Category Archives: Public Health Policy

In its fourth year, the County Health Rankings show that how long and how well people live depends on multiple factors including rates of smoking, education, and access to healthy food. They also help to lay the groundwork for governors, mayors, business leaders, and citizens across the country to take action to improve health. Some national trends this year show:

• Child poverty rates have not improved since 2000, with more than one in five children living in poverty.
• Violent crime has decreased by almost 50 percent over the past two decades.
• The counties where people don’t live as long and don’t feel as well have the highest rates of smoking, teen births, and physical inactivity, as well as more preventable hospital stays.
• Teen birth rates are more than twice as high in the least healthy counties than in the healthiest counties.

This year the County Health Rankings are easier to use than ever with interactive maps and new county-level trend graphs detailing changes over time for several measures, including premature death, children in poverty, and unemployment.

How healthy is your county? Check it out here!

APHA’s “Amazing” and “Phenomenal” Experience Now Accepting Applications

The American Public Health Association Public Health Fellowship in Government is now accepting applications for 2014. This is the seventh year that the American Public Health Association is offering this fellowship, which has been described as an “amazing” and “phenomenal” experience by previous fellows.

Candidates must have strong public health credentials and be interested in spending one year in Washington, D.C. working in a congressional office on legislative and policy issues related to health, the environment or other public health concerns.

The fellowship will begin in January 2014 and continue through December 2014. The fellowship provides a unique learning experience for a public health professional to gain practical knowledge in government and see how the legislative and public policy process works.

Apply now online. The electronic application, including a CV and three letters of recommendation, are due to APHA by April 8, 2013.

All candidates:
1. must be citizens of the United States or permanent residents
2. must be APHA members
3. must have five years or more experience in a public health setting. Internships, graduate assistantships, and residencies do not count toward the five-year requirement
4. must have a masters degree or doctorate in a public health or related discipline

For more information, email Charlene Bright or call 202-777-2491.

APHA launches Online Continuing Education Program

Finding relevant opportunities to earn continuing education credits and satisfy professional licensing or credentialing requirements can be difficult, particularly for those working in public health. Fortunately, APHA’s Center for Professional Development recently announced its first offering of year-round continuing education credits through its Online Continuing Education Program.

For a minimal fee, public health practitioners can earn up to 12.75 continuing education credits offered for selected 2012 APHA Midyear Meeting sessions. Credits can be earned by physicians (CME), nurses (CNE), health educators (CHES/MCHES), public health practitioners (CPH) and other professionals (CME for non-physicians) by listening to the recordings, passing the quiz, and completing an evaluation.

Learn more on APHA’s continuing education pages, or contact Annette Ferebee with questions.

Want to celebrate National Public Health Week? Here’s how

National Public Health Week is April 1 – 5. This year’s theme, “Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money,” recognizes the tremendous value of public health in our lives. Learn more about what is planned to celebrate and how you can be involved in this year’s activities in this interview with Kimberly Moore, director of Affiliate Affairs at APHA.