State Public Health Symposium

2:30-3 p.m.

Registration

3-4 p.m.

Welcome and Overview: NCSL will provide a welcome and participants will introduce themselves. | Powerpoint | PDF file-27 pages

Moderator: Tahra Johnson, NCSL

Speaker: Kate Blackman, NCSL

4-5 p.m.

The Future of State Public Health | Powerpoint | PDF file-13 pages

This session will provide a recent history of state public health and how priorities have shifted in recent years. Speakers will discuss the future of public health and how state policymakers can be involved or lead.

Moderator: Tahra Johnson, NCSL

Speakers: Michael Fraser, chief executive officer, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Dr. José Montero, director, Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, CDC

Reception

Welcome and Discussion with CDC Leadership

This session will provide an overview of CDC’s priorities, highlight partnerships with states, and provide an opportunity for state policymakers to ask questions.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL

7-8:45 a.m.

Breakfast and Networking

9-9:10 a.m.

Welcome and Overview of the Day | Full Day Powerpoint Presentations | PDF file-164 pages

Moderator: Tahra Johnson, NCSL

9:10-9:30 a.m.

Overview of Public Health Governance | Powerpoint | PDF file-16 pages

State public health is organized differently in every state. This brief session will highlight the different governance structures for public health departments.

Moderator: Tahra Johnson, NCSL

Speaker: Michael Fraser, chief executive officer, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Public Health Workforce | Powerpoint | PDF file-26 pages

The public health workforce experienced enormous strain during the pandemic, but many of the challenges were longstanding. This session will focus on recruitment and retention of the workforce. Speakers will outline issues over the past decade, new challenges brought on by the pandemic, and state strategies to address these issues.

Moderator: Tammy Jo Hill, NCSL

Speakers: Amber Williams, senior vice president for leadership and organizational performance, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Shannon Kolman, NCSL

Break

A National Overview of the Domestic Immunization Programs | Powerpoint | PDF file-23 pages

A brief overview of immunization programs in the U.S. will be provided, as well as an overview of recent outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. CDC will share recent federal actions and collaborations with states and territories.

Moderator: Tahra Johnson, NCSL

Speaker: Dr. Georgina Peacock, director, Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC

Considerations for Routine Child Vaccination | Powerpoint | PDF file-18 pages

This session will focus on how states can address decreasing rates of routine childhood vaccination to avoid outbreaks. The session will review strategies for increasing access to and uptake of vaccines across settings, including approaches that address new challenges presented by the pandemic. Speakers will discuss lessons learned addressing routine child vaccination and successful strategies related to access, workforce and coverage.

Moderator: Tahra Johnson, NCSL

Speakers: Dr. Georgina Peacock, director, Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC

Dr. Joseph Kanter, state health officer and medical director, Louisiana Department of Health

Roundtable Discussion and Networking Lunch

Vaccine Information and Data | Powerpoint | PDF file-23 pages

State immunization registries and tracking immunization rates in real time or in a reasonable amount of time can be challenging. This session will explore state immunization registry trends and challenges related to routine vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination.

Moderator: Shannon Kolman, NCSL

Speaker: Rebecca Coyle, executive director, American Immunization Registry Association

Vaccine Messaging and Communication | Powerpoint | PDF file-49 pages

What are ways to talk about vaccines in committee? What are strategies for speaking about vaccines with constituents? There is no one way to discuss this topic. Speakers will discuss the implications of misinformation as well as the implementation and effectiveness of different strategies to communicate with the public about routine vaccinations and COVID-19.

Moderator: Khanh Nguyen, NCSL

Speakers: Dr. Joe Smyser, CEO, The Public Good Projects

Claire Hannan, executive director, Association of Immunization Managers

Expert Panel: Planning for the Future:

A panel of experts will discuss COVID-19 and routine vaccination policy challenges, opportunities and considerations for the future. Legislators will have an opportunity to share ideas and plans in their states.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL

Speakers: Experts from previous sessions

7-8:45 a.m.

8:30-8:45 a.m.

Welcome and Overview of the Day | Full Day Powerpoint Presentations | PDF file-153 pages

Moderator: Tahra Johnson, NCSL

8:45-9:25 a.m.

Overview of Infectious Diseases in the US Post-COVID | Powerpoint | PDF file-153 pages

This session will explore current trends in infectious diseases in the US.

Moderator: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL

Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, and Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service, CDC

Screening and Connection to Care | Powerpoint | PDF file-28 pages

The costs to states resulting from the treatment of infectious diseases are impressive. The estimated cost of providing health care services to people living with hepatitis C, for example, is $15 billion annually and recent hepatitis A outbreaks have cost at least $270 million since 2016. In 2019, HIV care and treatment cost the U.S. more than $20 billion. However, many cost-effective strategies exist that can prevent transmission of these diseases altogether. This session will highlight these strategies and provide insight from states that have effectively implemented them.

Moderator: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL

Speakers: Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, and Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service, CDC

Break

Youth Mental Health | Powerpoint | PDF file-32 pages

This session will serve as a transition into the afternoon’s programming around suicide prevention. Speakers will focus on newly released data highlighting concerns among youth and their mental health. Topics will include the impact of COVID-19 and strategies states can employ to bolster mental well-being in adolescents.

Moderator: Tammy Jo Hill, NCSL

Speakers: Dr. Kathleen Ethier, director, Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC

Suicide Prevention Overview | Powerpoint | PDF file-37 pages

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic raised fears of increasing rates of suicide. This session will provide an overview of the current trends in suicide deaths and insight into trends of other relevant behavioral health concerns.

Moderator: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL

Speaker: Dr. Deb Stone, lead behavioral scientist, Division of Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC

Suicide Prevention Policy Options for State Legislators | Powerpoint | PDF file-13 pages
This session will provide an overview of what states can do to prevent suicide from a state policy perspective.

Moderator: Khanh Nguyen, NCSL

Speakers: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL

Break

High Risk Populations | Powerpoint | PDF file-47 pages

This session will explore policy options to address communities disproportionately impacted by suicide.

Moderator: Tammy Hill

Speakers: Robin Matthies, director, Social and Behavioral Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Lindsey Myers, vice president, Social and Behavioral Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL

A New Lifeline: State Considerations for the 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Lifeline | Powerpoint | PDF file-18 pages

The rollout of the 988 Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Lifeline has tremendous implications for state policy makers. This session will explore 1) what states need to know about the functionality of the lifeline 2) how states can use the lifeline to respond to people in crisis 3) and state options to expand access to care as a result of increased demand.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL

Speakers: Rachel Pryer, Counselor for Health Policy, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Tom Coderre, acting assistant administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Laura Evans, director, National and State Policy, Vibrant Emotional Health and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

988 Listening Session with HHS

State legislators will have an opportunity to discuss considerations, ideas, concerns and additional feedback on 988 with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and other subject matter experts.

Moderators: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL

Speakers: Rachel Pryer, Counselor for Health Policy, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Tom Coderre, acting assistant administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Monica Johnson, director, Division of Behavioral Health, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Closing Session