Policy committees are instrumental in developing ASTHO policy through a process established by our membership in 2018. Committee members are subject matter experts in their field and are integral to the success of these committees. In collaboration with subcommittees, other work groups and task forces, and ASTHO staff, policy committees are charged with developing policy statements that align with ASTHO’s work in support of our mission, strategic goals, and objectives. Policy committees meet and submit reports to the Board of Directors quarterly.
Each year, ASTHO conducts a policy committee appointment process to recruit members to serve for a one-year term. Committee appointments are made annually by the president. All individuals, other than current state/territorial health officials, interested in being considered for ASTHO policy committee service must apply by submitting a policy committee service application.
ASTHO's Policy Committees and Subcommittees
Community Health and Prevention
The Community Health and Prevention Policy Committee provides policy direction for ASTHO on broad-based health promotion and prevention initiatives. This includes setting policy direction for the prevention of chronic diseases, tobacco, injuries, suicide, violence, firearm-related outcomes, substance use, overdoses, and adverse childhood experiences. The Committee also has responsibility for improving nutrition, physical activity, maternal and child health, mental health, and the social environments that promote health.
Healthy Babies Subcommittee
The Healthy Babies Subcommittee (HBS) guides ASTHO in supporting state efforts to eliminate health inequities and improve optimal health outcomes for all moms and babies. As a subcommittee of ASTHO’s Community Health and Prevention Policy Committee, the HBS’s primary objectives are to 1) Increase birth equity by addressing multi-level system changes and social determinants of health, 2) Improve systems of care impacting maternal and child health and the associated inequities, 3) Increase access to family and maternal health services including prenatal/perinatal care, high quality reproductive healthcare and the full range of contraception options to promote health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Subcommittee members are leaders representing various areas relevant to maternal and child health such as public health, clinical, hospital care, community support systems, communications, health equity, data, and payment mechanisms. New members are invited at the recommendation of the chair, current subcommittee members, and/or ASTHO leadership.
Substance Misuse and Addiction Response Taskforce (SMART) Subcommittee
The Substance Misuse and Addiction Response Taskforce Subcommittee functions under the auspices of the ASTHO Community Health Prevention Policy Committee and guides ASTHO’s efforts to promote substance use prevention, overdose prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery initiatives in states and territories. The Subcommittee is a platform to influence policy and system changes, promote peer support services, enhance health equity approaches, and identify resources and technical assistance and capacity building needs. The subcommittee monitors the changing behavioral health landscape and informs policy decisions in response to identified needs. This includes policy surrounding opioids, emerging drugs, alcohol, and cannabis. The Subcommittee is guided by the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy and the SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework and Harm Reduction Framework.
Environmental Health
The Environmental Health Policy Committee provides unique state and territorial-based expertise and leadership for environmental public health policy and practice. The Committee works in close collaboration with the State and Territorial Environmental Health Directors peer group to actively build and strengthen the infrastructure, capacity, and capabilities of state and territorial health agency-based environmental health programs to respond to issues including emerging food safety threats, increasing climate and health concerns, lead poisoning prevention, and drinking water safety and security, among other issues.
Infectious Disease
The Infectious Disease Policy Committee assesses policy and programmatic issues and provides subject matter expertise and strategic direction related to the state and territorial role in infectious disease prevention, surveillance, and outbreak response. The Committee’s interests and responsibilities encompass a range of legacy and emerging infectious disease policy and tactical issues including bio-surveillance; antimicrobial resistance; immunization access and financing; prevention, care, and treatment of infectious diseases; healthcare-associated infections and patient safety; and pandemic preparedness.
Performance Improvement and Accreditation
The Performance Improvement and Accreditation Policy Committee provides leadership and recommendations in the areas of policy, practice, and research to strengthen the ability of ASTHO members and partners to deliver quality public health services and improve health outcomes. The committee provides strategic direction in performance management, quality improvement, accreditation, data to action, financing, return on investment, and workforce research.
Population Health and Informatics
The Population Health and Informatics Policy Committee provides guidance and direction on policy and programmatic priorities that drive population health improvement strategies, advances in health equity, and a modernized public health data ecosystem. The Committee recommends policies to improve state and territorial readiness and capacity to advance population health for all, including (1) strengthening partnerships between public health and healthcare payers and providers to connect clinical and community settings, (2) improving health equity in all communities across the nation, and (3) enhancing state and territorial health agency capacity for adopting the most modern data standards, solutions, and systems to drive health improvement and public health decision-making and action.
Public Health Preparedness
The Public Health Preparedness Policy Committee provides a critical link with and represents ASTHO’s best interests to senior leadership of key federal agencies and programs responsible for preparedness, response, recovery, and community resilience. The Committee analyzes and provides insightful information to guide the formulation of national policy and strategy, with specific focus on all-hazards public health infrastructure needs, strengthening state and territorial public health readiness capacity and capabilities, and in fulfilling the goals of the National Health Security Strategy, among other issues.
Questions about ASTHO’s policy committees or the annual recruitment/appointment process?