Advocating for Public Health in Georgia: The Role of a State Affiliate

As the largest state east of the Mississippi, Georgia’s public health system includes 159 county health departments, 18 health districts, and one state health department. Like its geographic reach, Georgia’s public health needs are also great. In 2013, according to America’s Health Rankings, Georgia ranked 38. Challenges cited in the rankings: annual unemployment rate, percentage of children in poverty, percentage of low birthweight babies, and low high school graduation rate. In addition, Georgia ranks 40th in number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, 33rd in the percent of adults with high blood pressure, 30th in the percent of adults who are current smokers, 30th in the percent of adults who are obese, and 18th in the percent of adults with high cholesterol. The mission of the Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) is three-fold: to advocate for conditions in which all people and communities can be healthy; to promote the scientific foundation of public health practice and policy; and to assure a continuous voice broadly representing public health in Georgia. To address its advocacy mission, GPHA has developed a training program for county boards of health (BOH) members and works with a governmental affairs consultant. Since 2011, GPHA has held 6 BOH trainings and developed 5 video training modules. Annually, GPHA works with its governmental affairs consultant to identify legislative priorities. This poster will provide an overview of GPHA’s advocacy efforts including its BOH training program, 2014 legislative priorities, advocacy successes, and lessons learned for other state affiliates.