Law and Policy Insights:

The CDC’s Eviction Moratorium Order Is Unprecedented: What Does It Mean for Tenants and Landlords?

Millions of Americans are at risk of losing their homes in the wake of the pandemic and renters are particularly vulnerable as they are less likely to have the resources to weather financial losses. On September 1, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an unprecedented Agency Order to temporarily halt residential evictions until December 31, 2020. While on its face, the Order is a “win” for public health, legal challenges on statutory and constitutional grounds are almost certain, and implementation will likely present difficulties.

Protecting the Nation’s Future: COVID-19’s Mental Health Effects on America’s Youth

Adolescents are at a particularly high risk of experiencing negative mental health effects from the COVID-19 pandemic and related social distancing measures. These impacts are likely to have lasting effects on the nation’s youth for years to come. Taking steps to implement and maintain mental health resources now may be the key to diminishing negative mental health outcomes in the future.

Struggling in the Shadows: The Mental Anguish of Educational Fraud

Although there has been some attention to the mental health impacts of student loan debt, little attention has been directed towards the harm experienced by those with student loan debt who have been defrauded by for-profit colleges. These individuals have massive debt after pursuing an education that does not afford any of the opportunities typically associated with higher education. The harm they experience is not merely economic—it’s a social harm with deeply damaging impacts on mental health.

Resources:

Harm Reduction Laws in Idaho

Overdoses and other drug-related harms remain a critical public health issue. Many of the people killed by opioids would be alive today if they had quickly received the medication naloxone.  Unfortunately, many people do not have easy access to naloxone, and people who witness an overdose may be afraid to call for help.  Additionally, lack of access to new syringes and other injection equipment increases the risk that people who use drugs, as well as their family and partners, may contract preventable bloodborne diseases including Hepatitis C and HIV. This fact sheet briefly summarizes the state of the law in Idaho related to naloxone access, overdose Good Samaritan protections, and access to injection equipment.

Data Governance Strategies for States to Support Tribal Nations

The health and wellness of tribal nations depend on effective data collection and analysis. Despite being sovereign nations, tribes need help from the states in gathering the data needed to improve tribal health and well-being, but a lack of trust has interfered with data sharing arrangements. The keys to establishing and maintaining trust are respecting tribal data sovereignty and honoring the United States’ trust responsibility to tribal nations. This fact sheet focuses on strategies states should take to support indigenous data sovereignty.   

Webinars:

Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration

September 22 & October 14

All In with the Network for Public Health Law are pleased to present a three-part webinar series on Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration. The series includes, "Is It Legal? Is It Ethical? Is It a Good Idea? An Introduction to Cross Sector Data Sharing," "How Do You Center Racial Equity Throughout the Data Life Cycle?" and "Successfully Engaging Stakeholders to Center Racial Equity Across the Data Life Cycle."

Upcoming Events:

2020 Public Health Law Virtual Summit: COVID-19 Response and Recovery

September 16 & 17

The Public Health Law Virtual Summit will address key issues surfaced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts from the newly released report, Pandemic Policymaking: Assessing Legal Responses to COVID-19, will present their key findings and propose paths forward to more effective and equitable response and recovery efforts. Twenty concurrent sessions will cover critical issues including health equity for marginalized communities; drug and vaccine development and access; federal, state and local emergency measures; voter safety and participation; and more. The Summit is free. CLE credits are available for a small fee.

Announcements:

Adrian E. Dominguez Joins Network Advisory Board

The Network is pleased to welcome new National Advisory Board member Adrian E. Dominguez, MS, Director of Informatics and Epidemiology at the Urban Indian Health Institute, a division of the Seattle Indian Health Board that works with urban American Indian/American Native communities throughout the United States. Mr. Dominguez will bring his expertise in epidemiology, valuable knowledge of tribal and minority health, and background in local public health to the Network’s Advisory Board.  He joins an esteemed group of leaders—representing the critical sectors of law, medicine, health care, education, housing, public health and government—who provide guidance to the Network in areas of strategic initiatives, fundraising, organizational structure and health equity.

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