Our mission...
The mission of the Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA) is to represent and unite the diverse expertise of Connecticut's public health professionals, to ameliorate the most pressing public health issues in the state, and to promote health and safe living for the people of Connecticut. CPHA works to promote and protect the public's health through advocacy; education; program, professional and workforce development; and networking among the public health community.
CPHA to Sponsor Legislative Breakfast at Capitol
Save the date! CPHA will host a breakfast for legislators and public health advocates on Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The event, which will take place in the Private Dining Room from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., is our opportunity to meet directly with legislators in an informal setting and educate them about public health and our policy priorities. Members of the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee as well as the other key lawmakers will be invited to attend. Please help us have a strong showing by attending!
State Legislatures Across the Nation to Tackle Toxic Chemicals to Protect Citizens
 Lack Of Federal Reform Makes State Laws More Urgent
The Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut today repeated its call for meaningful legislation to protect Connecticut citizens, specifically infants, children and pregnant women, from toxic chemicals in products used everyday.
“Inaction at the federal level means that states must take on the responsibility of protecting its most vulnerable from the dangers of toxic chemicals,” said Anne Hulick, RN, JD, Coordinator for the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut, whose more than 50 member groups include the Connecticut Public Health Association, the Connecticut Nurses Association, the Connecticut Council for Environmental Justice, and the Permanent Commission of the Status of Women to name a few. “Connecticut lawmakers have shown themselves to be not only knowledgeable about the dangers linked to toxic chemicals, but also willing to lead the nation in approving legislation to reduce exposure to these chemicals.” Hulick pointed to information released by Safer States, a national coalition of state-based environmental organizations, that at least 28 state legislatures will consider legislation to address concerns over toxic chemicals in consumer products. Bills to be introduced this year will cover a broad list of topics, including bans on toxic chlorinated Tris flame retardants and cadmium, and requirements that makers of consumer products publicly disclose chemicals in products.
According to Safer State’s analysis, this year’s legislative agendas include first-ever bans on chlorinated Tris flame retardants in at least four states, Connecticut being one of them; bans on Bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging, children’s toys and receipt paper in at least 20 states; and classification of high-concern chemicals in at least 13 states. In addition, at least five states will consider bans on cadmium in children’s products and at least four states will consider policies to promote green cleaning in schools, a policy that has already passed in 2012 in Vermont.
State legislators and health advocates point to the failed federal law, the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA), as the reason states have increasingly passed new laws on chemicals. TSCA is considered ineffective in protecting public health from chemicals, not even requiring basic health and safety data on chemicals before they are used in products. In Congress, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act in 2011. The bill is supported by a coalition of over 300 groups, including American Nurses Association, the Autism Society and the American Sustainable Business Council. However, opposition from the American Chemistry Council in particular has so far succeeded in preventing passage. “As long as the Federal government and those in industry continue to delay action in reforming our nation’s toxics laws to ensure the safety of chemicals used in everyday products, my colleagues and I will continue our efforts in state legislatures to protect our children’s health from dangerous chemicals,” said National Caucus of Environmental Legislators President, Maryland Delegate James W. Hubbard.
The entire report can be found at http://www.saferstates.com/2012/01/safer-states-2012-legislation.html
Future of Public Health Award
 The Public Health Foundation (PHF) is launching a national award program to promote use of quality improvement (QI) to influence positive outcomes in Winnable Battles. The Future of Public Health Award (FPHA) is a unique opportunity for state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments to receive onsite technical assistance to build capacity in QI and advance programs to improve outcomes in Winnable Battles.
The Award recognizes promising proposed initiatives in public health that utilize QI to influence positive outcomes in Winnable Battles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines Winnable Battles as public health priorities that have a large-scale impact on the public’s health in a relatively short timeframe.
APHA Campaigns
In December's APHA Legislative Update, the Congressional Super Committee fails to develop a deficit reduction plan, Congress continues work on FY2012 spending bills, Capps introduces Climate Change Health Promotion and Protection Act, anti-regulatory bills pass house, House passes Balance Budget Amendment, re-authorization of disaster preparedness bill moves forward in Congress, and the Obama administration overrules FDA decision on emergency contraception
 The Get Ready Campaign helps Americans prepare themselves for disaster.
 The PHACT Campaign works to educate legislators around the country.
Take Action!
Click here to tell Congress to support the Prevention and Public Health Fund, protect the Clean Air Act, clean up pollution for coal-fired power plants, support public health funding, support the Affordable Care Act, product reproductive health services, and transportation policy is a public health issue.
Want the most up-to-date information on CPHA's activities? Make CPHA your homepage.
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Upcoming Events
- Yale School of Public Health
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases Seminar
Thursday, February 9, 2012
12:00PM to 1:00PM
60 College St.
New Haven, CT
Click here for more info
Big Food:Health, Culture and the Evolution of Eating
February 11 - November 30, 2012
Peabody Museum of Natural History
New Haven, CT
Click here for more info
Yale AIDS Colloquium Series
"From Prisons to Communities: Post-Release Interventions for People Living with AIDS"
Thursday, February 23, 2012
12:00PM to 1:00PM
135 College St.
New Haven, CT
Click here for more info
- National Safe and Health Housing Coalition
"Restore Funding for Lead Poisoning Prevention"
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
3:00PM to 4:30PM
Webinar
Click here for more info
- UCONN
CHIP Lecture Series
“Using Research to Build a Better Intervention for Sexual Risk Reduction”
Thursday, February 16, 2012
12:30PM to 1:30PM
Storrs, CT
Click here for more info
- CT TRAIN
Opportunity and Fair Housing: The House Connection
Thursday, February 23, 2012
12:00PM to 1:30PM
Webinar
Click here for more info
Green Cleaning in the Home: The Breathe Easy while Cleaning Program
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
12:00PM to 1:30PM
Webinar
Click here for more info
- Legislative Breakfast
Friday, February 24, 2012
8:30AM to 10:30AM
LOB
300 Capitol Ave
Hartford, CT
- CAPHN
Quarterly Networking Meeting
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
4:00PM to 6:00PM
Meriden Public Library
Meriden, CT
Click here for more info
- Connecticut Land Conservation Council
2012 Annual Conference
March 24, 2012
Wesleyan University
Click here for more info
- NALBOH
13th Annual Ned E. Baker Lecture in Public Health (webinar)
"Telling the Public Health Story - How to Affect Policy, Engage Elected Officials, and Inspire Citizens"
Thursday, March 29, 2012
20th Annual Conference
"Celebrating Achievements, Shaping the Future"
August 8-12, 2012
Atlanta, GA
Click here for more info
- APHA
National Public Health Week
April 2-8, 2012
Click here for more info
Midyear Meeting
"The New Public Health: Rewiring for the Future"
June 26-28, 2012
Charlotte, NC
Click here for more info
140th Annual Meeting & Exposition
October 27-31, 2012
San Francisco, CA
Click here for more info
- Global Health & Innovation Conference
April 21-22, 2012
New Haven, CT
Click here for more info
- CFPA
Connecticut Trails Day
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Up to 200 locations
Click here for more info
Have an event and would lilke it posted? Email Jon Noel at jon.noel@cpha.info
 
Public Health Newswire
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