NCSL Legislative Video Resource Center

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of all people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and preventing and identifying infectious diseases. Public health professionals try to prevent problems from occurring or recurring through implementing educational programs, implementing policies, administering services and conducting research. With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this webinar will highlight key areas of public health, offer insights into 2021, provide an update on COVID 19 and provide policy options for state leaders.

At least 700 women die every year from pregnancy-related causes, giving the U.S. the highest maternal mortality rate among similarly wealthy nations. Research has shown that about 3 out of 5 pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Additionally, there are significant racial disparities in maternal mortality rates, with Black and Indigenous mothers dying at two to four times the rate of white mothers. This webinar will explore the current state of maternal mortality in the United States, potential strategies to decrease the disparities in maternal deaths, and examples of state legislative actions to reduce rates.

Suicide is a serious and growing public health concern in the United States. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and rates of suicide deaths have increased in almost every state since 1999. The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional stress for at-risk individuals with calls to lifelines increasing significantly across the U.S. This webinar will focus on the rollout of the national three digit suicide prevention lifeline, states role in the implementation of this national lifeline and the policies states can implement to improve responses to these crisis calls. Speakers will also discuss ways of strengthening public health infrastructure to improve suicide prevention.