Celebrating National Public Health WeekBy: Ginny Weir, MPH
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. This keeps our families and communities safe! More information here. The Washington State Department of Health will be posting one minute videos of employees talking about their public health work they do every day on the blog here. www.facebook.com/WADeptHealth | Twitter: @WADeptHealth The American Public Health Association has events throughout the week including: 
University of Washington School of Public Health will be hosting an open house Thursday, April 5 from 11-2pm. More information here. www.facebook.com/uwsph/ | Twitter: @uwsph Public Health Seattle-King County will be holding Facebook live Q&As with program staff from different divisions including a paramedic, food inspector, gun safety expert, naloxone program lead in jail, STD caseworker, and school-based health worker. www.facebook.com/KCPubHealth/ | Twitter: @KCPubHealth Snohomish Health District will be engaging the community through social media. www.facebook.com/SnohomishHealth/ | Twitter: @SnoHD
Connect to other local health departments here. Let us know what you and your organizations are doing!
Past blogsLegislative Education Day: What Comes Next?
By Heather Thomas, MPA, Public & Government Affairs Manager, Snohomish Health District 
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
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 |
Happy National Public Health Week! Even though we live, work, and breathe public health daily - we have a special focus on celebrating the role of public health this week from April 2nd to 6th. There are events planned in our community and across the country and WSHPA wants to see and hear from you! We are asking you to 
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.