Public Health Advocacy

Staff Contacts

NACCHO informs policymakers of the critical role local health departments play in keeping our communities healthy and safe.

As the national voice for local public health, NACCHO:

Educates policymakers about critical local public health issues.
Analyzes the impact of legislative and regulatory actions on local public health.
Provides its members with the latest updates on key public health issues and opportunities to take action.

In the Spotlight

Health Reform Moves Forward

The Senate and House have passed legislation that would strengthen the public health workforce and local health department infrastructure. NACCHO's health reform Web page has more details. More »

FY11 Budget

President Obama released his FY11 budget on February 1 that contains $10 million for a Health Prevention Corps at local and state health departments and $20 million to combat chronic disease in 10 of the largest U.S. cities. NACCHO's Budget webpage has more details.

Local Health Department Budget Cuts and Job Losses

NACCHO has completed the third in a series of surveys measuring the impact of the economic recession on local health departments. The surveys found that between January 2008 and December 2009, LHDs lost 23,000 jobs to layoffs and attrition, roughly 15 percent of the entire LHD workforce. In 2009, an additional 25,000 LHD employees were subjected to reduced hours or mandatory furloughs. More than half of LHDs had to make cuts during 2009 to important programs such as population-based primary prevention, maternal and child health, and environmental health. More »

Senator Grassley (R-IA) Visits H1N1 Mass Vaccination Clinic

On Jan. 17, Curtis W. Dickson, M.Ed., Health Director, Linn County Public Health, welcomed U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to an H1N1 Mass Vaccination Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Grassley said, “Events like these allow me to have an open and honest dialogue that provides greater input directly from Iowans so I can better serve them in the U.S. Senate.”

If your health department would like help arranging a visit with your Representative or Senator, please contact Eli Briggs, NACCHO’s Senior Government Affairs Specialist.

Funding Public Health

Report on Sustainable Funding for LHDs

Health Management Associates, an independent research group, released a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded report that describes the impact of federal funding cutbacks on local health departments and why Congress should provide sustainable funding through health reform. More »

Impact of Federal Funding Cuts for Preparedness

NACCHO has released Federal Funding and Planning Priorities for Local Public Health Preparedness, based on data collected in the 2009 Preparedness Survey.

»	The Voice of Local Public Health
	NACCHO is developing a more robust grassroots network of local health departments to communicate with their elected Representatives and Senators in Congress. This is a critical time for issues that are important to local health departments and policymakers need to hear from you. Please e-mail Eli Briggs, NACCHO Senior Government Affairs Specialist, if you would like to join this network or have questions.

»	NACCHO in the News
	See the most recent media coverage featuring NACCHO. More »

»	National Identity for Local Public Health
	When communicating with external audiences about public health, consistent messaging reinforces the local public health identity. Click here to download fact sheets, press release and PowerPoint templates and more to help your LHD communicate about the national identity for local public health. More » Icon Use Disclaimer »

Get Heard on Capitol Hill