Public Health Matters Blog Posts

The Early Years of Life Set the Stage for Life-long Mental Health

Children standing with backpacks on

We know that mental health is essential to overall health and well-being (WHO, 2001). However, as you read this, about 1 in 5 youth in the United States currently experience a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder.  About half of all children have experienced a mental health problem (Institute of Medicine (IOM), 2009). Read More >

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National Preparedness Month: A Spotlight on Children

  by Robert W. Block, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics @DrBobBlock on Twitter Children are not just small adults; their growing minds and bodies have unique physical, physiological, developmental and mental health needs. These differences become especially apparent—and warrant increased attention and care—before, during and after a disaster strikes. Read More >

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Disease Detection: Laboratories on the front lines

Microsopic view of anthrax spores

You can’t respond to threats if you don’t know what they are, which is one reason that laboratories play such an important role in public health. Public health laboratories have helped detect all kinds of threats to the public’s health; including anthrax, monkey pox, novel flu viruses, and foodborne disease outbreaks caused by germs like Read More >

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Volunteering Throughout the Disaster Cycle: Insights from the Medical Reserve Corps

MRC volunteers reviewing supply lists

Volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps One of the strongest threads woven into the fabric of American culture is that of volunteer service. When someone is in need, we ask what can be done to help. This is never more evident than during a time of disaster. As we recognize September as National Preparedness Month, Read More >

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Is Your Family Ready?

Mother, young son, and father smiling

We’re pleased to welcome Tala Hooban from the Administration on Children and Families to Public Health Matters. Tala works in ACF’s Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response and understands the importance of keeping families safe and together during a disaster. I was in high school when 9/11 happened and all I remember was Read More >

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Emergencies and the Elderly: taking care of older adults during a disaster

Younger adult holding older adult's hands

By Maggie Silver When the Cedar River flood waters began to rise in Iowa most residents were able to see the impending danger and safely evacuate their homes. But Donna, an elderly woman living in a secluded section of town is blind, and couldn’t see when her basement began to fill with water. Since she doesn’t watch Read More >

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