Access to Care for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder

The Network has joined with public health law partners to produce an expansive report, Assessing Legal Responses to COVID-19, that includes critical analyses and recommendations from national experts convened to assess the U.S. policy response to the crisis to date. In this Q&A, the Network’s Corey Davis and Amy Lieberman discuss some of the key elements in the chapter they co-authored for the report examining the impact of the pandemic on those who want to start or continue opioid agonist treatment with the medications methadone and buprenorphine, which significantly improve health outcomes and reduce overdose and other deaths.

The Role of “Right to Work” Legal Arguments in Response to Mandated Business Closures Due to COVID-19

Legal arguments grounded in economic due process and the “right to work” can promote health equity by curtailing oppressive occupational licensing requirements. While occupational licensing is meant to protect the public, excessive regulation may heighten barriers to entry, limiting occupational choice, income, health insurance, and other options for individuals unable to meet restrictive standards. However, “right to work” arguments, which have increased during the pandemic, can also invalidate closures and other emergency measures in response to COVID-19.

Assessing Efforts to Ensure Equitable Access to Broadband Services that Support Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the inequities facing households without broadband, and has highlighted the need to prepare for the future by ensuring home broadband is available to all individuals so that everyone can participate in education, healthcare, the job market and society. New FCC regulations will require the gathering of additional data on broadband access in the U.S. to help guide funding priorities for rural infrastructure in areas that were previously overlooked, particularly on Tribal lands. However, there is still much work to be done to reverse the years of exclusionary infrastructure deployment, and provide equitable service, at affordable prices, to all communities.

Law and Policy Pathways to Civic Engagement

Civic engagement can be defined in various ways, but usually includes voting, volunteering and membership in community groups like neighborhood associations or recreational sports. Civic engagement, especially early in life, is associated with increased social capital, enhanced social network, greater wealth and educational achievement later in life, and overall better physical and mental health. Civic engagement also encourages community involvement in policy and decision-making, which can be used as one strategy to achieve health equity. This guide provides an at-a-glance overview of key law and policy measures to facilitate increased civic engagement in communities.

Lobbying and Other Political Activity by Government Employees in Michigan

There are many ways in which politics, and therefore advocacy, are relevant to effectively assuring the public’s health, ranging from seeking adequate funding for local health services to answering questions from community members about proposed ballot measures affecting health. This fact sheet describes Michigan state laws and regulations that govern public bodies and employees with regard to lobbying of state government officials; public employees’ participation in political activities; and use of public funds for political activities.

Successfully Engaging Stakeholders to Center Racial Equity across the Data Life Cycle

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. CT | October 14

While most data sharing and integration occurs within a legal and governance framework, an emphasis on racial equity, transparency, and community engagement is often peripheral. Attend this webinar for a review of “Work in Action” sites featured in the Toolkit for Centering Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration as places where agencies are proactively centering racial equity during administrative data reuse.

Tell Us What You're Working On.
We're Ready to Help.

Our law and policy experts can help you identify the key considerations central to your unique challenges and provide law and policy pathways you can leverage to make a difference.

Request Assistance →