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.