Network Report

Thursday, March 21, 2024

The Network’s Executive Director, Dr. Vineeta Gupta, explores the challenges and opportunities related to the new over-the-counter oral contraceptive Opill, including the potential for states to impose age-related restrictions on its purchase. Her perspective as a human rights lawyer and maternal health physician offers a comprehensive look at key areas to protect access to Opill.

Law & Policy Insights

Well Water Quality Concerns Call for Increased Testing

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five private wells contain unhealthy levels of contaminants. Concerns over contaminated well water have only intensified given the impact on water quality from the increasing number of natural disasters due to climate change. The current state of private well water quality calls for law and policy interventions, particularly the implementation of laws governing water quality testing for private wells.

Roads for All, Safety for Some: Addressing Inequities in Traffic Fatalities through Law and Policy

Motor vehicle crashes are preventable and yet remain the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life for those living in the U.S. The burden of traffic-related death and injury is worsening and is not borne equitably across all populations, with people of color experiencing significantly higher fatality rates. Research is needed to clearly determine the causal relationships between transportation laws, including policies steeped in systemic and structural racism, with transportation-related morbidity and mortality.

Resources

Summary of 42 CFR Part 2, Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records, Final Rule

On February 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Office for Civil Rights announced a final rule modifying the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records regulations at 42 CFR Part 2. This fact sheet includes a summary of notable changes to the Part 2 Rule.

A Snapshot of Four 2023 Supreme Court Cases and their Impacts on Racial Health Equity­

Law and policy play a critical role in shaping health outcomes especially when it comes to racial health equity. While legislative actions and trends matter, it is also important to understand the role of the courts in altering legal landscapes in ways that can positively or negatively impact racial health disparities. This fact sheet highlights four 2023 U.S. Supreme Court cases with examples of how each potentially impacts racial health equity. It also provides a further examination of the cases that can be classified as wins for racial health equity.

Webinars

Public Health and the Climate Crisis: Legal Strategies and Local Solutions to Equitably Mitigate the Health Impacts of Climate Change 

March 28, 3:00-4:30 ET

While climate change requires mitigation efforts on a global scale, local mitigation and solutions for climate adaptation are equally critical to reduce the negative health outcomes and address the health threats posed by climate change. Attend this webinar to learn how climate change can be integrated into a health department’s core mission and work; and law and policy strategies to mitigate the adverse and inequitable health impacts.

Cannabis Legalization: Critical Policy Issues Impacting the Health of Children

April 4, 1:00 -2:00 ET

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have now legalized cannabis for medical and/or adult-use. This wave of policy change has important health implications for children, especially those with medical conditions whose treatment includes the use of cannabis products. Additionally, new research is raising concerns about the effects of exposure to cannabis advertising on children and youth. Attend this webinar for an examination of these two youth focused policy issues that states must address as part of cannabis legalization.

Worth Sharing

Legal Professionals Workshops 

The Data Integration Support Center and Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy is offering a series of no-cost Legal Professionals workshops to improve cross-sector data integration and the navigation of legal challenges. While this series will primarily center on legal professionals, non-lawyers who support agencies in data sharing and use (including analysts, technologists, and policymakers) can also benefit from this series. Sessions are happening now through July 2024.

Collaborative for Anti-Racism and Equity Peer Learning Community
The Anti-Racism in Public Health Peer Learning Community, hosted by the Collaborative for Anti-Racism and Equity (CARE), connects public health practitioners, community organizers, health departments, and other partners to share, learn, and grow in the work to advance racial health equity. The next quarterly meeting will take place March 25, 2024, at 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET and those interested are invited to register at the link above. Learn more about the Collaborative for Anti-Racism and Equity and the Anti-Racism in Public Health Peer Learning Community at herenow.org. 

Job Opportunities

Deputy Director, Mid-States Region (Remote)

The Network is seeking a Deputy Director for its Mid-States Region. This position will assist the Mid-States Region Director in supporting operations, providing leadership and management for a portfolio of projects, and participating in the Network for Public Health Law and Mid-States Region’s sustainability efforts. The Deputy Director will also provide technical assistance on specific issues of public health law, conduct training, develop tools and educational materials, and facilitate opportunities for networking and peer-assistance.

Senior Staff Attorney, Mid-States Region (Remote)

The Network is seeking a public health Senior Attorney to work with its Mid-States Region. This position will assist the Network’s Mid-States Region to provide legal technical assistance, conduct training, develop tools and educational materials, and facilitate opportunities for networking and peer assistance on a wide variety of public health law topics. This position will focus on a variety of legal issues relating broadly to public health, social determinants of health and promoting racial and health equity. A preference may be given to attorneys who have a working knowledge of legal issues regarding collection and sharing of public health data.

Finance Manager (Hybrid – Edina, MN)

The Network is seeking a Finance and Contracts Manager who will be responsible for financial tracking, reporting, and compliance; budget development and forecasting; monitoring contracts and contract terms and deliverables; and processing and tracking invoices. This position reports to the Deputy Managing Director.

Law Clerk, Harm Reduction Legal Project (Remote)

The Network is seeking a law clerk to join our Harm Reduction Legal Project. This position will focus on our work addressing legal and policy barriers that impede the establishment and expansion of evidence-based harm reduction measures such as naloxone distribution, syringe access programs, and access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment.

Law Clerk, Health Equity (Remote)

The Network is seeking a law clerk to focus on legal issues regarding social determinants of health and health equity, with a focus on racial health equity. The Law Clerk will conduct in-depth research, assist with responding to legal technical assistance requests, and collaborate with the Health Equity attorneys to prepare written products and training materials.

Public Health Law Researcher

The Department of Economics at the University of Missouri is seeking a public health law researcher to assist in analyzing health policy changes and the effects of these changes on health related outcomes. The position will also be responsible for producing documents including peer-reviewed articles, white papers, briefing documents, and detailed reports. Depending on qualifications, the individual may have the opportunity to teach a health policy and law class for MPH students and engage with researchers in the Department of Public Health and/or the Law School.

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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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