Issue Brief

An outbreak of hepatitis A—a viral liver disease associated with insufficient sanitation, hygiene, and clean water—illuminates systemic failures to meet the health needs of people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This Issue Brief examines the connection between inadequate access to public toilets, hand sinks, showers and laundry facilities and the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on PEH.

Conflicting activities related to marijuana at state and federal levels raise questions as to whether a new federal/state legal relationship concerning marijuana legalization is forthcoming.

On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law. This Issue Brief and chart provides an overview of sections in the Act that are particularly relevant to public health, including the title and a brief descriptive summary of the section.

This issue brief outlines federal and Michigan laws that might apply to protect individuals from liability for negligence.