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Our resources are intended to help you in your day-to-day practice of environmental health including new research and perspectives from articles from our Journal of Environmental Health, toolkits and templates, as well as webinars and other learning opportunities.
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Results of the Midterm Elections on Environmental Health
Tuesday, November 22, 2022dfarquhar@neha.org The 2022 midterm elections are finally over. And we know the results, mostly.The U.S. Senate will remain in control of the Democratic Party, having at least 50 seats and the vote of Vice President Kam...
Retail Food Establishment Checklist for Floods
This checklist can be used by environmental health professionals to assess if a retail food facility can reopen safely after a flood in the facility. Recommended for emergency environmental public health practitioners working at the s...
Retail Program Standards Enrollment
If you have not yet enrolled in the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS), enrollment is your first action to take. Enrollment in the VNRFRPS is required to apply for funding through the 51°µÍø-FDA RFFM Grant Progra...
Retail Program Standards Symposium
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Retail Program Standards Symposium (RPSS). The Symposium brought together retail food safety jurisdictions at the state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) levels to support and strengthen thei...
RFFM Resources
FDA Retail Program Standards ResourcesFDA Retail Program Standards Homepage | WebpageInstructions to Enroll in FDA's Retail Program Standards | WebpageSelf-Assessment/Audit Verification Summary & Gap Analysis Tool (For GY25- 26 Grantees) | W...
Rhipicephalus sanguineus Surveillance Method
There are several methods for tick surveillance including both active and passive methods. These include tick drags and tick collections from animals. Active surveillance is used to determine whether a species of tick is established within a cer...
Rural and Frontier Committee
The mission of our Rural and Frontier Committee is to be a resource for environmental health professionals and 51°µÍø leadership dedicated to developing resources and programs to support and increase the workforce capacity and improve conditions i...
SAFE-D Best Practices Guide
Each of the more than 3,000 environmental public health programs across the country collects and manages aquatic information differently. The Standard for Aquatic Facility Environments – Data (SAFE-D) model is a standardized format ...
Safety in Emergency Shelters in Low Resource, Non-U.S. Settings
This document offers resources on emergency sheltering during the COVID-19 pandemic in non-U.S. settings and contains:Recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during evacuation shelteringEmergency Shelter Information ResponseRecommended...
Saltwater Intrusion Resources
Saltwater intrusion refers to the movement of salt water into freshwater aquifers. This can degrade groundwater quality, contaminating sources used for drinking and crop irrigation. Extended droughts can push this saltwater-freshwater bounda...
Scholarship Recipients
2025 Recipients2025 51°µÍø/AAS scholarship RecipientsUndergraduate Awards:Savannah Crooks - Dr. Sheila Davidson Pressley ScholarshipEastern Kentucky UniversityCaydence Freitas - Dr. Carolyn Hester Harvey ScholarshipUniversity of WashingtonKatrina ...
Second Annual World Food Day
Date posted: Monday, June 29, 2020Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDIn the midst of COVID-19, enforcing social distancing, and attempts to reopen the economy, we neglected to celebrate June 7, 2020, as the 2nd Annual World Food Day, sponsored by the...
Secondhand Smoke Resources
Secondhand smoke occurs when someone uses and exhales tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, and the smoke is then inhaled involuntarily by others.Learn MoreAmerican Lung AssociationDo You Smell Smoke? | VideoCDCSecondhand Smoke ...
September 2018: Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services
Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services ColumnSeptember 2018 Journal of Environmental Health (Volume 81, Number 2) Editor's Note: 51°µÍø strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships...
September 2019: Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services
Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services ColumnSeptember 2019 Journal of Environmental Health (Volume 82, Number 2) Editor's Note: 51°µÍø strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships...
September 2020: Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services
Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services ColumnSeptember 2020 Journal of Environmental Health (Volume 83, Number 2) Editor's Note: 51°µÍø strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships...
September 2021: Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services
Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services ColumnJournal of Environmental Health (Volume 84, Number 2)Editor's Note: The 51°µÍø strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health ...
SepticSmart Week
51°µÍø raises awareness for SepticSmart Week every September alongside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). SepticSmart Week is focused on getting homeowners and communities to care for and maintain their septic systems. During Sep...
SepticSmart Week Blog
September 16, 2021EPA's SepticSmart Week will take place September 13-17, 2021. This event focuses on educating homeowners and communities on the proper care and maintenance of their septic systems. With over one in five households in the U.S. u...
Sigmodon hispidus Surveillance Method
A good Integrated Pest Mangement (IPM) rodent program starts with inspection. A good inspection provides four valuable pieces of information: what is present, the extent and severity of the infestation, the location of rodent harborage and high-...
Standard 9: Program Assessment
The goal of both the 51°µÍø-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model (RFFM) Grant Program and the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards) is to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness risk factors in food ...
State Ballot Measures on Environmental Health
November 11, 2022dfarquhar@neha.org On November 8, 2022, voters in the U.S. decided on 133 state ballot measures, including several that addressed water, climate change, health, and cannabis. Most measures get on the ballot in one of two ways: 1...
