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Historical overview of professionalism in environmental public health / by Paul L. Knechtges -- Public health importance of environmental health / by Beth A. Resnick -- Organization of environmental public health / by Beth A. Resnick -- Legal framework of environmental public health in the U.S. / by Doug Farquhar -- Science and technology (S&T) literacy for environmental public health / by Paul L. Knechtges -- Environmental public health surveillance / by Gregory D. Kearney -- Introduction to risk analysis / by Paul L. Knechtges, and Kenneth R. Still -- Introduction to toxicology / by Paul L. Knechtges, and Kenneth R. Still -- Environmental justice / by Sacoby Wilson -- Principles of risk communication / by Paul L. Knechtges, Kenneth R. Still, and Beth A. Resnick -- Climate change and environmental pubic health / by Howard Frumkin, Kristie L. Ebi, and Jeremy J. Hess -- Food safety / by Paul L. Knechtges -- Introduction to foodborne illness outbreak investigations / by Gregory D. Kearney -- Pests and vector control / by Brian Byrd, and Stephanie Richards -- Safe drinking water / by Paul L. Knechtges, Charles P. Humphrey, Jr., and Amy Palaschak -- Wastewater disposal and septic systems / by Charles P. Humphrey, Jr -- Outdoor and indoor air quality / by Leslie Beyer -- Solid and hazardous waste / by Timothy Kelley -- Healthy communities / by Lauren N. Gase, Andrew L. Dannenberg, Sandra Whitehead -- Mass gatherings and public events / by Nicole Errett and Robert M. Maloney -- The housing environment / by David E. Jacobs and Amanda L. Reddy -- Environmental public health and emergency and disaster management / by Linda Young Landesman -- Occupational safety and health / by Kenneth R. Still -- Noise and the environment / by Jo Anne G. Balanay -- Radiation protection / by Robert Emery and Janet Gutiérrez

Public health has potential to serve as a frame to convey the urgency of behavior change needed to adapt to a changing climate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local governments form the backbone of climate-related public health preparedness. Yet local health agencies are often inadequately prepared and poorly integrated into climate change assessments and plans. We reviewed the climate health profiles of 16 states and two cities participating in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative (CRSCI) that aims to build local capacity to assess and respond to the health impacts of climate change. Following recommendations from a recent expert panel strategic review, we present illustrations of emerging promising practice and future directions. We found that CRSCI has strengthened climate preparedness and response in local public health agencies by identifying critical climate-health impacts and vulnerable populations, and has helped integrate health more fully into broader climate planning. Promising practice was found in all three recommendation areas identified by the expert panel (leveraging partnerships, refining assessment methodologies and enhancing communications), particularly with regard to health impacts of extreme heat. Vast needs remain, however, suggesting the need to disseminate CRSCI experience to non-grantees. In conclusion, the CRSCI program approach and selected activities illustrate a way forward toward robust, targeted local preparedness and response that may serve as a useful example for public health departments in the United States and internationally, particularly at a time of uncertain commitment to climate change agreements at the national level. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1838

Public health in the rural United States is a complex and underfunded enterprise. While urban–rural disparities have been a focus for researchers and policymakers alike for decades, inequalities continue to grow. Life expectancy at birth is now 1 to 2 years greater between wealthier urban and rural counties, and is as much as 5 years, on average, between wealthy and poor counties. This article explores the growth in these disparities over the past 40 years, with roots in structural, economic, and social spending differentials that have emerged or persisted over the same time period. Importantly, a focus on place-based disparities recognizes that the rural United States is not a monolith, with important geographic and cultural differences present regionally. We also focus on the challenges the rural governmental public health enterprise faces, the so-called "double disparity" of worse health outcomes and behaviors alongside modest investment in health departments compared with their nonrural peers. Finally, we offer 5 population-based "prescriptions" for supporting rural public health in the United States. These relate to greater investment and supporting rural advocacy to better address the needs of the rural United States in this new decade.

Will counties that reallocate money from law enforcement to social services improve subsequent markers of population wellbeing? In this study, we measure the association between county government spending across multiple sectors and Life Expectancy at Birth (LEB) in the U.S. using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. We constructed a Structural Equation Model to determine whether social expenditure, building infrastructure, and spending on law and order were positively or negatively associated with LEB three-years after initial spending. The analysis compared data between 2002-05 and 2007-10 and was stratified for urban and rural counties. In rural counties, a one-standard-deviation increase in social spending increased subsequent LEB by 0.58 (SE 0.16) and 0.36 (SE 0.16) years in 2005 and 2010, respectively. In urban counties, a one-standard-deviation increase in building infrastructure spending increased subsequent LEB by 1.14 (SE 0.51) and 1.05 (SE 0.49) years in 2005 and 2010, respectively. In 2002, a one-standard-deviation increase in law and order spending significantly decreased subsequent life expectancy, 2.2 (SE 1.27) and 0.46 (SE 0.13) years in urban and rural counties, respectively. Similarly, investments in building infrastructure for urban counties and social services for rural counties were associated with subsequently higher life expectancy three years later after initial investments.