Mechanisms for Advancing Public Health
There are novel and innovative ways that law and policy in different sectors can be used to advance health initiatives. Emerging public health issues like climate adaptation, social determinants of health, and childhood trauma call for new approaches and strategies that leverage law and policy in previously unexplored ways.
Resources
Legality of Drug Checking Equipment in the United States
Racial Equity Interests and Needs Assessment
Medical Debt is a Public Health Crisis
Promoting Health Equity in Communities Affected by Mass Incarceration—Addressing Legal Obstacles to Hiring Formerly Incarcerated Individuals as Community Health Workers
Advancing Equity for all Racial Groups through the Governmental Use of Racial Equity Tools
MICRO-TOOLKIT: Equity Assessment Framework for Public Health Laws and Policies
Innovative Laws and Policies for a Post-Pandemic Public Health System
Six Policies that Advance Black Health and Wellbeing
Rent Escrow as a Tool for Enforcing Tenants’ Rights
Proactive Rental Inspection as a Tool for Enforcing Tenants’ Rights
Collecting and Disseminating Public Health Data Disaggregated by Race and Ethnicity to Advance Health Equity: Navigating the Legal Issues
State Laws Limiting Public Health Protections: Hazardous for Our Health
Spotlight
Reflections on how The Supreme Court Affirmative Action in College Admissions Opinion Denies the Reality of Racism in the U.S. and its Impact on People of Color
National Voter Education Week: How States Can Improve Health by Increasing Voting Access
Renewed Efforts to Address the Negative Impacts of Inequitable School Discipline
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A Closer Look at Mechanisms for Advancing Public Health
Increasingly, public health must look at legal and policy mechanisms in other sectors for opportunities that can support efforts to improve and promote health in communities. For example, tax incentives — in the form of tax credits, deductions or exemptions — can be used to support injury prevention measures; addressing climate and health requires examination of energy policy; and tackling mental health issues in school necessitates consideration of training requirements for teachers.
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