As most people who follow the news know, the House of Representatives, with a majority of Republican members, are legislating big reductions in the federal government budget. In addition, the President's budget for 2012 also proposes budget reductions. Environmental health services (EHS) is not spared from the budget axe.
EHS, a relatively modest program at CDC, is among those to be reduced by the President. EHS is targeted for a cut of about 1/3 of their budget. EHS provides significant expertise and technical assistance to state and local environmental health programs. It runs a leadership program that brings together a number of state and local personnel to help them develop more effective programs. It maintains expertise in areas like lead poisoning, rat control, reducing bed bugs,food safety, and bioterrorism that it uses to help state and local programs. It helps universities find opportunities for students to start environmental health careers.
The implementation of the food safety modernization efforts, the childhood lead poisoning program, and the healthy places programs are also threatened with severe reductions. These are the efforts most needed to improve Americans health status by eliminating environmental causes of disease and disability.
The National Environmental Health Association has responded to these concerns with letters to Congress and to the agencies. You can get more information about NEHA's responses at http://tinyurl.com/neharesponsetobudgetcuts.
This is only a first step. If you are concerned about maintaining expertise at the federal level to prevent illness, consider contacting your State's senators and your representative. The House has a web page to make this easy at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml. Senators contact information is found here.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The National Environmental Health Association ballot for the offices of Second Vice President and Region 7 Vice President will be open to all NEHA members on March 1. The online balloting period will take place until March 31.
You can view information about all of the candidates at http://tinyurl.com/nehaelection2011. NEHA has posted a short statement about me. I have an expanded statement of my candidacy on this blog.
To explain: the NEHA Board of Directors consists of the National Officers (President, President Elect, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and Immediate Past President) and the 10 Regional Vice Presidents. The RVP's serve 3 year terms and may be re-elected. The national officers ascend through a 5 year process then rotate off the board.
Please take the few minutes to vote if you are a NEHA member. If you need information about the voting process, contact the always helpful Denver staff at 303-756-9090 or nehaelections@neha.org.
You can view information about all of the candidates at http://tinyurl.com/nehaelection2011. NEHA has posted a short statement about me. I have an expanded statement of my candidacy on this blog.
To explain: the NEHA Board of Directors consists of the National Officers (President, President Elect, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and Immediate Past President) and the 10 Regional Vice Presidents. The RVP's serve 3 year terms and may be re-elected. The national officers ascend through a 5 year process then rotate off the board.
Please take the few minutes to vote if you are a NEHA member. If you need information about the voting process, contact the always helpful Denver staff at 303-756-9090 or nehaelections@neha.org.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
What does the National Environmental Health Association do?
The National Environmental Health Association, or NEHA, is a national non-profit organization that promotes the field of environmental health (EH). It is unique in that it brings together EH personnel at various levels, in various sectors, and with multiple backgrounds. The 'bread and butter" of NEHA is promoting the professionals who work in EH at the local and state levels. But it also has significant involvement in federal issues, including the CDC, FDA, EPA, and all of the military branches. NEHA is mostly focused on the United States, but it has members around the world!
What specific things does NEHA do for the profession? First, it publishes a high quality peer-reviewed Journal of Environmental Health every month. This is a source of cutting-edge information from across the field of environmental health. Second, NEHA conducts a national conference every year and more than 1000 persons attend (this year's meeting will be in June in Columbus, Ohio). This conference focuses on education of attendees, allowing them to take the best and latest innovations home to their organizations. The conference is a great opportunity for networking. Third, NEHA issues and manages credentials for several environmental health professions. These credentials ensure that the public is served by professionals that meet high standards of technical knowledge, skill, and ability. Fourth, NEHA provides training and education for various EH subjects. NEHA partners with CDC and other organizations to make high quality training available at no cost. Fifth, NEHA stays abreast of developments in the field, including agency activities, political and societal trends, and new health problems. NEHA works with many other organizations to respond to these issues. Whenever required, NEHA will communicate with political leaders and government officials to ensure that those individuals know the views of, interests, and implications to the field of EH.
NEHA does all of this while maintaining one of the lowest dues of any national professional organization. NEHA is almost legendary for its frugality. Its reputation for efficient management and effectiveness has attracted many partners and alliances.
I've been a NEHA member for over 35 years. I've always felt good about writing my dues check to NEHA because I know that I am getting a fantastic return on a modest investment.
What specific things does NEHA do for the profession? First, it publishes a high quality peer-reviewed Journal of Environmental Health every month. This is a source of cutting-edge information from across the field of environmental health. Second, NEHA conducts a national conference every year and more than 1000 persons attend (this year's meeting will be in June in Columbus, Ohio). This conference focuses on education of attendees, allowing them to take the best and latest innovations home to their organizations. The conference is a great opportunity for networking. Third, NEHA issues and manages credentials for several environmental health professions. These credentials ensure that the public is served by professionals that meet high standards of technical knowledge, skill, and ability. Fourth, NEHA provides training and education for various EH subjects. NEHA partners with CDC and other organizations to make high quality training available at no cost. Fifth, NEHA stays abreast of developments in the field, including agency activities, political and societal trends, and new health problems. NEHA works with many other organizations to respond to these issues. Whenever required, NEHA will communicate with political leaders and government officials to ensure that those individuals know the views of, interests, and implications to the field of EH.
