Reflecting on National Public Health Week

We’re proud to say that National Public Health Week was a huge success! Thank you to all of our partners and supporters who came to Salem and shared their experiences about working in public health. It was great for legislators to hear directly from their County Commissioners and Local Public Health Administrators about the public health needs in their own communities. We had many impactful meetings with legislators and were able to connect with long-time and newly identified legislative advocates. These relationships are critical as legislators are tasked with identifying their budget priorities, and we want public health to make their shortlists!

One of the lessons we took away from our National Public Health Week advocacy is the power of a compelling public health story. “Public health” as a phrase doesn’t convey the impacts on our communities, the power of preventative care, or the unique ways that well-funded public health organizations can interact with vulnerable community members.

Humanizing our work is profoundly impactful. Behind every statistic we cite are stories, people, and the reasons we do this work. Reminding legislators of these very real human impacts will be critical as we continue to fight for public health budget priorities. If you are willing to share an impactful story that you or your team has recently experienced please reach out to CLHO. We’d love to work with you to elevate your voice and tell your public health story to decision-makers.