Even during a national emergency, health advocates can be relied on to beat the drum for public health, a recent APHA survey finds.
Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, APHA’s state and local affiliated public health associations have advocated for a wide range of public health issues, going far beyond issues related to the outbreak. For example, as opioid-related deaths rose across the nation, gun violence increased and social justice garnered new attention, APHA’s Affiliate members were speaking out for change.
In fact, during 2021, advocacy work by the APHA-affiliated groups increased by 14% compared to 2020, according to the survey of APHA’s 50-plus Affiliates.
“For so many Affiliates to take up advocacy this year is remarkable, especially for those who had not organized before,” Holly Plackemeier, APHA’s Affiliate manager told The Nation’s Health. “The past year has been difficult, so it’s extra inspiring to see that so many members continue to fight for important issues.”
The work by the Affiliate groups has paid off. While the pandemic prematurely ended many state legislative sessions, several Affiliates successfully advocated for changes in regulations for e-cigarettes and tobacco and funding for public health, among other key issues.
The public health advocates also gained ground in other areas. According to the survey, nearly three-quarters of Affiliates have a policy or advocacy relationship with state and local health departments and more than half have at least some communication with their members of Congress.
Racial justice has been an important topic for Affiliates in recent years. In 2018, the Wisconsin Public Health Association spurred a national movement by formally declaring racism a public health crisis. In addition to numerous cities, counties and some states that have made similar declarations, many Affiliates have also declared racism a health crisis in their states.
Thirty-three Affiliates said they have either adopted a formal declaration of racism as a public crisis or had one in process, the survey found.
“Our Affiliates are the on-the-ground public health champions in their jurisdictions,” Plackemeier said. “The motivation of members to improve lives was bound to have an impact.”
APHA provides tools for its members to engage in advocacy, including action alerts and a template for crafting a declaration of racism as a public health crisis. This summer, APHA released fact sheets that detail public health funding and challenges in every U.S. state.
In August, dozens of Affiliates received grants of up to $5,000 from APHA, which they will use to help schools stay up on best practices for health and safety during the pandemic.
For more information on APHA advocacy tools, visit www.apha.org/Speak-For-Health.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