NEHA does all of this while maintaining one of the lowest dues of any national professional organization. NEHA is almost legendary for its frugality. Its reputation for efficient management and effectiveness has attracted many partners and alliances.
I've been a NEHA member for over 35 years. I've always felt good about writing my dues check to NEHA because I know that I am getting a fantastic return on a modest investment.
Introduction and information about me
I am running for the Second Vice President of the National Environmental Health Association's Board of Directors. I am currently the Regional Vice President for Region 7, which includes the states of Georgia (my home state), Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, and a member of NEHA's Board of Directors.
Why I am running:
I am committed to improving environmental health. I will do my best to listen and to represent your concerns about our profession and the field of environmental health. I understand the challenges of environmental health practice, and I am open to learning more about the concerns of environmental health and its practitioners at all levels. I believe that we need more professionals committed to improving both the profession and the environment. My goal is to expand the reach and influence of the profession of environmental health over the factors that influence health and environmental quality. My vision is for a stronger role for environmental health in improving and leading public health. I want to include increase the number of professionals who are actively engaged in this effort. I have the experience and abilities to help move us toward sustained improvement.
Information about me:
Professional:
Registered Environmental Health Specialist/ Sanitarian
Member, NEHA, more than 30 years
Member, Georgia Environmental Health Association
Member, Uniformed Services Environmental Health Association
NEHA Technical Section Chairperson, 1986-2004, General Environmental Health, Injury Prevention/Occupational Health, and Toxic Substances/Hazardous Waste sections
NEHA Board of Directors- Region X Vice President 2005- 2011, and Region 7 Vice President 2011-2014, member, Finance, Food Safety, and Sustainability committees.
Current employment: 2006- present, faculty member, School of Public Health of Georgia State University; teaching, conducting and managing research, and providing service to the community.
Prior employment: U.S.P.H.S. Commissioned Officer. For 20 years, I was assigned to a variety of environmental and public health responsibilities at CDC and ATSDR. I also worked for the Indian Health Service and held environmental health positions at the local and area levels for 10 years, in Arizona and California.
Education: B.S. in Environmental Health Science, Indiana State University; M.P.H. in Environmental Health, University of Michigan.
I have received the NEHA Past Presidents’ Award, numerous NEHA recognitions and USPHS awards.
Personal:
Atlanta, Georgia resident for over 25 years
Retired Captain, U.S.P.H.S.
Married, with one son
Engaged in a variety of activities in the community
Leisure: outdoors activities, gardening, flying a light airplane, reading, and family activities
Contact: steward.ja@gmail.com
Why I am running:
I am committed to improving environmental health. I will do my best to listen and to represent your concerns about our profession and the field of environmental health. I understand the challenges of environmental health practice, and I am open to learning more about the concerns of environmental health and its practitioners at all levels. I believe that we need more professionals committed to improving both the profession and the environment. My goal is to expand the reach and influence of the profession of environmental health over the factors that influence health and environmental quality. My vision is for a stronger role for environmental health in improving and leading public health. I want to include increase the number of professionals who are actively engaged in this effort. I have the experience and abilities to help move us toward sustained improvement.
Information about me:
Professional:
Registered Environmental Health Specialist/ Sanitarian
Member, NEHA, more than 30 years
Member, Georgia Environmental Health Association
Member, Uniformed Services Environmental Health Association
NEHA Technical Section Chairperson, 1986-2004, General Environmental Health, Injury Prevention/Occupational Health, and Toxic Substances/Hazardous Waste sections
NEHA Board of Directors- Region X Vice President 2005- 2011, and Region 7 Vice President 2011-2014, member, Finance, Food Safety, and Sustainability committees.
Current employment: 2006- present, faculty member, School of Public Health of Georgia State University; teaching, conducting and managing research, and providing service to the community.
Prior employment: U.S.P.H.S. Commissioned Officer. For 20 years, I was assigned to a variety of environmental and public health responsibilities at CDC and ATSDR. I also worked for the Indian Health Service and held environmental health positions at the local and area levels for 10 years, in Arizona and California.
Education: B.S. in Environmental Health Science, Indiana State University; M.P.H. in Environmental Health, University of Michigan.
I have received the NEHA Past Presidents’ Award, numerous NEHA recognitions and USPHS awards.
Personal:
Atlanta, Georgia resident for over 25 years
Retired Captain, U.S.P.H.S.
Married, with one son
Engaged in a variety of activities in the community
Leisure: outdoors activities, gardening, flying a light airplane, reading, and family activities
Contact: steward.ja@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)