This month’s podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) provides an update on the deal to end the government shutdown and what’s next for federal public health funding, including the need to approve full-year funding for federal health agencies that assist local health departments through the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. They also discuss NACCHO’s recent Congressional briefing that featured a panel of local health officials from cities hosting World Cup matches next year, highlighting the work underway to prepare for a safe and secure event. NACCHO also encourages members to ask their congressional representatives to support funding for federal health agencies in the Senate Labor-HHS bill.
For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (7:07), Lori Tremmel Freeman, Chief Executive Officer at NACCHO, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of local health departments and how the work of public health professionals improves community health across the country, ahead of Public Health Thank You Day (Monday, November 24). She also discusses her recently co-authored journal article titled, Where Do We Go From Here? The Way Forward for State and Local Public Health, which highlights key strategies to help state and local health departments build stronger public health systems moving forward.
This month’s podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes discussion on the ongoing federal government shutdown, mass layoffs of federal workers, and potential impacts on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs, which could impact local health department services. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (8:15), NACCHO experts discuss how various research studies throughout the year serve as the backbone of what is known about local health departments across the United States. This research is then used in peer-reviewed papers that local health departments can use as resources to strengthen their own planning processes. NACCHO releases seven major national studies, including its two flagship studies, the National Profile of Local Health Departments Study (Profile) and the Forces of Change Survey. Both studies have been conducted for decades, so together they provide a stable, long-term picture and a real-time snapshot of what’s changing in local public health. This research is instrumental to contributing to the understanding of local health departments and their needs and is valuable in helping local health departments assess the effectiveness of their health strategies and services.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
This month’s podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), includes discussion on leadership changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the upcoming federal funding deadline, and the House of Representatives’ Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill. This legislation was approved by the full House Appropriations Committee on September 9. Additional details are available in NACCHO’s comprehensive analysis of the bill. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (9:06), NACCHO highlights National Preparedness Month and previews the 2026 Preparedness Summit. The Preparedness Summit, the country’s first and longest-running national conference on public health preparedness, is now accepting abstracts. The theme for next year’s Summit is “Protecting Our Communities: State and Local Preparedness in Action,” focusing on the need for increased self-reliance on state and local partnerships amid a changing federal policy and budget landscape. The Summit will be held April 13-16, 2026, in Baltimore, MD, and registration options are available for in-person or virtual attendance. Abstracts are being accepted for both formats. Learn more at www.preparednesssummit.org.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
Washington, DC, August 19, 2025 —This month’s podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), includes discussion of the tragic shooting that happened at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s main campus in Atlanta, Georgia. Speakers also provide an update on the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill, which made it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 31 with bipartisan support. A comprehensive analysis of the bill was posted on NACCHO’s blog published by the NACCHO Government Affairs team. In addition, they describe a recent action alert sent to NACCHO’s Congressional Action Network urging Congress to ask the Office of Management and Budget to remove restrictions on using certain FY25 public health funds to support health departments. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (8:51), Sarisa Roe, Research and Evaluation Analyst at the CDC Foundation, discusses the launch of their new resource called Overdose Measures Matter. Operating under the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, the Overdose Measures Matter project helps local public health and community leaders understand which interventions are the most effective and helps them focus their efforts to reach populations with the highest need. The project aims to reduce overdoses by identifying what’s working, assessing programs and outcomes over time, and examining progress across communities.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
On this month’s podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) speakers talk about the recent budget reconciliation bill, which was signed into law this month, and what it means for local health departments. They also discuss the unique features of a budget reconciliation bill and how that differs from the annual appropriations process in Congress. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (7:23), Commissioner Damōn Chaplin, NACCHO’s new Board President and Health Commissioner for the City of Minneapolis Health Department, discusses how he plans to work with the board to better position NACCHO and local health departments as essential partners in improving the health of people living in American communities. He describes his focus on NACCHO becoming a stronger strategic partner for local health departments by aligning its priorities with long-term challenges facing public health including environmental threats, chronic disease, achieving equitable health outcomes, and emergency preparedness. He explains that the board is made up of leaders with direct, first-hand experience in public health, uniquely positioning them to support local health departments as they navigate pressing challenges from recent funding cuts to a shifting political landscape. Finally, he encourages public health officials to continue moving the field forward by building stronger partnerships and amplifying more community stories.
Washington, DC, June 16, 2025 — On this month’s podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) speakers discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) President’s Budget Request to Congress, including the Administration’s vision for a new department entitled the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). For more details and updates on the impact of the President’s budget request on local public health, please visit our blog. For weekly updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (8:44), Dr. Michael Kilkenny, NACCHO Board President and Chief Executive Officer and Health Officer for Cabell-Huntington Health Department, reflects on his tenure as Board President and offers guidance on shaping the future of public health as he prepares to transition to the Immediate Past President role at the end of this month.
