Governors can be hard to reach for substantive discussion of public health issues. In New England, the existence of several regional structures has provided unique opportunities to raise public health awareness. Health problems do not stop at state borders, so regional appoaches can be useful in improving health status. The New England Coalition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NECON) organizes annual meetings in the region to focus on important public health issues through a community planning process, with reporting mechanisms that map progress. NECON brings public health workers in the 6 New England states together annually. The New England Governors' Conference meets regularly. NECON has engineered a place on the agenda for public health, and involves the commissioners in those meetings. The regional agenda of NECON has kept public health issues such as HIV, heart disease, cancer prevention and control, women's health and Latino health, in the forefront of governmental concerns throughout New England. This presentation will discuss successes and failures of this regional approach with examples from several states.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.