Join ASTHO on May 8 for Don't Panic! A Panel on How to Be an Effective Crisis Communicator, a timely webinar focused on equipping public health professionals with cutting-edge tools and strategies for risk communication. Panelists will explore how to identify emerging threats, apply current research, and use leading tools to enhance crisis response across jurisdictions. A highlight of the ses…

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and SAMHSA’s 2025 toolkit provides essential resources to help public health professionals raise awareness. The toolkit includes customizable social media content, key weekly themes, graphics, and messaging that promote mental health acceptance and support. It also offers best practices for initiating respectful conversations about mental health and the imp…

A recent meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of RSV vaccines for adults aged 50-59, especially those at high risk of severe illness. If accepted by the CDC, this move would make the vaccines, including those from GSK and Pfizer, more accessible, with insurance coverage for eligible individuals. Additionally, ACIP recommended a new m…

Arclet, a national platform supporting public health communicators, is covering registration for five individuals to attend the 2025 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM), held July 28–30 in Atlanta. Priority will be given to applicants working in rural or under-resourced communities or those recently laid off due to public health funding cuts.   Arclet…

A recent federal review of fluoride in drinking water has raised concerns among public health experts who warn the move could undermine decades of progress in oral health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will review new scientific data on potential health risks of fluoride, following a court order. This comes alongside statements from federal health officials signaling a…

The Society for Health Communication and Journal of Health Communication Special Issue "Successes and Failures: Everything We Learned from Health Communication Campaigns and Programs" has been published and includes 9 peer-reviewed research papers from health communication programs in the U.S. and around the world. It features insights from unintended or unforeseen consequences of campaigns…

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has declared sleepiness a critical public health issue, calling it a key patient-reported outcome linked to serious health risks and reduced quality of life. Excessive sleepiness affects one-third of U.S. adults and may signal underlying conditions such as sleep apnea, mood disorders, or neurological disease. The Academy urges more research that prioriti…

A new Iowa report reveals that 95% of pregnancy-related deaths from 2019–2021 were preventable, underscoring urgent public health concerns. The state's Maternal Mortality Review Committee found most deaths were due to infection, hemorrhage, or embolism, with disproportionate impacts on Black and Hispanic women and those on Medicaid—especially postpartum. Experts cite COVID-19 and high rates o…

Measles, officially eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to widespread MMR vaccination, is resurging across multiple states—threatening the country’s elimination status. Recent outbreaks, including the death of an unvaccinated child in Texas, have sparked concern among public health experts. The disease, often reintroduced by unvaccinated travelers, spreads rapidly in under-immunized communities…