The law is essential to public health practice, as it requires practitioners to consider the balance between individual rights and public responsibilities when making decisions. The intersection of law and public health practice is constantly evolving and requires public health professionals to adjust as new issues emerge; however, there are principles and concepts to guide practitioners through these matters.
To this end, NACCHO and ChangeLab Solutions invite local health department staff to attend a pilot training introducing concepts in public health law, including a discussion on the newly developed Public Health Competency Model for Attorneys (PHCMA) on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm ET. Register here: https://bit.ly/3t2oXho
Developed by the Public Health Law Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with a multidisciplinary Expert Review Workgroup, the PHCMA aims to specify the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities in public health that are fundamental to attorneys working in and representing public health agencies.
This training offers an opportunity for health officials, lawyers, policy experts, and other professionals in health departments; faculty within academic public health and law programs; leaders in organizations supporting the public health workforce; and others to learn more about the PHCMA. We will provide an example of how the PHCMA can be applied in practice through equitable enforcement and addressing the root causes of health inequities. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on how the PHCMA may be enhanced to best meet the needs of the public health workforce.
This pilot training will provide:
- An introduction of public health law and its intersection with public health practice.
- An overview of the development and purpose of the Public Health Competency Model for Attorneys (PHCMA) and its intended application.
- How can the PHCMA be applied in practice? An overview of the importance of the equitable enforcement of public health laws and policies.
- An opportunity for participants to discuss their thoughts on the draft model with fellow public health professionals.
Moderator: Geoffrey Mwaungulu, Jr, JD, MPH, Director, Public Health Law & Policy, NACCHO
Speakers:
- Matthew Penn, JD, MLIS, Director, Public Health Law Program, Centers for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CSTLTS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Don Benken, JD, MPH, Deputy Director, Public Health Law Program, Centers for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CSTLTS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Maya Hazarika Watts, JD, Senior Attorney, ChangeLab Solutions
