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Public Health Preparedness: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, Where We Are Going
Over the past 20 years there has been significant progress in the field of public health preparedness, but the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the need to strengthen state and local capabilities to address future emergencies.
Health Partnerships in Action: Managing COVID-19 at the Southwest Border
This podcast episode dissects concerns at the southwest United States border, where health and governmental officials find themselves managing an extraordinarily complex situation: handling an increase in migration activity during a global pandemic.
20 Years of Preparedness Event Recording (YouTube)
In this recorded symposium, we share perspectives on advances in health preparedness, including legislation, planning, and recovery. These sessions share how states have built preparedness departments and what our capabilities are today.
Project Spotlight
INSPIRE: Readiness
Discover INSPIRE: Readiness, the ultimate platform for innovation! Here, you'll find cutting-edge ideas, advanced techniques, and modern tools all in one place. Transform shared information into actionable steps and stay ahead of the curve.
Latest Preparedness Resources
Partnering to Address Health Risks and Expand Communication Before and During Prescribed Fires
Communicating the Health Risks of Wildland Fire Smoke
How Public Health Strengthens Emergency Preparedness Through Data Readiness
Building a Resilience Framework in Colorado
Health Legislative Priorities for the Remainder of 2025
Summary of FY26 Continuing Resolution
State Policy Advances in Extreme Weather Preparedness
Wildfire and Wildfire Smoke Guidance and Resources
Collaborations
The preparedness team manages two regularly convened member groups: the Directors of Public Health Preparedness (DPHP) peer network and the Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Coordinators peer network. The DPHP and its executive committee convene regularly to identify national-level preparedness priorities, collaborate with federal, non-governmental, and private sector partners, provide technical assistance, and develop mechanisms to inform preparedness policy, share best practices, and develop relationships.
The MCM Coordinators regularly convene to increase jurisdictional MCM operational readiness and collaborate with federal partners to provide feedback on program activities and policies.
The preparedness team also directs the Preparedness Policy Committee, which is comprised of state and territorial health officials, senior deputies, preparedness directors, alumni, and affiliates. The goal of the committee is to analyze public health and health care system preparedness issues and develop recommendations for state policy on issues that are important to ASTHO and its stakeholders.
Since 2011, ASTHO has co-led the National Alliance for Radiation Readiness in conjunction with CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH). Alliance membership is comprised of 19 public health, health care, and emergency management organizations.
ASTHO is also co-lead of a national workgroup with the National Emergency Management Association and the National Governors Association focused on the intersection of public health, homeland security, and emergency management.