Network Report Thursday, August 26, 2021 
As children and young adults return to in-person learning this fall, schools and public health agencies are struggling to implement COVID-19 safety measures in the midst of drastically differing laws, orders, and requirements for face coverings and vaccinations. This resource provides an overview of current CDC guidance, as well as key legislative and executive actions related to school mask and vaccine requirements. Read more. 
August is recognized as Immunization Awareness Month to acknowledge and create awareness of the significant life-saving impact vaccinations have had on the public’s health. However, despite the fact that eradication of certain vaccine-preventable diseases and development of vaccines to prevent cancer are revolutionary achievements, current challenges continue to demonstrate that the importance of vaccination awareness cannot be understated.
Cannabis Voter Initiatives Meet Opposition in State Courts During the 2020 election cycle, several states utilized voter initiatives to legalize medical and/or adult-use cannabis. While these policy changes align with the nation’s changing perception of cannabis, voter initiatives have met serious legal opposition. Three of these court cases in particular emphasize the need to understand state constitutional restrictions on voter initiatives and the impact these restrictions can have on the success of an initiative.
Structural Racism and Public Health: News Round-Up Long existing health disparities in the U.S. have been further exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic. States, cities, and counties are increasingly recognizing the role that structural racism plays in perpetuating and maintaining these disparities. A sampling of recent news articles highlights both the advances that are being made, as well as some of the challenges that remain. 
Law and Policy Pathways to Addressing Rising Youth Suicide Rates Death by suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. Certain populations of children and young people are particularly vulnerable, including rural, Indigenous, and LGBTQ youth. Black youth have also experienced troubling increases in suicide deaths and attempts. Female youth historically have higher rates of suicide attempts relative to male youth, but male youth have higher rates of death by suicide. There is broad consensus that suicide risk is multi-factored. As such, effective suicide prevention strategies require a multi-dimensional, holistic, and intersectional approach. This resource can assist in decision-making processes and resource allocation to reduce youth suicide. 
2021 Virtual Public Health Law Conference: Building and Supporting Healthy Communities for All September 21 – 23, 2021 NOW VIRTUAL: More than 40 sessions, networking roundtables, and leadership plenaries will examine equitable COVID-19 recovery, social and structural barriers to health equity, and other critical issues including the ACA, opioids, mental health, gun violence and vaccinations. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues to explore law and policy pathways to empowering our public health efforts, and to enjoy activities designed to build engagement among attendees, including public health trivia, speed-networking, and more. CLE credits are available. Register by September 3 to receive a conference gift package. Learn more and register. 
Voting & Health: Evidence and New Tools for Action August 31, 12:30-2:00 PM ET
Job Opportunity Georgia State University College of Law currently seeks a health law scholar for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position in regulatory science. The position would coordinate with interdisciplinary faculty across the university, including researchers at the School of Public Health and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, to advance research in the rapidly evolving field of regulatory science with particular focus on products and industries regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To ensure full consideration, applications should be submitted by September 15, 2021 to: Erin C. Fuse Brown efusebrown@gsu.edu and Yaniv Heled yheled@gsu.edu.
Public Health Legal Fellow, Network for Public Health Law The Network is hiring a Public Health Legal Fellow to work with the Mid-States Region Office, located at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Public Health Legal Fellow will focus on legal issues regarding public health authority, social determinants of health, health equity, and collecting, sharing, and protecting data for public health purposes. The goal is to provide a wide range of projects and opportunities that will build the Fellow’s knowledge of public health law and foster connections in the field. For best consideration, apply by August 31, 2021.
Worth Sharing 2021 Virtual Public Health Innovation Summit & Showcase The Public Health National Center for Innovations is hosting the virtual Public Health Innovation Summit & Showcase September 28-29, 2021. The Summit includes conversations and sessions led by innovators focused on emerging practices in public health workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion, and anti-racism; communications; community power; and more. There will also be space for attendees to share creative projects and innovations from their community and learn from other attendees.
KFF’s Kaiser Health News and Science Friday Examine Rising Suicide Rates among People of Color Kaiser Health News examines the rising suicide rates among Black, Hispanic and other communities of color in its first collaboration with Science Friday, an award-winning producer of high-quality, trustworthy science news and educational programming.
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Thank you! Your interest in the work of the Network is important. Together, we can advance law as a tool to improve public health. Please forward the Network Report and encourage others to join the Network! The Network for Public Health Law provides information and technical assistance on issues related to public health. The legal information and assistance provided in this document does not constitute legal advice or legal representation. For legal advice, readers should consult a lawyer in their state.
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