Tennessee Public Health Association’s Policy Positions for 2021-2023

TPHA supports the American Public Health Association's national policy positions and works to apply them on the state and local level.

Approved by TPHA's Board of Directors on April 23, 2021

• Increase and Protect Funding for Public Health Agencies and Programs (CDC Coalition Year-end FY 2023 Letter)

• Uphold the ACA and Expand Access to Health Coverage and Services

• Uphold Critical Public Health Laws/Regulations and Reverse Damaging Rollbacks

• Address Climate Change as a Public Health issue

• Address Gun Violence as a Public Health issue 
  {Click to See TPHA's position against Gun Violence effective April 2023}

• Advance Racial Equity

American Public Health Association Policy Statements and Advocacy

Tennessee's Opioid Epidemic

The misuse of and addiction to opioids affects public health as well as the social and economic welfare of all Tennesseans.  Tennessee is seeing epidemic levels of addiction, overdoses, and death - approximately 70,000 Tennesseans are addicted to opioids (Citation). Tennessee is ranked third in the country for prescription drug abuse.   

On December 8, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Public Health Association adopted the policy position to reduce opioid overdose through education and naloxone distribution.  

Tennessee Opioid Death Data

Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: Resources and Services

National Institute of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse: Naloxone for Opioid Overdose

American Public Health Association Archived Policy Statement

How to Get Involved

Because of the nature of our work, public health professionals have the unique privilege of encountering people most often when they are at their most vulnerable.  No one knows the challenges to the health and wellness of Tennessean's experiencing poverty, racism, limited education, encumbering laws and regulations or some other systemic constraint that prohibits an individual from rising above their circumstances any better than TPHA members.  Who better than to advocate on their behalf?  Along with the privilege of our right to vote also comes great responsibility to be informed on the issues and aware of the political agendas that present the best solutions for ourselves, our families and those we serve through our commitment to the public health profession.   TPHA enables members to stay informed while giving them opportunities to share their knowledge and expertise about public health in the following ways:

• Advocacy Training 101 Webinar
• Public Health Day on the Hill
• Lunch and Learn Educational Webinars
• National and State Legislative Updates and Calls to Action
• Positions papers and Talking Points about critical public health issues 
• Spring Meetings
• Annual Conference

TPHA encourages all its members to be active citizens of your community and state, and we stand committed to providing education and resources to ensure you stay well informed about relevant public health issues.

Public Health Resources

Technical Assistance