Public Health

Governors play an important role in improving health outcomes for their residents. With an emphasis on finding equitable solutions to some of the most pressing public health issues, governors establish partnerships, utilize state resources, and work across multiple sectors and state agencies to develop and promote relationships to improve public health. The Public Health team supports Governors on various public health topics, including public health infrastructure, chronic and infectious diseases, population health, maternal and child health, and rural health. In addition to providing timely and individualized state-focused technical assistance to governors, their health advisors, and state agency leadership, our team is working to aid governors and public health leaders in statewide transformation efforts to build and improve public health through transformation efforts.

Our Focus Areas

Disease Prevention and Management
Maternal and Child Health
Medicaid

Population Health
Public Health Infrastructure
Social Drivers of Health

Meet the Team

Brittney Roy, Program Director
Asia Riviere, Policy Analyst

Projects

NGA Public Health Library

Improving State Efforts to Prepare and Respond to Public Health Emergencies

Public health disasters, like natural or manmade disasters, have the potential to overwhelm a state’s emergency response capabilities resulting in widespread injury or loss of life. While public health threats ...

Attorney General to Governors: Use PDMPs to Tackle Opioid Abuse

President Obama proclaimed September 18-24, 2016, as Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week. As part of the Administration’s efforts to combat the crisis, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch issued a ...

States Take On Heroin, Illicit Fentanyl to Combat Opioid Epidemic

The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced that seven states, Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, will participate in an NGA learning lab to help combat the opioid epidemic. Through the ...

States Focus On Comprehensive Approach To Reduce Tobacco Use

WASHINGTON—Though cigarette smoking among high schoolers and adults continues to decline, tobacco use remains the leading cause of premature death in the United States, costing more than $170 billion each ...

Health Investments That Pay Off: A Comprehensive Approach to Tobacco Control

Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature disease and death in the United States, costing more than $170 billion each year in direct medical expenditures. More than 60 percent ...

Governors Sign Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction

WASHINGTON—Forty-six governors have signed the Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction, developed by and released today through the National Governors Association (NGA). By signing the compact, governors are agreeing to redouble their ...

A Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction

Governors have long been at the forefront of efforts to prevent and treat opioid addiction, working with health care providers, law enforcement and other stakeholders to mount a comprehensive response ...

Finding Solutions to the Prescription Opioid and Heroin Crisis: A Road Map for States

Inappropriate opioid prescribing is fueling one of the deadliest drug epidemics in United States history. Every day in the U.S., 78 people die from an opioid-related overdose. In addition to ...

States Stem Opioid Overdose Through Information Sharing

The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced that four states—Delaware, Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhode Island—will participate in a learning lab on improving data-collection efforts and information sharing between law enforcement and public health ...