ChangeLab Solutions

In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered with ChangeLab Solutions to launch the Public Health Law Fellowship. This fellowship provides on-the-job training for careers in public health law or policy to graduate students in MPH, DrPH, MPA, PhD, and JD programs. We’re excited to share a Q&A with four current fellows. Although their backgrounds and interests are varied, their desire to advance health equity is clear. https://lnkd.in/gPTFz3Pw We’d also like to thank the fellows who participated in this Q&A! Brandon V., Hans Khoe, MPH, Maité Garcia, and Natalia B., we appreciate your thoughtful contributions. #HealthEquity #PublicHealthLaw

A growing body of literature affirms the relationship between housing and children’s mental health. By bringing together people who are working on issues related to children’s mental health, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette syndrome, and housing, we can improve the mental health of young people and reduce many of the challenges that prevent children from living in safe, stable, and affordable homes. Our new fact sheet Understanding the Connections Between Children’s Mental Health & Housing provides . . . · An overview of several pathways through which housing affects children’s mental health; · Housing policy options to address common challenges; and · Action steps for anyone interested in promoting children’s mental health and well-being through housing.   Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gEKzWqm2 #ChildrensMentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #YouthJustice #HousingJustice

As I reflect on the election results and what they mean for our nation, for our work in public health policy, and for our families and friends in BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other communities, I am reminded of the strength of so many before us who persevered during arduous times. As advocates and changemakers, our collective heritage is one of determination, hope, and resilience. Every level of government is critical to our democracy, and while the federal government sets many parameters for essential policies, lower levels of government are largely responsible for implementing them. State and local governments play a key role in protecting and promoting public health and are responsible for addressing their communities’ unique needs and challenges. As we continue to learn more about state and local election results, we will have numerous opportunities to support community health and justice. ChangeLab Solutions and our partners are working hard across the nation — from West Virginia to Oklahoma to California — to support health and dignity for all. On November 19, I will participate in a forward-looking webinar hosted by HealthBegins that will discuss health equity in the wake of the election. As we pivot from reflection on election results to action on community priorities, this webinar will highlight some of the most urgent challenges and opportunities in the post-election landscape and seek to map a way forward for the public health community. I hope you’ll join us. https://lnkd.in/gtdcvuyb We are not alone in our resolve to stand up for health equity and racial justice. We are stronger when we work together. The ChangeLab Solutions team stands ready to partner with organizations and advocates across the country to build a healthier, more inclusive nation for everyone.

NEW #webinar! While the #election has a profound impact on the future of health care, the work of advancing #healthequity does not end with the results we get next week. Join us for a webinar as we reflect on the results and map a way forward for the community of leaders committed to health equity. Hosted by our Sadena Thevarajah and a panel of distinguished speakers including Sinsi Hernández-Cancio from the National Partnership for Women & Families, Sarah de Guia from ChangeLab Solutions, and Anthony Wright from Families USA. After the Election: What’s Next for Health Equity? https://lnkd.in/ggm4XzpM

I’m excited to share the second entry in my Democracy & Governance blog series. In this entry, I focus on the importance of community involvement in state and local elections, as well as meaningful community participation throughout the policymaking process, to ensure that policies reflect the needs and values of the people they affect. #LocalGov #StateGov #Democracy #Voting

In a new op-ed in Lookout Santa Cruz, Sabrina Adler of ChangeLab Solutions partnered with Dr. John Maa of the American Heart Association to inform Santa Cruz voters about the beverage industry’s deceptive advertising campaign against Measure Z, a proposed soda tax that would improve health and raise funds for community projects and services. For more than a decade, the beverage industry — namely Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Red Bull, and their lobbyists — has been spending millions of dollars to oppose new local-level sugary drink taxes in California. These efforts peaked with the passage of the deceptively-named 2018 Keep Groceries Affordable Act — a statewide ban on new city-level sugary drink taxes in California. After a California appeals court struck down part of that law as violating the California constitution, Measure Z represents the first time voters have a chance to vote on a local sugary drink tax in California since the appeals court's decision. Conclusive evidence demonstrates the positive health effects of sugary drink taxes, and voters should have the right to vote on local taxes, free of interference from industry. Read the op-ed: https://lnkd.in/gNBZtqF9 #LocalGov

