scholarly journals Promoting Health Equity Through Partnerships

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 252-252
Author(s):  
Karon Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
State And Local

Abstract Funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, Trust for America’s Health’s (TFAH) Healthy Aging initiative has supported states as they develop Age-Friendly Public Health Systems (AFPHS). The goal of this national initiative is to make healthy aging a core function of state and local public health departments. Through this initiative, TFAH is working directly with states as they work to improve the health of older adults, with a particular focus on health equity. Given the increased prevalence of health disparities, prioritizing health equity has become important for many organizations. Through new partnerships and collaboration with aging services providers and health care systems, public health departments have developed innovative ways to improve the health and well-being of older adults from racial/ethnically diverse backgrounds. Areas of collaboration between the public health and aging sectors include sharing data on older adult health and working together to address social isolation.

scholarly journals Start at the Center: Age-Friendly Public Health Systems and Healthy Brain Initiative Frameworks

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 720-720
Author(s):  
Megan Wolfe ◽  
Molly French ◽  
John Shean
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
Community Connections ◽  
State And Local

Abstract SIGNIFICANCE. Older adults can contribute wisdom, skills, and time to communities. The public health sector has unique capabilities for creating conditions that promote health, foster community connections, and quality of life. METHODS. Two frameworks provide public health (PH) with core strategies to improve outcomes for all older adults. The Framework for Creating an Age-Friendly Public Health System (AFPHS) supports the PH role, as demonstrated by 37 of Florida’s 67 county health departments that are piloting the AFPHS Framework. The Healthy Brain Initiative’s (HBI) State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia is a framework for action used by PH to promote cognitive health, improve care for cognitive impairment, and increase caregiving supports. Both frameworks call for utilizing regional data and cross-sector partnerships. IMPLICATIONS. PH can contribute to community-wide initiatives to promote well-being and community connections for older adults. Cross-sector partnerships can start by using available tools and planning guides.

Dissemination of Information About Climate Change by State and Local Public Health Departments: United States, 2019–2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (8) ◽  
pp. 1184-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Albright ◽  
Pari Shah ◽  
Melodie Santodomingo ◽  
Jean Scandlyn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Climate Change Information ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Local Public Health Departments

Objectives. To determine if and how state and local public health departments present information about climate change on their Web sites, their most public-facing platform. Methods. We collected data from every functioning state (n = 50), county (n = 2090), and city (n = 585) public health department Web site in the United States in 2019 and 2020. We analyzed data for presence and type of climate-related content and to determine whether there existed clear ways to find climate change information. We analyzed Web sites providing original content about climate change for explanatory or attributional language. Results. Fewer than half (40%) of state health department Web sites, and only 1.6% of county and 3.9% of city Web sites, provided clear ways to find climate change information, whether through provision of original content or links to external agencies’ Web sites. Among Web sites providing original content, 48% provided no explanation of climate change causes. Conclusions. National and global public health associations have identified climate change as a public health emergency, but most state and local public health departments are not delivering that message. These departments must be better supported to facilitate dissemination of reliable, scientific information about climate change and its effects on health.

scholarly journals Development of the Inventory Management and Tracking System (IMATS) to Track the Availability of Public Health Department Medical Countermeasures During Public Health Emergencies

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liora Sahar ◽  
Guy Faler ◽  
Emil Hristov ◽  
Susan Hughes ◽  
Leslie Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Local Public Health Departments

Objective: To bridge  gaps identified during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic by  developing a system that provides public health departments improved capability to manage and track medical countermeasures at the state and local levels and to report their inventory levels to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).   Materials and Methods: The CDC Countermeasure Tracking Systems (CTS) program designed and implemented the Inventory Management and Tracking System (IMATS) to manage, track, and report medical countermeasure inventories at the state and local levels. IMATS was designed by CDC in collaboration with state and local public health departments to ensure a “user-centered design approach.” A survey was completed to assess functionality and user satisfaction.Results: IMATS was deployed in September 2011 and is provided at no cost to public health departments. Many state and local public health departments nationwide have adopted IMATS and use it to track countermeasure inventories during public health emergencies and daily operations.  Discussion:  A successful response to public health emergencies requires efficient, accurate reporting of countermeasure inventory levels. IMATS is designed to support both emergency operations and everyday activities. Future improvements to the system include integrating barcoding technology and streamlining user access. To maintain system readiness, we continue to collect user feedback, improve technology, and enhance its functionality.  Conclusion: IMATS satisfies the need for a system for monitoring and reporting health departments’ countermeasure quantities so that decision makers are better informed. The “user-centered design approach” was successful, as evident by the many public health departments that adopted IMATS.

scholarly journals Creating an Age-Friendly Public Health System

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne De Biasi ◽  
Megan Wolfe ◽  
Jane Carmody ◽  
Terry Fulmer ◽  
John Auerbach
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health System ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Public Health System ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
State Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Departments

Abstract Background and Objectives The public health system in America—at all levels—has relatively few specialized initiatives that prioritize the health and well-being of older adults. And when public health does address the needs of older adults, it is often as an afterthought. In consultation with leaders in public health, health care, and aging, an innovative Framework for an Age-Friendly Public Health System (Framework) was developed outlining roles that public health could fulfill, in collaboration with aging services, to address the challenges and opportunities of an aging society. Research Design and Methods With leadership from Trust for America’s Health and The John A. Hartford Foundation, the Florida Departments of Health and Elder Affairs are piloting the implementation of this Framework within Florida’s county health departments and at the state level. The county health departments are expanding data collection efforts to identify older adult needs, creating new alliances with aging sector partners, coordinating with other agencies and community organizations to implement evidence-based programs and policies that address priority needs, and aligning efforts with the age-friendly communities and age-friendly health systems movements. Results, and Discussion and Implications The county health departments in Florida participating in the pilot are leveraging the Framework to expand public health practice, programs, and policies that address health services and health behaviors, social, and economic factors and environmental conditions that allow older adults to age in place and live healthier and more productive lives. The model being piloted in Florida can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each community and their older adult population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document