What happens when a massive sewage spill threatens one of the nation’s busiest waterways? ASTHO member Ayanna Bennett, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, joins the show to discuss the massive Potomac River sewage spill that unfolded during a brutal winter storm, the public health risks it created, and the extraordinary coordination required between local, state, and federal agencies to protect drinking water, recreation, and food safety. She reflects on the lessons learned from managing a multi-jurisdictional emergency under intense public and media scrutiny. Later, ASTHO’s Senior Vice President for Population and Innovation, Jen Layden returns to talk about why partnerships are central to ASTHO’s 2026–2029 strategic plan.

About Us | ASTHO

Developing a Policy Action Plan to Improve Access to STI Medications Webinar
Funding & Collaboration Opportunities | ASTHO

What does it take to lead effectively across agencies, jurisdictions, and communities in overdose prevention work? Today, ASTHO’s Alice Schenall, director of cross-sector leadership and facilitation, and Alyssa Merski, a senior analyst for social and behavioral health, talk about the role of boundary-spanning leadership in strengthening Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) efforts. They’ll unpack the five common types of organizational boundaries — vertical, horizontal, stakeholder, demographic, and geographic — and explain how recognizing these challenges can help leaders build stronger collaboration and improve outcomes.

Applying Boundary Spanning Leadership Principles to Overdose Data to Action Efforts | ASTHO

ASTHO Policy Institute Lunch & Learn Series: Improving and Strengthening Prenatal Care Engagement

What does it take to rebuild the foundation of public health in the United States, and why did it take 30 years to get here? Director of the Division of Jurisdictional Support, CDC's Public Health Infrastructure Center, Stacey Mattison Jenkins breaks down the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), a $4.6 billion investment reaching more than 100 health departments nationwide. Designed to strengthen the core of the system, not just respond to crises, PHIG is funding workforce expansion, modern data systems, and the everyday capabilities that keep communities safe. Jenkins explains how a nationwide shortage of 80,000 public health workers pushed the system to the brink, and how targeted investments are already putting thousands of professionals back into the field. From improving food safety inspections in Texas to doubling clinic capacity in Oklahoma and modernizing disease tracking in Nebraska, the results are tangible, local, and often invisible when they’re working well.

This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG

After nine years at ASTHO, Carolyn Mullen, senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, reflects on the defining moments, leadership lessons, and policy battles that shaped her tenure in public health advocacy. Mullen discusses navigating crises ranging from the opioid epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic and major federal funding challenges and shares how advocacy strategies have evolved. She also offers blunt advice for the next generation of communicators and advocates: retire outdated talking points, embrace innovation, and meet communities where they are.

How States Can Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences Through Stability, Safety, and Support | ASTHO

Legislative Snapshot: Suicide Prevention Infrastructure and AI Chatbots | ASTHO

Addressing Overdose Through Collaboration and Opioid Settlement Funds | ASTHO

Public Health Approaches to Preventing Suicide and Promoting Mental Well-Being | ASTHO

This episode explores two rapidly developing global health situations and the critical role public health agencies play in keeping communities informed and protected. ASTHO Vice President of Health Security, Meredith Allen, tells us about the ongoing monitoring response tied to an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Meredith explains why health officials say the risk to the public remains low, how quarantine and monitoring efforts are working, and why this situation is very different from the early days of COVID-19. Later, Emily Lapayowker, assistant director of web content at ASTHO talks about Global Accessibility Awareness Day and why digital accessibility is a core public health issue.

CHALLENGE: Accessibility know-how needs to go mainstream with developers. NOW. | MySQLTalk.comAdvanced Accessibility Training | ASTHO

Accessibility Pillars in Web and Design | ASTHO

Home - GAAD

Funding & Collaboration Opportunities | ASTHO

Leveraging PHIG to Advance Policy Infrastructure at Austin Public Health | ASTHO

Today: building and keeping a strong public health workforce through innovative tools and strategies. Brianna Gorman, a senior analyst for workforce at ASTHO, discusses ASTHO’s new Workforce Employee Experience Implementation Tool, an interactive resource built to help agencies address workforce challenges across the employee lifecycle: from recruitment and onboarding to retention, succession planning, and offboarding. Later, LaShonda Freeman, workforce development director at the Bureau of Organizational Development, Workforce Development Section South Carolina Department of Public Health, shares how South Carolina’s Supplemental Tuition Assistance Policy Program (STAP) is helping employees pursue advanced education while strengthening the agency’s long-term workforce pipeline.

Home | Public Health Careers.org

ASTHO Learning Opportunity: ACEs Strategic Communications Training
Developing a Policy Action Plan to Improve Access to STI Medications Webinar

Today: the growing health and economic consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases. Ben Lopman, professor of epidemiology, global health, and environmental health at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, discusses the new Vaccine Impact Map, an interactive tool designed to help public health officials visualize how declining vaccination coverage could affect their states over time. Later, Bryan Patenaude, associate professor of economic evaluation and health economics at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, breaks down the financial realities of measles outbreaks and why even relatively small outbreaks can carry massive costs for public health systems, hospitals, insurers, and families.

The Cost of Measles and Public Health Implications | ASTHO

Thriving Under Pressure: Building Resilient Dialysis Systems and Teams
Funding & Collaboration Opportunities | ASTHO

How do you strengthen public health for the future? Start with better communication. Amanda Kwong, director of Public Health Communications Collaborative at the de Beaumont Foundation, discusses why effective public health communications go far beyond social media posts and public awareness campaigns. She explains how communications should function as a core part of public health infrastructure rooted in community engagement, strategic leadership, and proactive planning rather than reactive messaging. Later, Ashley Nanthavongsa-Mosley, a senior analyst for workforce at ASTHO, highlights innovative efforts to introduce public health education into K-12 schools. From disease detective competitions in Connecticut to curriculum partnerships in Montana and professional development programs for teachers in Washington, states are creating new pathways for students to explore public health careers earlier than ever before.

Public Health Communications for Impact: Approaches to Strengthening Infrastructure

Public Health Leadership Starts in the Classroom | ASTHO

ASTHO Learning Opportunity: ACEs Strategic Communications Training

Wastewater Testing for Arboviruses: Arizona’s Surveillance Approach | ASTHO

Strengthening Public Health Response to Infectious Diseases Through Wastewater Surveillance | ASTHO