Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #122094

David Corbin, PhD, School of Health, Physical Education, & Recreation, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182-0216, 402-554-3237, dcorbin@unomaha.edu

Nebraska's advocacy efforts from 1999 through the present day have resulted in the greatest growth in public health infrastructure in the state's history. Creating a statewide public health plan from a large group of stakeholders (funded by RWJ Foundation) made it easier to articulate the public health needs in the state to the general public and to state legislators. The Public Health Association of Nebraska (PHAN) and a lobbying group called Nebraskans for Public Health developed a strategy to influence the allocation of Master Settlement funds for public health and other health-related initiatives. Social marketing campaigns, numerous meetings with state legislators, and the promotion of the public health plan resulted in major funding increases. Advocacy does not stop when funding is achieved. Funding must be sustained through ongoing advocacy efforts such as assuring PHAN representation on various public health task forces, ongoing communication with state senators and legislative aides, and joining forces with the Nebraska Medical Association, the Physician Assistant Association, the Rural Health Association and the Minority Public Health Association. The enacting of term limits for state senators will require increased efforts in educating new senators about the importance of public health.

Two important proposed federal laws championed by Nebraska legislators will also be briefly discussed: Public Health Preparedness Workforce Development Act of 2005 (Hagel) and H.Res. 145 End all alcohol ads on NCAA broadcasts (Osborne).

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