up sugar if you want to, but these might be more fun:

  1. Talk to someone in our Association who you wouldn’t otherwise speak to and learn about what they do for public health and what public health means to them. 
  2. Teach a child about why public health is essential – how to take care of themselves and our shared community. 
  3. Share your expertise with someone who is just starting out in public health. Help sometime climb the ladder or connect with a student working on a project related to your area of expertise.
  4. Take time for yourself – whether this is through meditation, exercise, or spending time walking through the woods. Thank yourself for everything you have done for your community.
  5. And finally, write a blog for us and tell your story! We want to include stories of what matters to you in our monthly newsletter. Highlight a project or program from your work or where you volunteer. Send a blog post between 500 and 1,000 words. Make sure your writing is easy to understand – try to avoid acronyms and jargon. More information can be found here. 
 Blog Submission FAQ

Past blogs

Live Well San Diego

By: Nick Macchione, MS, FACHE, Agency Director
Health and Human Services, County of San Diego


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. Read more. 

 
 
 
Let's Talk Immunization
By: Mackenzie Melton and Izzy Brandstetter
WithinReach Immunization Experts
 
August 1, 2018
Since 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, PhD
Urban Indian Health Institute, Seattle Indian Health Board
 

July 1, 2018
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have an understandable mistrust of research.  This stems from the misleading efforts by non-Native scientists to assess American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and the drawing of pre-conceived outcomes and descriptions that would support the genocide of a community that was once believed to be inferior, barbaric, savage-like, and uncivilized. Practices involved deception, dishonesty, and trickery, resulting in physical harm, such as radiation studies among AI/AN people presented as clinical care and the forced sterilization of AI/AN females.As non-Native scientists completed their research, they reported findings that were inaccurate, false, and unreliable, and that paved the road to openly stigmatize and misrepresent AI/ANs. Read more. 

Summer Break with or without Hunger
By Debra French, Director, WSPHA Board of Directors


June 1, 2018
Schools out and its summer break, for many a time for relaxation, vacations, fun and some sunshine but for some, it’s a bit more stressful.  Millions of children who rely on free and reduced-priced school breakfast and lunch during the school year, lose access to those meals when summer break begins. The federal government provides funding for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) both are key to bringing nutritious meals and snacks to children during the summer months. Read more.

 

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Public Health
By Amy Person, MD, Director, WSPHA Board of Directors

mental health

May 1, 2018
Behavioral health disorders are common – but what role can public health play? One in eight adults in Washington State reports poor mental health and one in three Washington 10th graders reports depressive feelings. We cannot achieve the highest health potential for individuals, families or communities without including behavioral health as a public health priority. Applying the public health model to behavioral health can also shift the focus to include primary prevention as well as improving access to treatment. Read more. 
Celebrating National Public Health Week
By 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, 2018

On 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 Day
By 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 Washington
By Ginny Weir, Program Director, Dr. Robert Bree Collaborative
 
January 1, 2018
The 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