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Purpose Engagement in policy is an essential public health service, with state legislatures serving as important arenas for activity on issues affecting children and families. However, a gap in communication often exists between policymakers and public health researchers who have the research knowledge to inform policy issues. We describe one tool for researchers to better leverage public health research to inform state legislative policymaking on issues of relevance to children and families. Description The Oregon Family Impact Seminar (OFIS), adapted from the Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars, applies a systematic process to bring a synthesis of research findings on public health issues to state legislators using a six-step process: (1) identify candidate topics, (2) recruit legislative champions, (3) select the topic, (4) identify and prepare speakers, (5) host the presentations, and (6) develop and disseminate a research brief as a follow-up contact. Assessment Use of this model in Oregon has produced policy impact; for example, the 2015 presentation, 'Two-Generation Approaches to Reduce Poverty,' prompted ongoing dialogue culminating in a new statute to increase Earned Income Tax Credit for parents with young children. This approach also has strengthened relationships among researchers and legislators, which serves to streamline the OFIS process. Conclusion This model is an effective vehicle for leveraging public health research findings to inform state-level policy. This model also serves to connect researchers with opportunities to engage with policymakers to address significant public health problems, particularly those addressing social, economic, and environmental determinants of health for children and families., Author(s): Emily J. Tomayko [sup.1] , Bethany Godlewski [sup.2] , Sally Bowman [sup.3] , Richard A. Jr. Settersten [sup.2] , Roberta B. Weber [sup.5] , Gloria Krahn [sup.4] Author Affiliations: [...]

'The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now.'--Chinese Proverb Through the metaphor of an adaptive, organic entity--a tree with roots, a [...]

Public health has its roots in social justice. Descriptions of public health work in the early 20th century reveal the appalling living conditions of the poor and the inequities that [...]

Health research needs to focus not just on the growing divide in health status between the world's rich and poor but also on the unacceptable gap between our unprecedented knowledge [...]

According to the World Health Organization, about 10 million people--most of them in low-and middle-income countries--die needlessly every year because they do not have access to existing medicines and vaccines [...]

Byline: Dirk Meusel (1), Bettina Menne (2), Wilhelm Kirch (1), Roberto Bertollini (3) Keywords: Extreme weather events; Floods; Cold waves; Heat waves; Public health responses Abstract: In the last decade, the WHO European Region has been struck by various extreme weather events. The dramatic political, social, environmental and health consequences have stimulated debate on whether appropriate action can prevent the health effects of such extreme weather events. Based on our knowledge of climate change, more extreme weather and climate events will occur in the coming years, and they are likely to be more severe. International collaboration is needed to evaluate and target actions better. Many lessons have been learned from early warning and information systems. In preparation for the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest in 2004, the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health of the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Environment Agency (EEA) organized a meeting entitled 'Extreme weather events and public health responses' in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 9--10 February 2004 to exchange information regarding the 2002 floodings and the 2003 heat waves as well as to develop recommendations on public health and environmental responses to climate extremes. This paper reviews the contributions from the Bratislava meeting and summarizes the policy recommendations that were developed in a working document for the Fourth Ministerial Conference. Climate variability and extremes are discussed, as are country case studies and experience with floods, heat and cold waves in various European countries some of the lessons learned are summarized in response to extreme events. Author Affiliation: (1) Research Association Public Health Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty at Dresden University of Technology, Fiedlerstrasse 33, 01307 , Dresden, Germany (2) Global Change and Health Programme, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe (3) Division of Technical Support, Health Determinants, WHO Regional Office for Europe Article History: Registration Date: 06/09/2004 Received Date: 13/07/2004 Accepted Date: 06/09/2004 Online Date: 28/10/2004 Article note: The members of the Collaborating Group are listed in the Appendix

Introduction A couple of years before September 11, a needs assessment was conducted in Union County, North Carolina, to determine what resources various agencies needed for disaster preparedness. On that [...]

This installment of Law and the Public's Health examines the meaning of Olmstead v. L.C. (1) for public health agencies administering personal health care programs. Handed down by the U.S. […]

The easily observable decrease in physical activity at work, in domestic chores, in transport, and also as part of leisure time pursuits was for a long time commonly considered a […]

The origins of modern public health can be traced back to infectious disease epidemics of now uncommon diseases such as cholera, plague, and leprosy. (1) As these diseases were controlled […]

This article proposes and discusses legal and administrative preparations for a bioterrorist attack. To perform the duties expected of public health agencies during a disease outbreak caused by bioterrorism, an [...]

We analyzed hospitalizations in England from April 1, 1989, to March 31, 1998, and identified approximately 700 cases, 46 fatal, from viral encephalitis that occurred during each year; most (60%) [...]

Singapore experienced a large epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in 2000. After reviewing HFMD notifications from doctors and child-care centers, we found that the incidence of HFMD [...]

Objective: The management of inter-agency collaborations needs to be approached in particular, but not well defined, ways. In this paper the management and ways of working of a successful co-ordinating unit are discussed and located in the context of inter-agency partnerships. Methods: The text is based on qualitative archival research and a critical review of practice. Conclusions: The evidence indicates that the agencies participating in the centre valued its work in facilitating inter-agency collaboration. The structural arrangements of the centre, and its modus operandi, manifest the characteristics of an `obligational co-ordinating unit' in which success is based on establishing and maintaining appropriate interactions between partner agencies. The ways the centre operationalised the key principles of independence, member support, power and trust relations are discussed. Finally, the importance of `environmental fit' and the impact of a changing policy environment on the centre are discussed. Implications: In health promotion, and public health more broadly, efforts to co-ordinate the work of agencies and their members are common. However, the precise structures and work practices that are effective rarely have a foundation in evidence or theory. This paper will contribute to our knowledge of how the work of co-ordination can be effectively undertaken in the context of agencies voluntarily entering negotiated relationships to pursue joint goals in public health.

Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is an inherited disorder of iron absorption. It meets several of the key public health principles for population-based screening and is considered to be a test-case for public health genetics. However, there has been relatively little debate in the public health or wider community regarding the merits of population-based genetic screening for HH. Genetic susceptibility to HH occurs in about 1:200 people and although mortality is low (age-standardised rate 2.75/million), there are potentially serious clinical manifestations of iron overload. Regular venesection is a simple and effective treatment for early stage iron overload. DNA-based testing is available and iron overload may be identified using serum transferrin saturation and ferritin tests. However, there are important gaps in knowledge relevant to screening for HH. The limited data on penetrance of HFE genotypes, and thus the uncertain probability that genetically susceptible individuals will develop clinically significant disease, is a major impediment to population-based genetic screening. Clinical evidence supports treating early-stage disease but no randomised controlled trials of the effectiveness of screening in reducing the burden of disease have been conducted. In addition, the natural history of early stages of HH and factors that may modify progression are unclear. Two international consensus panels on HH concluded that there is insufficient evidence for population-based screening at present. We present recommendations to advance the debate on screening for HH in Australia.