Environment
APHA works with partners and members – including the Environment Section of APHA - to bring national attention to environmental public health issues.
APHA develops targeted educational materials and messages that highlight the connection between healthy communities and healthy people.
APHA uses science-based policies developed by members as the foundation for its work on the following focus areas:
- Climate Change
- Built Environment
- Environmental Public Health Tracking
- Workforce Development
Climate Change – APHA is concerned with the public health implications of climate change—from changes in vector borne diseases to impacts on drinking water supply to extreme weather events—and this year, National Public Health Week's focus is Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance. APHA developed a partner toolkit of materials and messages, including a blueprint for the public health community.
The Nation's Health published a series to coincide with National Public Health Week 2008:
Green Workplace Practices
Climate Change and Children's Health
New International Climate Change Plan
Climate Change Predicted to Impact Health
Built Environment – APHA is working to advance understanding of how the built environment (human made) can either enhance or harm health. APHA Environment Section has a built environment and health workgroup and maintains the Built Environment Institute, which hosts several sessions and a field trip at APHA annual meeting. The theme of NPHW 2006 was Designing Healthy Communities, Raising Healthy People. APHA is a co-sponsor of the New Partners in Smart Growth conference. APHA advocates for national and state legislation that helps to ensure healthier communities.
Environmental Public Health Tracking – APHA is working to increase awareness and support among the public health community and policy makers for CDC National Environmental Public Health Tracking program. The Tracking program is designed to integrate data about environmental hazards, exposures and data about diseases that are possibly linked to the environment. Check out the dynamic APHA produced resource: Keeping Track, Promoting Health.
Workforce Development– APHA has been working to help address the critical issues facing the environmental public health workforce – dwindling numbers, lack of resources, and increasing responsibilities due to emerging issues such as preparedness. APHA was instrumental in the development of environmental public health competencies that set guidelines for effective workforce practices.
APHA is now promoting the development of national environmental public health performance standards, which will allow agencies to assess environmental health systems as part of the national public health performance standard program.
More about Environmental Public Health
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