Mechanisms for Advancing Public Health
There are novel and innovative ways that law and policy in different sectors can be used to advance health initiatives. Emerging public health issues like climate adaptation, social determinants of health, and childhood trauma call for new approaches and strategies that leverage law and policy in previously unexplored ways.

Resources

Innovative Laws and Policies for a Post-Pandemic Public Health System

Six Policies that Advance Black Health and Wellbeing

Rent Escrow as a Tool for Enforcing Tenants’ Rights

Collecting and Disseminating Public Health Data Disaggregated by Race and Ethnicity to Advance Health Equity: Navigating the Legal Issues

State Laws Limiting Public Health Protections: Hazardous for Our Health

Exemptions to School Entry Vaccines and Corresponding Vaccine Coverage

Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Benefit: A Powerful Tool to Improve Child Health

Legality of Drug Checking Equipment in Illinois

IZ Gateway Agreement for Data Exchange Between IIS and Multi-Jurisdictional Vaccine Providers

Q&A: Tracking How Voting Impacts Health

Immunization (IZ) Gateway Project Legal Agreements: Facilitating Secure Data Sharing for IISs

COVID-19 Illustrates Need to Close the Digital Divide
Spotlight

What States Can Do to Fill the Gap in Health Care Access for Immigrant Communities

The Power of Race Neutrality to Create a Just Society

Updates to HHS Restructuring and Funding Cuts: Impact on State and Local Public Health
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A Closer Look at Mechanisms for Advancing Public Health
Increasingly, public health must look at legal and policy mechanisms in other sectors for opportunities that can support efforts to improve and promote health in communities. For example, tax incentives — in the form of tax credits, deductions or exemptions — can be used to support injury prevention measures; addressing climate and health requires examination of energy policy; and tackling mental health issues in school necessitates consideration of training requirements for teachers.
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Explore the Network’s Legal Assistance Library to find answers to commonly asked questions on a variety of public health topics.