Joe is an Epidemiologist for the Child Policy Research Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He is also a student in the Departments of Planning and Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati. Joe has substantial experience working in state and local public health as well as the academic and non-profit sectors. He also served two years as an epidemiologist for Doctors Without Borders in Africa. His interests include addressing key determinants of health in the built and policy environs, and providing evidence for advocacy. Joe is the student representative to the CHPPD Policy and Resolutions Committee.
The farm bill. Global warming. Regulations on junk food and marketing strategies in the midst of an obesity epidemic. Child health insurance. One cannot avoid the fact that public health issues are taking precedent in our legislative halls, are at the forefront of a presidential election, and are becoming increasingly important in the minds of the American people and the international community.
Like our public health colleagues, we are excited to be in this field at such a timely juncture. But our involvement in APHA and the Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section makes us unique. Not only can we research a topic and provide evidence to help inform decisions. Not only can we build strategies and programs to address the issues. We are much more proximate to action. We can create policy!
As a student, it's often easy to get caught up in coursework, unsure how to translate theory to action. However, student participation in the crafting and review of APHA policy not only provides an opportunity for students to take action on issues they are passionate about, but also ensures that diverse perspectives and insights on current initiatives are gathered from the entire APHA membership. The student protest of generations ago is not lost – only transformed into a more effective but no less prudent policy advocacy.
Where does one sign up? CHPPD members, including students, are encouraged to review APHA policy proposals and decide whether or not the Section should support them. At the Annual Meeting, CHPPD Policy Committee reviewers articulate the Section's views at policy hearings, authors or their proxies are given a chance to defend their proposals, and Governing Council members will discuss, possibly amend, and vote on the proposals. Proposals approved by the Governing Council then become official policy of APHA.
At last year’s 135th Annual Meeting, CHPPD commented on 19 policies including three late-breakers. Of these 12 were approved. The CHPPD Section did support Azzie Young, PhD's, proposed policy “Call for research and education into Vitamin D deficiency.” On the recommendation of the Joint Policy Council, Dr. Young withdrew the policy and is collaborating with sections to submit it for the 2008 Annual Meeting. New proposed policies are due to APHA by Feb. 19, 2008.
Does all this really matter? “Passed at the annual conference in 2004, Creating Policies in Land Use and Transportation Systems that Promote Public Health illustrates how policies should work,” says Donald Hoppert, APHA's director of Government Relations. Crafted by members of the Maternal and Child Health Section, it addressed transportation as an important public health issue, especially regarding childhood obesity. This policy became the theme for 2006 National Public Health Week , and helped inform legislation such as The Healthy Places Act of 2006 (S. 1067/H.R. 398), a bill introduced by Sen. Obama, D-Ill., and Rep. Solas, D-Calif..
To get involved with the CHPPD Student Section and the Policy and Resolutions Committee, write to Joe Schuchter at joe_schuchter@hotmail.com. The CHPPD student leaders plan to launch an online resource this fall, which will include periodic policy updates and action items.
By Joe Schucter, Student Liaison, CHPPD Policy and Resolutions Committee