APHA Advocates:
Health in All Policies
for the Regional Occupational Health Conference
October 18, 2014
Susan Polan, PhD
Associate Executive Director,
Public Affairs and Advocacy
Brief overview
Overview
• APHA history and today
• New strategic map
• APHA advocacy
APHA history and
today
APHA History
• APHA champions the health of
all people and all communities.
We strengthen the public health
profession. We speak out for
public health issues and policies
backed by science. We are the
only organization that influences
federal policy, has a 140 plus
year perspective and brings
together members from all fields
of public health
• 501(C)(3); predates tax code
• Nonpartisan
APHA Today
• APHA has 50,000 members
• 29 Sections, 4 SPIGS, 4 Forum and 19
Caucuses
• 53 affiliates
• Largest meeting of public health
professionals in the world
• 142nd Annual Meeting in New Orleans
Policy priorities
Overarching Priorities: Our activities are guided
by three overarching priority areas:
• Building public health infrastructure and capacity
• Ensuring the right to health and health care
• Creating health equity
With a focus on health in all policies
Strategic Plan
Mission and Vision
Mission –
To improve the health of the public and
achieve equity in health status
Vision –
Create the Healthiest Nation in
One Generation
APHA Advocacy
“….developing healthy habits that will last a
lifetime, because the best way to avoid big
problems down the road is to make little
changes and improvements now.
…By investing in programs that help Americans
live healthier lives, we will prevent Illness, make
America more competitive – and save money.”
Beyond Outrage
-Robert Reich
How do we define advocacy
•
•
•
•
•
Regulations
Amicus Briefs
Media advocacy
Social media
Advocacy and lobbying
Advocacy priorities
• Protect the Affordable Care Act
• Funding for public health infrastructure with
an emphasis on Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and Human Resources Service
Administration
• Reducing gun violence
• Protecting the Clean Air Act
• Transportation reauthorization
Additional general issues
• Pass legislation to protect the public’s health
from the impacts of climate change
• Oppose efforts to cut funding for the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
• Approve the ratification of the Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
• Pass legislation to reform immigration laws
.
Occupational health activities
• APHA supported the Family Act that would create paid family and
medical leave (DeLauro and Gillibrand). We have an alert and also
signed letter endorsing. Our Occupational Health section authored
a policy statement adopted last year on the topic.
• APHA also submitted comments (Jan. 7) to OSHA regarding OSHA’s
proposal to protect silica-exposed workers We just submitted
comments to OSHA on reporting of occupations injury and illness
(attached). There was also a policy statement on this issue last year.
• APHA just submitted comments to OSHA on reporting of
occupations injury and illness (attached). There was also a policy
statement on this issue last year.
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN
NEW ORLEANS!
Susan Polan
[email protected]
202/777-2510