Washington, DC, August 19, 2026 — This month’s podcast from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes news about the Senate confirmation of Dr. Erika Schwartz to be the next Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the recent executive order from the President on childhood vaccinations. Speakers also provide an update on federal funding for fiscal year 2027 and how local public health leaders can educate their elected officials about the needs of their community during the August recess as part of NACCHO’s Public Health is Local campaign.

Later in the program (5:40), Shannon Fox, Community Health Planner of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department, joins the podcast to discuss her local health department’s participation in NACCHO’s Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program – a program launched to help local health departments develop and advance policy solutions focused on nutrition security and access to care. Communities across the country continue to face challenges related to nutrition security, access to prenatal and postpartum care, access to healthcare services, and other factors that influence maternal and child health outcomes. While local health departments provide critical programs and services to support families, many are also exploring local policy approaches that can create sustainable, long-term improvements. Fox discusses the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department’s policy efforts developed specifically to address community maternal and child health concerns.

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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.