Oral

In 1995, former President William Jefferson Clinton proclaimed the first full week of April as National Public Health Week (NPHW). During this week, he called on federal, state, and local health agencies to work with private organizations on building healthier communities and heightening awareness of public health issues around the country. APHA serves as the lead organizer of NPHW. Each year, many Affiliates have joined APHA's effort to promote the roles and responsibilities of public health in the routine and common events of daily American life by organizing a wide range of activities. While NPHW has been increasingly successful around the country, "most" of the activities have NOT been affiliate-driven. Rather, they have evolved from other public health organizations (state health departments, local health departments, schools of public health, etc.). The purpose of this session is to discuss the what, how, who and why not of NPHW. The session will include a description of what affiliates have done in the past and speakers to facilitate a meaningful guided discussion as to what affiliates might be able to in planning for NPHW 2008. This session will promote the role that affiliates might take --- possibly around issues that might relate to the Association’s "Get Ready Campaign" which in some case may assist in their meeting requirements associated with grants received from the APHA Affiliate Capacity-Building Initiative.

Session Objectives: Understand the factors contributing to and restricting Affiliate involvement in NPHW; Discuss lessons learned in planning and implementing successful NPHW activities; Increase implementation of NPHW activities by Affiliates; Explore and learn about creative program and activity options to advance NPHW goals and objectives in local communities.