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
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
Legality of Drug Checking Equipment in the United States
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
Exemptions to School Entry Vaccines and Corresponding Vaccine Coverage
Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Benefit: A Powerful Tool to Improve Child Health
Legality of Drug Checking Equipment in Illinois
IZ Gateway Agreement for Data Exchange Between IIS and Multi-Jurisdictional Vaccine Providers
Q&A: Tracking How Voting Impacts Health
Immunization (IZ) Gateway Project Legal Agreements: Facilitating Secure Data Sharing for IISs
COVID-19 Illustrates Need to Close the Digital Divide
Strengthening Public Health Authority to Contain and Prevent Communicable Disease
An Assessment of the Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping
Declarations of Racism as a Public Health Crisis: Utilizing Declarations to Address Health Inequities
Renewable Energy Standards: A Strategy to Transition Rapidly Away From the Use of Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas to Clean, Safe, and Affordable Renewable Energy
Ideas for Action on Renewable Energy Standards
Equity Assessment Framework for Public Health Laws and Policies
Election 2020: Public Health Legal Reforms and Projections
2020 Election: Public Health on the Ballot
Law and Policy Pathways to Civic Engagement
Law and Policy Pathways to Equity in Birth Outcomes
Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration
Broadband Access and Public Health: Legal and Policy Opportunities for Achieving Equitable Access
IZ Gateway Project Legal Agreements: Facilitating Secure Data Sharing for Jurisdictions’ Immunization Information Systems
Systemic Racism and Policing: How Can Public Health Advocates Grapple with the Dual Challenges of Systemic Racism and Discriminatory Policing?
Strategies and Opportunities for Strengthening Community Health through Medical-Legal Partnership – Public Health Collaboration
Policy Surveillance: Preschool Social and Emotional Learning
Making Sure Kids are Healthy Enough to Learn: Innovations in Education Law and Policy
Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change through Law and Policy
Legal Strategies to Promote Solar Energy, Public Health, and Climate Adaptation
Tackling Tough Public Health Problems through Cross-Sector Data Collaborations
State Laws and Policies Affecting Broadband Access in Eight Northern Region States
Tax Incentives and Public Health: Injury Prevention on the Road, on the Water, and at Home
Implementing Law and Policy to Support Literacy and Reading Proficiency
Employment Tax Incentives and Ex-Offender Health
Spotlight
A Renewed Focus on Health Equity in Wayne County, Michigan
Removal of “X-Waiver” Promises Increased and More Equitable Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Science Denial and Public Health Law
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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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Explore the Network’s Legal Assistance Library to find answers to commonly asked questions on a variety of public health topics.