Network Report Thursday, March 10, 2022 
Join us in Baltimore to examine the use of public health measures to mitigate harm from COVID-19, recent legislative and other efforts to severely limit these measures, and strategies to strengthen public health’s capacity to protect communities and advance health and racial equity. Session descriptions are now available for both Sections: (1) Strengthening Community Health and (2) Advancing Health and Racial Equity. Attendees can choose to register for one or both. Learn more and register. 
Policy Approaches for Improving Housing Affordability and Availability Families that need to allocate more household resources to rent or mortgage payments are often unable to meet other essential needs or invest in their health and wellbeing. Intervention to improve the affordability of housing is crucial to address the sharp rises in housing costs and comparably slower wage growth. Fortunately, government officials and non-profit organizations have a variety of effective policies and programs aimed at making housing more accessible and affordable.
How Community Organizations Can Help Address Financial Inequities and Predatory Lending Practices Financial disparities exist in a multitude of areas including home ownership, credit scores, and access to banking services; and are linked to health disparities in maternal and child health, mental health, and substance use disorders. Community organizations can play a role in reducing these disparities by providing financial education and planning, increasing access to banking services, and providing help for those who find themselves in the grip of predatory lenders and payday loans. 
The U.S. severely lacks affordable housing. Countless government and non-profit sponsored programs aiming to increase the supply of affordable housing have been established around the country (mortgage assistance programs, community land trusts, etc.), but for them to operate effectively, zoning laws must first allow the development of affordable housing units. This fact sheet examines various zoning reforms that might be used to achieve health equity through housing.
Regulation of Hemp-Derived Cannabis Products and Federal Warnings Regarding Delta-8 THC With the legalization of hemp as an agricultural product, there has been an explosion of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products with high levels of synthesized delta-8 THC, a psychoactive substance found in cannabis. While neither Congress nor the FDA have taken decisive action to clarify its legal status, the FDA has released a consumer update that includes five public warnings, and the CDC has issued a health advisory regarding the increased availability of cannabis products containing delta-8 THC.
Legality of Dispensing Naloxone to Minors in Illinois There are a variety of reasons a person under the age of 18 may need to obtain naloxone. Minors may be in a position to assist in the event of an overdose, either of another minor or an adult. Substance use disorders often develop in adolescence, and around 10 percent of overdoses nationally occur in youth and young adults below 26 years old. This fact sheet discusses the legalities of distributing naloxone to minors in Illinois. 
How to Work with Local Leaders to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST | March 17, 2022 Attend this webinar, co-sponsored by the Network and Salud America!, to learn about resources and tools for engaging local advocates and leaders in drafting resolutions declaring racism a public health crisis. Hear about efforts to get two Florida jurisdictions to draft resolutions and the multi-disciplinary group of partners and organizations working collectively to raise awareness and provide tools and resources to communities working to advance health and racial equity.
Announcements We know that public health interventions work. Yet, as communities continue to grapple with COVID-19, more than half of U.S. states have passed legislation that will undermine public health now and in the future. Act for Public Health is a new working group of the Network for Public Health Law and our partners, ChangeLab Solutions, the Center for Public Health Law Research, the Public Health Law Center, and Public Health Law Watch, that provides direct support through consultation, training, legal technical assistance, research and resources to help preserve public health authority and infrastructure wherever challenges arise.
The Network has extended the deadline to submit proposals for panels or individual presentations for the Network’s Climate Change, Health Equity, and Public Health Law Summit taking place in Minneapolis, MN from October 12-14, 2022. We encourage anyone working at the intersection of climate change, public health, health equity, and law and policy to apply. We are interested in presentations from a wide variety of perspectives, including public health practitioners, community-based organizations, environmental organizations, attorneys, researchers, community members, and others. Submissions will be accepted until April 8, 2022 at 11:59 Eastern Time.
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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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