Sound public health policy requires expert public health analysis.  Our issue briefs  help policymakers and the public better understand  public health issues facing Virginia and to craft  policies that address them. 

Virginia's Public Health Landscape: A Call To Action

Virginia has the potential to be the healthiest state in the nation, but it has a long way to go. Recent health policy debates at the federal and state levels have focused on access to clinical care. Access to quality, affordable health care is necessary but insufficient. It is social, economic, and environmental factors that have the largest effect on wellbeing. Shifting the debate upstream to focus on Virginia's public health system is essential for addressing these factors.

This report reviews the history of Virginia's public health system, identifies current issues, and looks to the future. Its conclusion is simple: Strengthening Virginia's public health system is necessary to improve health and erase health disparities.

Read the report here.