Dr. Kilkenny credits the dedication of the board of directors and staff for contributing to key successes during his tenure, including the largest attendance at NACCHO360 and the Preparedness Summit, strong participation within NACCHO workgroups, and the board staying committed and even more united during challenging times. Dr. Kilkenny calls for local health departments to maintain their unity of purpose and continue leading with empathy and love.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
Washington, DC, May 16, 2025 — On this month’s podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) speakers discuss the "skinny” version of the President’s Budget Request to Congress for FY26, which provides limited details on the Administrations priorities, and the Congressional hearings that followed its release. They also report out on multiple Congressional hearings over the past month related to biomedical research and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reorganization. For more frequent updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington weekly newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (8:39), NACCHO’s Molly Curington, Government Affairs Associate, and Angie McPherson, Senior Website Specialist, discuss the new NACCHO Resource Hub. The platform offers local health departments an easy way to identify tools and resources they can use to strengthen their work. The Hub also provides an opportunity for local health departments to share updates on their programs and initiatives to foster new partnerships.
To learn more about the NACCHO Resource Hub, visit: www.naccho.org/resource-hub.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
Washington, DC, April 25, 2025 — On this month’s podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) speakers discuss the recent reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including significant layoffs of staff working on public health programs, as well as the recently leaked funding “passback” document and what this means for public health. They also share an update on a lawsuit filed by some states against HHS on the clawback of billions of dollars of COVID-era supplemental funding. For more frequent updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington weekly newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (7:15), Philip “Phil” Huang, MD, MPH, Director and Health Authority at Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS), and Miranda Grant, a DCHHS Program Manager for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, join NACCHO to discuss DCHHS’ efforts to prevent, detect, treat, and respond to HIV in Dallas County and the critical role local public health plays in improving health outcomes.
During the episode, they share the current state of the epidemic in Dallas County, the disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic communities, the importance of community partnerships in reaching more diverse populations, the promising outlook for a reduction in new cases by 2030, and how fostering community engagement and data-driven planning will help address the epidemic. They highlight their trauma-informed learning collaborative, a county-wide initiative to help reduce workforce burnout and address stigma surrounding HIV. Dallas County has also seen a significant increase in PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) usage with up to 8,000 residents on PrEP in 2023 versus 300 people in 2014. However, without sustainable investments in HIV prevention, Dallas County faces a growing crisis in its communities and an economic strain – each HIV case prevented saves an estimated $420,000 in lifetime costs. Sign up for NACCHO’s HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest.
NACCHO’s Podcast from Washington: How Lubbock Public Health is Responding to the Measles Outbreak in Texas
Washington, DC, March 21, 2025 — On this month’s podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) discuss last week’s Continuing Resolution that provides funds for the federal government through the end of Fiscal Year 2025, updates on the budget reconciliation process—including how it could potentially impact Medicaid—and updates on the confirmation hearings for HHS agency nominees. Subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington weekly newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (9:15), Katherine Wells, DrPH, Director of Lubbock Public Health in Texas, joins NACCHO to discuss the recent measles outbreak in the United States and initiatives they have implemented to slow the spread in Texas. As of March 20, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a total of 378 measles cases in 18 different jurisdictions, surpassing the total number of measles cases in the United States in 2024. As of March 21, 2025, Texas reported a total of 309 confirmed measles cases, with 40 hospitalizations. For recent updates on the measles outbreak and to view helpful resources, visit: NACCHO’s Blog: 2025 Measles Outbreaks.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
Washington, DC, February 14, 2025 — On this month’s podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) discusses the current administration’s executive actions related to public health, shares updates on Fiscal Year 2025 federal funding and the budget reconciliation process, and provides an update on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To get more public health policy updates, subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington weekly newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.
Later in the program (9:06), NACCHO announces the release of the new Profile Study Dashboard. The interactive dashboard offers nationwide data about the country’s local health departments’ infrastructure and activities. The data presented is collected from NACCHO’s national profile study, the largest and most comprehensive data source on local health department funding, staffing, and partnerships. Users can explore key features like data stories and shareable content to enhance communication efforts and promote public health action.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
Washington, DC, January 30, 2025 — On this podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ (NACCHO) Director of Government Affairs, Victoria Van de Vate, and Government Affairs Senior Specialist, Lauren Soule discuss updates on the 119th Congress and committee leadership, FY25 funding, Senate confirmation hearings, and new Presidential executive orders related to public health activities. To get more public health policy updates and to subscribe to NACCHO’s News from Washington weekly newsletter, visit: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news. Contact us at govtaffairs@naccho.org.
Later in the program (8:35), Nicholas Adams, Senior Program Analyst for Environmental Health at NACCHO, concludes the five-part Food Safety series by reviewing the resources and programs shared by previous guests and highlighting NACCHO projects that support local food safety. Nicholas discusses how initiatives like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards, the NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model, Retail Program Standards Networks, Oral Learner Train the Trainer Program, and the Council to Improve Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response provide local health departments with the tools to create a safer food system and have a voice in national food safety conversations.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
