Devon Mendez’s Post

"Any discussion of public health funding in the U.S. must start with how little there is." If you want to better understand the sad state of public health funding, this is the piece to read. #publichealth #funding https://lnkd.in/dbnVpkuQ

"Any discussion of public health funding in the U.S. must start with how little there is. Despite generating a considerable return on investment, #publichealth and disease prevention receive less than a nickel of every dollar spent on health in our country. More than 129 million people in the United States have at least one chronic disease — which is responsible for 90 percent of America’s annual #healthcare expenditures — yet CDC’s inflation-adjusted budget for #chronicdisease prevention and #healthpromotion is lower now than it was a decade ago.   Compounding the lack of funding is how these limited dollars are distributed. The “boom-and-bust” cycle of public health funding leads to sudden increases when disasters strike and then funds disappearing when threats are perceived to have passed." - Simbo Ige MD, MS, MPH and Chrissie Juliano

Most public health funding is tied to specific health conditions or short-term emergency responses, so there has been little investment in the foundations of a strong public health system including modern data systems and the workforce. We must end the boom-and-bust approach to public health funding to build the modern system this country needs. Public health professionals work on the frontlines every day. Congress and HHS agencies should support efforts to bolster recruitment, retention, and resilience of the public health workforce. TFAH's Pathway to a Healthier America: A Blueprint for Strengthening Public Health for the Next Administration and Congress provides recommendations to protect and strengthen America's public health system. https://lnkd.in/eM38YcEY

"Public health in the twenty-first century can become more powerful and effective in addressing health disparities, and in improving health status broadly, by building on lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and engaging the creativity, resourcefulness, and wisdom of communities throughout the US." –Alice T. Chen, Denise Octavia Smith MBA, BS, CHW, PN, SFC, Bisola Ojikutu, and John Auerbach for Health Affairs' Reimagining Public Health Last Fall, we gathered to hear from some of our Vaccine Plus: Community Health & Power grant partners – grassroots, community-based organizations across the country – about 'The “Return to Normal” and Applying Lessons from #COVID Response Efforts to Ongoing Public Health Emergencies' (https://lnkd.in/eBCip-zn). So when our grant partner and colleague, Denise Octavia Smith MBA, BS, CHW, PN, SFC at National Association of Community Health Workers, recently co-authored this piece on how to strengthen relationships between public #Health systems and communities, we were excited to read through their survey results and policy recommendations! In their piece for Health Affairs, Denise Octavia Smith et al identify many barriers and opportunities for building a #PublicHealth system with strong #Community partnerships, and share several interventions that can be made on the federal, state, local, and territorial levels ⬇

Countries around the world are realising the value of preventive healthcare to their growing populations and economies. The more invested in prevention, the healthier communities become, resulting in less strain on ambulance, emergency, and hospital services. Victoria’s registered community health organisations provide accessible and affordable early intervention support to thousands of people each year. However, further investment is needed, with every $1 spent on preventative healthcare measures saving $14 in future healthcare costs. Ahead of the last State Budget, Community Health First identified areas where savings of over $637million in acute healthcare costs could be made through increased funding for registered community health organisations. Through targeted prevention and early intervention, we know that community health organisations can significantly contribute to reducing the strain on Victoria's healthcare system. It is not too late to put #CommunityHealthFirst! Read Community Health First’s Budget submission here ➡ https://lnkd.in/euu4YGPD

How are Community Health Workers transforming healthcare across East Africa in 2024? Explore the latest insights, challenges and opportunities from our recent State of the Evidence. Link🔗: https://bit.ly/3zFFyzw