Public Health Resources

Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label   - On May 20, 2016, the FDA announced the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods to reflect new scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. The new label will make it easier for consumers to make better informed food choices. FDA published the final rules in the Federal Register on May 27, 2016. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HHS)

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE   - An interactive web-based dashboard hosted by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, to visualize and track reported cases of 2019-nCoV in real-time. The dashboard reports cases at the province level in China, city level in the US, Australia and Canada, and at the country level otherwise. (Johns Hopkins University)

Coronavirus Tracker   - This tracker provides the number of cases and deaths from novel coronavirus by country, the trend in case and death counts by country, and a global map showing which countries have cases and deaths. The data are drawn directly from official coronavirus situation reports released regularly by the WHO. (Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF))

Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19   - The Secretary is issuing this Declaration pursuant to section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act to provide liability immunity for activities related to medical countermeasures against COVID-19. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS))

Dialogue About the Workforce for Population Health Improvement: Proceedings of a Workshop (2019)   - Proceedings from a March 2019 workshop to explore the broad and multidisciplinary nature of the population health workforce. (National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM))

Fighting Together: National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day 2019   - National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) highlights the disproportionate impact of HIV on Hispanic and Latinx communities. The Latino Commission on AIDS—the lead organizer for this October 15 observance—notes, “the NLAAD 2019 campaign want[s] to address that people of either HIV status have a say on ending HIV, in stopping new diagnoses. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS))

Final Research Plan for Illicit and Nonmedical Drug Use in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Preventive Interventions   - The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force posted today a final research plan on interventions to prevent illicit and nonmedical drug use in children, adolescents, and young adults. (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF))

HHS To Begin Distributing $10 Billion in Additional Funding to Hospitals in High Impact COVID-19 Areas   - Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing it will begin distributing $10 billion in a second round of high impact COVID-19 area funding to hospitals starting next week. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS))

HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis Sentinel Network   - The HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis Sentinel Network (Sentinel Network) was formed to increase NACCHO’s understanding of local health department efforts, needs, challenges, and successes. The Network is comprised of more than 100 LHDs from over 40 states and the District of Columbia who complete brief surveys on an approximately quarterly basis. The Sentinel Network is open to all local health departments and NACCHO aims to expand Sentinel Network membership to include at least two local health departments from each state and ensure a spectrum of jurisdiction sizes and geographic locations and settings are represented. (National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO))

Hate-Motivated Behavior: Impacts, Risk Factors, and Interventions   - This brief defines the parameters of hate-based behavior and its threat to the health of the overall population and describes the toll it can take on the health of its victims—which include depression, posttraumatic stress, and substance misuse. Additionally, structural discrimination reveals economic, housing, and educational disparities sometimes for entire vulnerable communities. (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF))

Housing for Health: Creating a Permanent Supportive Housing Program to Help People with Comlex Conditions Experiencing Homelessness   - The Los Angeles Department of Health's Housing for Health (HFH) division reflects the national movement for “housing first,” an approach that prioritizes providing individuals experiencing homelessness with housing, regardless of whether they are in treatment for their substance use, mental health, or physical health conditions (and, unlike most other housing programs outside this model, does not require sobriety as a condition of entry.) That view sees housing as necessary for the health of people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, HFH also embraces the philosophies of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and, ultimately, “whatever it takes” to help individuals who are homeless. (Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS))

How COVID-19 is changing the world: a statistical perspective (2020)   - This report presents a snapshot of some of the latest information available on how COVID-19 is affecting the world today. The quantitative knowledge presented in this report covers different aspects of public and private life from economic and environmental fluctuations to changes that affect individuals in terms of income, education, employment and violence and changes affecting public services such as civil aviation and postal services. The report also puts a spotlight on the affects for some sub-population groups like women and children as well as geographical regions. (United Nations (UN))

How to Talk About Mental Health: Addressing Misunderstandings about Mental Health in the Media (September 2019)   - This tip sheet was developed as a collaboration between the Massachusetts Statewide Youth Advisory Council (SYAC) and the Learning and Working Center at the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (TACR) to clear up some common misunderstandings about mental health conditions and to share strategies to talk about mental health in a more accurate and more helpful way. (University of Massachusetts Medical School)

