What public health administrators must do to counter politics, harmful ideology, and misinformation in community health promotion

Notwithstanding the Democratic victory in the presidential election and in Congress, whether the issue is smoking, EPA abuses, fossil fuel consumption, or global warming, the denial of empirical evidence in order to promote a particular agenda is a common re-occurring problem. Effective solutions are ignored while lives are sacrificed to preventable conditions. We cannot assume that the judicious application of knowledge will provide a basis for sound decision-making, resource allocation, and program selection. Public health administrators must compete with business, politics, and popular ideology to alleviate health problems. The issue is even more challenging when businesses, governments, or foundations manipulate data for economic gains. In order to reduce the number of people suffering from preventable conditions, public health administrators must learn to recognize and counter the effects of skewed and ideologically driven policies. This session aims to provide public health administrators with practical and tested strategies to increase public awareness of health issues and to promote knowledge of best practices. Public health administrators can deconstruct misperceptions and restore public confidence in our ability to address health issues. Steps include: 1) following public health issues in the media, 2) preparing information for journalists and reporters from the most reliable sources, 3) seizing the opportunity when a teachable moment occurs, and 4) remaining politically active to ensure appropriate resource allocation and accurate information. Armed with the best available information, communities in partnership with public health organizations will be empowered to make educated decisions in order to improve quality of life for all.