The ASPHN Board of Directors met on July 14, 2023.
- Five General member applications were approved: Andrea Golfen (AZ); Callie Gavorek (MI); Jamie Cooley (MN); Amanda Stewart (PA); and Laura Fortin (WA).
- Six Associate member applications were approved: Bethany Liedike (AZ); Christine Dolan (CO); Shonika Kwarteng (GA); Catherine Ononogbo (MD); Heather Hutchins-Wiese (MI); and Kana Ogaki (WA).
- Motion to approve the August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2028 ASPHN Strategic Plan which includes a new vision, mission, core values, goals, and objectives passed unanimously.
- Policy Committee actions on behalf of ASPHN since last board report:
- Signed on to the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s (SBM) position statement on Food As Medicine (FAM) initiatives and the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization asking for more funding for produce prescription programs, systems to align federal and state-funded FAM programs, and financial incentives for FAM programs that use sustainable agriculture practices.
- Signed on to the Alliance for National Nutrition Incentives (ANNI) letter of support for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP).
- Signed on to the Trust for America’s Health’s request to support the reintroduction of the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2023. ASPHN also supported previous iterations of this bill. The updated bill text can be found here, in addition to an updated one-pager.
- Signed on to the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s letter. The letter will be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in support of the citizen petition, filed in April 2023, by CSPI and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, calling for FDA to develop voluntary and measurable added sugars reduction targets for processed, packaged, and prepared foods and beverages.
- Signed on to the Center for Science in the Public Interest sign on letter urging the FTC to publish an updated report on food marketing expenditures directed towards children, as requested in a House FY2023 committee report.
- Signed on in support of Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) and Senator Tina Smith (MN) reintroducing the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act to Congress. The bill’s substance is largely the same. (ASPHN also endorsed the bill text from last Congress.)
- Signed on in support of the Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act’s reintroduction to Congress by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). The bill would address chronic underfunding of state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) public health infrastructure through a dedicated investment in foundational public health capabilities and workforce.