Webinar: Judicial Trends - What's Ahead for Racial Equity in Healthcare & Public Health On October 28 at 9am PT, Join the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for a timely discussion about the judicial landscape surrounding race-conscious strategies in medicine and public health. This webinar will cover key court cases involving challenges to racial equity efforts as a way to understand the legal, policy, and narrative issues at play. Sabrina Adler, vice president of law at ChangeLab Solutions, will be among the speakers who will discuss strategies that health leaders can use to respond to these challenges and keep advancing racial equity in health during this critical time. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ghBww7az

Public health laws affect health not only through their substance and design but also through implementation and enforcement. Equitable policymaking requires implementation that respects and works for everyone, with careful attention to the steps of the policy process that follow policy enactment, including enforcement, evaluation, and revision—all of which are necessary to ensure that public health laws have their intended effect. A new article on the Milbank Blog—Equitable Implementation of Public Health Laws Help Ensure that Everyone Benefits—by Maya Hazarika Watts, Liz Tobin-Tyler, JD, MA, Jessica Breslin, and Katie Michel, explores structural deficiencies of traditional enforcement models and offers recommendations for state and local officials committed to equitable enforcement and implementation of public health laws. https://lnkd.in/gck7v5DF #PublicHealthLaws

Many jurisdictions are making changes to the authority of public health departments. In the face of this shifting legal landscape, it is critical to analyze and understand the legal authority of all departments responsible for responding to emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases (EZIDs) and how that authority might affect their response capabilities in the future. Our new resource State & Local Legal Authority to Address Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases examines the legal authorities that can affect preparedness for and response to EZIDs in different state, tribal, local, and territorial jurisdictions. Implementing the One Health approach to EZID response takes into account how people, animals, plants, and their shared environment are interconnected. https://lnkd.in/gr8jSQpt #PublicHealthAuthority #PublicHealth

This year’s APHA Annual Meeting and Expo in Minneapolis is a timely event—public health professionals and partners from across the country will gather October 27–30 to share ideas and solutions for rebuilding trust in public health and science at a time when public health is underfunded and politically polarized. My colleague Sara Bartel and I are looking forward to our sessions, which span from equitable advocacy to the role of law and the courts in improving public health. See our schedule below; we hope you’ll come by and connect with us!   Advocacy in the Current Political Climate (3112) Monday, 10/28, 10:30am–12pm CT Presenter: Sarah de Guia Whether you are a new or seasoned changemaker, join us to learn more about the difference between lobbying and advocacy. The presentation will address common advocacy and lobbying restrictions for employees in nonprofit organizations and government agencies. We will also explore activities that public health advocates can participate in regardless of their employer or profession.   Your Voice Matters: Building a Healthier Future Through Equitable Advocacy (4103) Tuesday, 10/29, 10:30am–12pm CT Presenter: Sara Bartel Transform your passion for public health into real-world impact, and advance health equity. Join us to discover how advocacy can be a powerful tool for change. Learn practical strategies, hear inspiring stories, and leave equipped with actionable steps you can take to improve our public health system. Whether you're new to advocacy or seeking to expand your influence, this session will empower you to make a difference.   Champion Conversation VIII: The Role of Law and the Courts on Improving the Health of the Public (4220) Tuesday, 10/29, 2:30–4pm CT Moderator: Sarah de Guia Over the past few years, several legal decisions have greatly affected public health. This session will discuss the impact of these judicial decisions and how they are interpreted and implemented in courts and legislatures around the country. Additional topics will include recent federal opinions from the US Supreme Court and key state legal decisions; maternal and reproductive health; the authority to act to protect public health; and affirmative action.   Advancing Health Equity Through Law, Policy, and Community Centered Practices: Understanding the Health Justice Framework (4232) Tuesday, 10/29, 2:45–3pm CT Presenter: Sara Bartel Laws and policies have perpetuated racism, discrimination, and segregation throughout our nation’s history, yet they are essential to undoing harm and are frequently targeted by social justice movements for transformation. Dismantling discriminatory laws and policies is a powerful tool to improve health equity, and public health practitioners have an opportunity to become more deeply integrated into community-driven movements to advance these structural solutions. https://lnkd.in/gcj3qwQG #APHA2024 #PublicHealth