Public Health Preparedness and Response Workshop for State and Territorial Gubernatorial and Legislative Leaders

Phoenix | June 25-26, 2019

From June 25-26, NGA welcomed teams from Minnesota, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Washington and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to this year’s Public Health Preparedness and Response Workshop in Phoenix. NGA partnered with CDC to give states the opportunity to learn about public health model policies in Arizona and develop policy improvement plans in states and territories.

Agenda

DAY 1: Tuesday, June 25

Welcome Remarks and Introduction

• Speakers:
  • Lauren Stienstra, Program Director, Homeland Security & Public Safety, National Governors Association
  • Stacey Hoffman, MPH, Acting Deputy Associate Director for Policy, CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response

Panel: Legal Issues Surrounding Public Health Emergencies

Discuss legal issues surrounding public health emergencies, such as government’s authority for public health emergency responses, such as quarantine, isolation or forced vaccination.

• Moderator:
  • Julie Edelson, JD, Lead Public Health Analyst, CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response
• Speakers:
  • James Hodge, JD, LLM, Professor of Public Health Law & Ethics, Director of the Public Health Law and Policy Program, Arizona State University
  • Gregory Sunshine, JD, Public Health Analyst, CDC’s Public Health Law Program

Working Lunch Presentation: Administrative Preparedness

Discuss the role of administrative preparedness for challenges like procurement that may hamper a rapid public health emergency response.

• Speaker:
  • Geoffrey Mwaungulu Jr., JD, MPH, Senior Program Analyst, Public Health Preparedness, Law, and Ethics, National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO)

State Project Presentations

Each state will present their project to include goals, current needs, policy changes, etc.

• Moderator:
  • Lauren Stienstra, Program Director, Homeland Security & Public Safety, National Governors Association
• States:
  • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Pennsylvania
  • Washington

State Speed Dating

States to engage with each other to share insights from the day, discuss challenges related to preparing for public health emergencies, and proactive measures for public health planning.

• Session 1:
  • Minnesota x Mississippi
  • Pennsylvania x Washington
  • CNMI x Arizona
• Session 2:
  • Minnesota x Pennsylvania
  • Washington x CNMI
  • Arizona x Mississippi
• Session 3:
  • Minnesota x Washington
  • CNMI x Mississippi
  • Pennsylvania x Arizona
• Session 4:
  • Minnesota x CNMI
  • Pennsylvania x Mississippi
  • Washington x Arizona
• Session 5:
  • Minnesota x Arizona
  • Pennsylvania x CNMI
  • Mississippi x Washington

DAY 2: Wednesday, June 26

Working Breakfast: Facilitated Discussion on Public Health Emergency Declarations

State participants will discuss whether their state has the ability to declare a public health emergency, who would declare it, and is a specific emergency declaration related to public health has enhanced the state’s response.

• Moderator:
  • Gregory Sunshine, JD, Public Health Analyst, CDC’s Public Health Law Program

Arizona Success Stories

Panelists will discuss the changes they made in the Public Health Workshop last year, as well as other highlights from their public health programs.

• Moderator:
  • Stacey Hoffman, MPH, Acting Deputy Associate Director for Policy, CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response
• Speakers:
  • Cara Christ, MD, MS, Director, Arizona Department of Health Services
  • Anthony Cox, Deputy Director, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs
  • Teresa Ehnert, MS, Bureau Chief, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Arizona Department of Health Services
  • Gilbert Orrantia, Director, Arizona Department of Homeland Security

Engaging State and Local Legislators

Panel discussion on best practices for engaging legislators on issues pertaining to public health emergency preparedness and response.

• Moderator:
  • Doug Farquhar, JD, Program Director, National Conference of States Legislatures
• Speakers:
  • David Lieser, Chippewa County Commissioner, MN
  • Susan Morris, Isanti County Commissioner, MN
  • Antonette Villagomez, JD, Legal Counsel, CNMI Legislative Bureau

Report Out, Next Steps, and Closing

States will report on specific action items in their strategic action plans and how they will use lessons from the workshop home in their states.

• Speakers:
  • Lauren Stienstra, Program Director, Homeland Security & Public Safety, National Governors Association
  • Stacey Hoffman, MPH, Acting Deputy Associate Director for Policy, CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response