Improving Chronic Illness Management in Harlem: Leveraging Community Health Coaches to Address the Challenge of Medication Management   - Since 2012, City Health Works in Harlem, New York, has hired clinically supervised, neighborhood-based health coaches to support low-income patients manage chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. Study presents the major reasons for medication issues, including those that required “escalations” to clinical supervisors, discusses the unique ways that community-based coaching can help address medication management challenges that emerge in patients’ daily lives, and recommends several action items for medical training and practice, aimed at improving the delivery of patient-centered care. (Urban Institute)

Leading Health Indicators 2030: Advancing Health, Equity, and Well-Being (January 2020)   - Report identifies 34 LHIs that will serve as options for the Healthy People Federal Interagency Workgroup to consider as they develop the final criteria and set of LHIs for Healthy People 2030. (National Academies Press)

Leveraging Laws and Policies to Help Achieve Healthy People 2020 Objectives   - The Healthy People 2020 Law and Health Policy project is developing resources that will provide practical information to a broad audience about the impact that laws and policies can have on health outcomes. (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), HHS)

Leveraging Partnerships: An Evaluation of the NACCHO Vector Control Collaborative Mentorship Program (May 2020)   - An evaluation of the Vector Control Collaborative Mentorship Program, a program for local vector control organizations that provides funding for capacity-building in one or more of the capabilities. (National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO))

LitCovid   - LitCovid is a curated literature hub for tracking up-to-date scientific information about the 2019 novel Coronavirus. It is the most comprehensive resource on the subject, providing a central access to 4379 (and growing) research articles in PubMed. The articles are updated daily and are further categorized by different research topics and geographic locations for improved access. (National Library of Medicine (NLM), NIH)

Mortality, Admissions, and Patient Census at SNFs in 3 US Cities During the COVID-19 Pandemic   - Study examined outcomes at skilled nursing facilities in 3 metropolitan areas from March-May 2020. (American Medical Association (AMA))

NIH continues to boost national COVID-19 testing capacity   - The National Institutes of Health today announced $129.3 million in scale-up and manufacturing support for a new set of COVID-19 testing technologies as part of its Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative. NIH is awarding contracts to nine companies for technologies that include portable point-of-care tests for immediate results and high-throughput laboratories that can return results within 24 hours. (National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS)

NIH establishes Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases   - The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, yesterday announced that it has awarded 11 grants with a total first-year value of approximately $17 million to establish the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID). (National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS)

Nonfatal Drug and Polydrug Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments — 29 States, 2018–2019   - Rates of ED-treated suspected nonfatal drug overdoses involving opioids, cocaine, and amphetamines, and of polydrug overdoses co-involving opioids and amphetamines increased from 2018 to 2019. Rates of suspected benzodiazepine-involved overdoses declined. Opioids were substantially co-involved with cocaine, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine overdoses in 2019; 23.6%, 17.1%, and 18.7% of cocaine-, amphetamine-, and benzodiazepine-involved overdoses, respectively, involved opioids. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR))

Novel Coronavirus Information Center   - Elsevier’s free health and medical research on novel coronavirus (COVID-19). (Elsevier)

Overview and Methods for the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System — United States, 2019   - This overview report describes the surveillance system and the 2019 survey methodology, including sampling, data collection procedures, response rates, data processing, weighting, and analyses presented in this MMWR Supplement. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR))

Population Health Science in the United States: Trends, Evidence, and Implications for Policy: Proceedings of a Joint Symposium (2021)   - The results of an October 2018 Joint Symposium which looked at the current state of population health science in the United States. (National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM))

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, January 2017–September 2018   - A report on polio immunization activities in Pakistan.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars   - Clinical Scholars fellows include pharmacists, physical therapists, veterinarians, dentists, social workers, nurses, physicians, and many others working in clinical or academic settings. Through mentoring, networking, and an intensive curriculum centered on equity, they deepen their influence and impact as leaders with the power to transform their workplaces and communities. Working in teams of two to five representing diverse disciplines, they design an innovative project to address a complex health problem in their area. Teams receive annual grant funding up to $525,000 so members can participate in the three-year program at no cost to themselves or their organizations. Clinical Scholars is one of several programs created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop a network of strong, interdisciplinary leaders from every sector working to create a nation where everyone can reach their best possible health and well-being. Clinical Scholars, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a national leadership development program for experienced health practitioners. Applications open each January and are in March.

SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Serologic Responses from a Sample of U.S. Navy Service Members — USS Theodore Roosevelt, April 2020   - Among a convenience sample of 382 young adult U.S. service members aboard an aircraft carrier experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, 60% had reactive antibodies, and 59% of those also had neutralizing antibodies at the time of specimen collection. One fifth of infected participants reported no symptoms. Preventive measures, such as using face coverings and observing social distancing, reduced risk for infection. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR))

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Frontline Health Care Personnel in a Multistate Hospital Network — 13 Academic Medical Centers, April–June 2020   - Among 3,248 personnel observed, 6% had antibody evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection; 29% of personnel with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were asymptomatic in the preceding months, and 69% had not previously received a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was lower among personnel who reported always wearing a face covering while caring for patients (6%), compared with those who did not (9%). (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR))

Sodium Reduction Learning Collaborative   - The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is pleased to invite you to a Sodium Reduction Learning Collaborative (SRLC) to help us work together to reduce the burden of excess sodium intake in our communities! (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on advancing new policies aimed at preventing youth access to, and appeal of, flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and cigars   - FDA is proposing to end current compliance policy as it applies to flavored electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products such as electronic cigarettes (other than tobacco-, mint-, and menthol-flavored products), and prioritize enforcement of such products offered for sale in ways that pose a greater risk for minors to access these tobacco products. In addition, FDA expects manufacturers of all flavored ENDS products (other than tobacco-, mint-, and menthol-flavored) that remain on the market under these new conditions to submit premarket applications to the agency by Aug. 8, 2021. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HHS)

Stories from the Field: Essentials for Childhood Framework   - Post shares five stories of health departments engaged in projects based on the Essentials for Childhood Framework. The framework calls for creating safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children, with the aim to prevent child abuse and neglect and to assure that all children reach their full potential. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)

Supporting a Nation in Crisis: Solutions for Local Leaders to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being During and Post-COVID-19 (August 2020)   - This action guide is intended for local policymakers and civic institutions. It provides recommendations that can be implemented to address mental health in both the immediate response and recovery phases of the pandemic. This guide also highlights a handful of focus populations uniquely affected by the mental health challenges of COVID-19 and suggests community-specific tactics to address these needs. (de Beaumont Foundation)

The State of States: How Governors Plan to Address Health-Related Social and Economic Factors in 2019   - Blog post examines the social and economic issues raised in the recent governors' state of the state and inaugural addresses – such as poverty, violence, housing, education, and addiction — that heavily impact the health and well-being of Americans. (National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP))

The U.S. Government Engagement in Global Health: A Primer   - This primer provides basic information about global health and U.S. government’s response in low- and middle-income countries. (Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF))

Vital Signs: Zika-Associated Birth Defects and Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities Possibly Associated With Congenital Zika Virus Infection — US Territories and Freely Associated States, 2018   - CDC’s MMWR and Medscape are proud to introduce a new FREE continuing education (CE) activity. Clinicians will become aware of the frequency and type of birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities seen among children born to mothers with laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)

What Would it Take to Reduce Inequities in Healthy Life Expectancy?   - Brief identifies five strategies for the health care sector to help people address their health-related social needs and in turn narrow inequities in health and healthy life expectancy. (Urban Institute)

What’s in Our Water? New Research on Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water and Their Public Health Implications   - On this week's episode of On the Evidence, we speak with Cindy Hu, a data scientist at Mathematica, who studies how humans are exposed to and affected by this class of emerging contaminants in drinking water. We discuss the prevalence of these chemicals in our drinking water, as well as their health implications and ways to address them through public policy. (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.)