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

National Governors Association Issues Guidance to Help Governors Plan for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

As governors lead the fight against COVID-19 in their states and territories, the National Governors Association (NGA) released a memo to help governors plan for mass distribution of an eventual ...
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Preparing for the COVID-19 Vaccine and Considerations for Mass Distribution

Preparing for the COVID-19 Vaccine and Considerations for Mass Distribution

(View/Download) Background The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented public health challenges and spurred a global race to develop and distribute one or more viable vaccines. The challenge ...
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Strategies to Address the Need for Personal Protective Equipment as States Gradually Reopen

Strategies to Address the Need for Personal Protective Equipment as States Gradually Reopen

(View/Download) OVERVIEW As states and territories gradually reopen their economies and relax social distancing rules meant to slow transmission of COVID-19, there remains widespread demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), ...
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Responding to Natural Disasters During COVID-19

Responding to Natural Disasters During COVID-19

The summer season of hurricanes and wildfires is upon states, and combined with the current COVID-19 crisis, may prove disruptive to critical energy operations. NOAA is projecting a 60% chance ...
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Strategies for COVID-19 Response for Populations Receiving Long-Term Care

(View/Download) This memo, originally published on April 3, and was last updated on July 13. Introduction As governors consider ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect high-risk communities, ...
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Governors Call on the Administration to Renew the Public Health Emergency

Governors Call on the Administration to Renew the Public Health Emergency

The National Governors Association, on behalf of the governors in all 55 states and territories, calls upon the Trump Administration to renew the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, set ...
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COVID-19 Testing in Long-Term Care Facilities

(View/Download) Introduction Many states are prioritizing and, in some cases, requiring COVID-19 testing of all residents and staff at long-term care (LTC) facilities. This brief provides considerations for developing a ...
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State Strategies to Support Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services through the COVID-19 Pandemic

(View/Download) New Challenges Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governors were looking for ways to strengthen substance use disorder (SUD) provider capacity as part of their comprehensive response to the ...
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Reducing the Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 Among Communities of Color

Reducing the Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 Among Communities of Color

(View/Download) Introduction COVID-19 has imposed a disproportionate burden of illness and death on communities of color, including Black, Latino/a and Native American communities. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, national, ...
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