{"id":9894,"date":"2022-05-18T16:07:37","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T20:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=9894"},"modified":"2024-12-17T10:16:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T15:16:08","slug":"current-public-health-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/current-public-health-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Major Public Health Initiatives in 2022 (and How to Make an Impact)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Public health plays a vital role in populations across the globe. This field is dedicated to improving the health \u2013 and protecting the well-being \u2013 of populations, communities, organizations, and individuals. When threats are made to the greater good, or when new research arises in the field, it is up to public health professionals to step in. They may develop vaccinations, promote major health campaigns, increase access to healthcare, or take strides to improve others\u2019 living and work environments. There are many contemporary initiatives affecting the nation\u2019s public health today, and therefore many ways one can get involved.<\/p>\n

If you are considering a future in public health, read on. Below are five public health initiatives affecting our nation in 2022, and details on how you can influence positive change today.<\/p>\n

1. Address the Public Health Effects of Climate Change<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year, the American Public Health Association<\/a> (APHA) listed the effects of climate change as one of the organization\u2019s top advocacy priorities.<\/p>\n

As climate changes persist, disease and death rates will also propel. Consequently, America must act immediately to prepare public health systems and protect populations \u2014 especially vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n

In a Proclamation on National Public Health Week<\/a>, President Biden also declared, \u201cWe must make transformational investments in our climate resilience and continue to address dangerous environmental injustices that threaten public health and have hit communities of color the hardest.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Expand Racial Equity<\/strong><\/p>\n

In November 2020, the American Medical Association<\/a> identified racism as a threat to public health. The same year, a fact sheet on health disparities by race and ethnicity<\/a> verified race to be a disproportionate factor in health coverage, conditions, mental health care, and causes of death. In April 2021, the director of the CDC called racism a “serious public health threat,” and by August 2021, racism was declared a public health crisis<\/a> across 37 states.<\/p>\n

In 2022, the Kaiser Family Foundation<\/a> found that American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Blacks, and Latinos have been twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as whites.<\/p>\n

In his Proclamation during National Public Health Week, President Biden stated, “We must take commonsense steps to address the public health epidemic of gun violence, which disproportionately impacts Black Americans.”<\/p>\n

Socioeconomic factors like food insecurity and housing instability are also at the forefront of racial health inequities. In the 2022 outline of the American Public Health Association’s advocacy plans, the organization emphasized eliminating police violence and expanding voting access. The APHA’s agenda also indicated, “To achieve health equity\u2026we must address racism as a driving force of the social determinants of health (e.g., housing, education, and employment) and a root cause of disparate outcomes for communities of color\u2026.”<\/p>\n

3. Makeover Mental Health Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n

In his preliminary State of the Union Address, Biden announced his proposals to:<\/p>\n