States have a critical role to play in developing public health systems that protect and improve health at the community and population levels by preventing disease and promoting healthy behaviors. States can develop policies and initiatives to educate the public, support community programs, prepare for and prevent infectious disease outbreaks, prevent injuries, and ensure safe environments.
NASHP creates opportunities to engage groups of influential state officials, including Governor’s policy advisors, public health directors and staff, and Medicaid and CHIP leadership more fully in chronic disease prevention and health promotion. NASHP has analyzed state efforts focused on specific chronic diseases, such as obesity, and also worked with states focused on broad health reform initiatives to examine how they have addressed chronic disease prevention to improve health outcomes and contain costs in the long term.
