With growing attention on improving public health, states are taking steps to strengthen public health laws, one of their primary tools in this area.  The Public Health Law Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) develops training materials and provides technical assistance and information on public health law to state officials.  The program also supports partnerships between public health officials, state policymakers, the legal community, emergency responders and others critical to states' legal preparedness for public health threats and emergencies. Other program resources include:

• The CDC Public Health Law News, a FREE electronic weekly newsletter related to public health law and legislation. View the current issue or subscribe. 
• Expanding library of state and local public health legal documents entitled Public Health Legal Preparedness Clearinghouse that includes extensive materials related to legal preparedness for bioterrorism, SARS, quarantine and more; review the Public Health Law Legal Materials.
• Teleconferences on fast-breaking public health law issues.

New York City has used law as an effective and successful public health tool, and a recent satellite/webcast discussed four examples:

• phasing out artificial trans fats in restaurants
• requiring restaurants to post calorie information
• prohibiting smoking in the workplace
• reporting blood sugar test results to the public health department                           

Click here to learn more about these laws and the implications of New York City's efforts for other communities to consider.

The Exploring Accreditation project, coordinated by NACCHO and ASTHO, has made recommendations regarding how a voluntary national accreditation program for state and local health departments could be established.

• Download the October 2006 report, Final Recommendations for a Voluntary National Accreditation Program for State and Local Public Health Departments 
• View the list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the proposed accreditation model
• State examples: Michigan's Local Public Health Accreditation Program, Missouri's Voluntary Local Public Health Agency Accreditation Program and North Carolina's Pilot Accreditation Program

CDC Public Health Law Materials

The CDC has made available many public health resources related to emergency preparedness including bioterrorism, pandemic influenza and natural disasters.  Along with the wealth of public health resources, you will also find legislation for public health emergencies.

Law and Public Health at CDC

This article reviews the role of law in public health practice. Across the country, law is currently being used to develop countermeasures to the use of infectious pathogens as biologic weapons, control the use of tobacco, and prevent chronic diseases and injuries. 

Healthy States Pre-Conference: Public Health Policy Roles for State Legislators and CDC's Public Health Law Conference:

June 11-14, 2006
Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, Ga.

State legislators from across the country came together to discuss and promote public health policy with peer legislators and national experts during CSG's Pre-Conference. This conference allowed state legislators to address public health issues and identify innovative, collaborative programs for their states.  

Resources Developed by CDC's Public Health Law Program

CDC's Public Health Law Program develops and makes available for public use a growing portfolio of courses and other learning materials in applied public health law. This website lists those resources as well as selected other, related materials.