State Enacted Food Safety Legislation: 2024 Sessions
September 19, 2024 For the 2024 state legislative sessions that began in January 2024, state legislators introduced 250 bills related to food safety. Of these bills, 41 were passed and enacted into law, with another 11 eligible for signing by th...
State Food Safety Legislation Enacted in August 2020
Date posted: Wednesday, September 2, 2020Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDThe 51°µÍø (51°µÍø) identified 223 bills that were introduced in 30 states and Washington, DC, related to food, food safety, retail food, and...
State Voices Amplified During 2024 Hill Day
April 8, 2024 We held our 7th Annual Hill Day on March 28, 2024, with a new twist. This was the first year that instead of only including our board members, we facilitated the opportunity for our members to join us. We are pleased to report that...
States Seek to Limit the Authority of Public Health
Date posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2021Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDState legislatures have introduced over 2,000 COVID-19-related measures for the 2021 legislative sessions, about one-half the number introduced in 2020. These bills cover lia...
Studying Social Workers' Roles in Natural Disasters During a Global Pandemic
This article shares practice and research recommendations for a social worker relating to therapeutic interactions, social justice, and public health during disasters. Social workers are viewed as a source of reliable information about safety, r...
Support of the Environmental Health Workforce Act H.R. 2661
The Honorable Nancy PelosiSpeaker of the HouseU.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20510The Honorable Kevin McCarthyMinority LeaderU.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20510The Honorable Chuck SchumerMajority LeaderU.S. SenateWashi...
Supporting Wildfire Response During a Pandemic in the United States
This article reviews the development and application of a COVID-19 Incident Risk Assessment Tool. The tool includes summary of usage statistics, examples of real use on wildfire incidents, and report feedback from users. The tool was used to fil...
Take Legislative Action
We track and advocate for federal and state legislation that promotes environmental health and reflects our policy statements. Anyone—including people employed by state, local, tribal, or territorial governments—can advocate on public policy. Le...
Technical Support
For reasons of security and functionality, jurisdictions are required to complete all grant applications online through our grants management portal using a modern, up-to-date web browser. Find out what you're using by visiting www.whatismybrows...
The American Jobs Plan Could Provide Billions for the Environmental Health Workforce
Date posted: Monday, April 5, 2021Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDThe American Jobs Plan Could Provide Billions for the Environmental Health WorkforcePresident Joe Biden's American Jobs Plan (aka the Infrastructure Bill) covers a lot, including en...
The Beginning of the End of Election Season
Date posted: Monday, November 9, 2020Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDIn 2020, Election Day officially became Election Season.As I write this, Joe Biden will be our next president. We are still unsure who will control the Senate.But most results ar...
The Beginning of the Next Administration
Date posted: Tuesday, December 15, 2020Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDWith Election Day signaling the end of election season, December is time to review who is set to fill which positions.Just to bring everyone up-to-date, Joe Biden will be our n...
The COVID-19 Crisis Worsens With the Occurrence of Climate Extremes and Disasters
This article examines the impacts of climate disasters and COVID-19 in Africa and provides suggestions for countries to strengthen their emergency department by boosting the staff component, provide adequate technical support and develop detaile...
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Wildfire Smoke
This article identifies the potential for dangerous interactions between COVID-19 and smoke pollution This resource includes: Strategies to manage the combination of public health threats Recommended for environmental and public health officia...
The Food Freedom Movement: Laws in Maine, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
Date posted: Monday, August 17, 2020Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDCottage food laws permit the sale of small production foods without the burdens of fully licensed retail foods. Food freedom laws seek to eliminate those minimal restrictions and ...
The Impact of Natural Disasters on the Spread of COVID-19
This journal article discusses es how natural disasters and infectious disease disrupts human health and livelihood. It modeled a concurrent disaster scenario on the impact of infection related fatalities. This resource contains information on: ...
The Mental Health Impacts of Successive Disasters
Experiencing a natural disaster at the same time as a global pandemic is associated with negative impacts on mental health. This article studies resiliency at the individual and community levels to understand problematic impacts following a disa...
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act
September 5, 2023 The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PAHPRA) undergoes review and is reauthorized by Congress every 5 years, the first time in 2018 and again at the end of September 2023. Congress has mark...
The Senate Version of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Covers Environmental Health
Date posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2021Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDThe Senate reached a tentative compromise on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly referred to as the infrastructure bill. The $2.3 trillion package first envision...
The United States COVID-19 Pandemic in the Flood Season
This article outlines a tool that assesses the compound risk of COVID-19 at the county level. The article found that the number of flood insurance house claims can proxy the displaced population accurately with more spatiotemporal detail, and th...
The United States' Response to COVID-19
This report focuses on an assessment of the response to COVID-19 on a national level. This case study assesses the U.S. experience a year into the pandemic unfolding and aims to support a smarter, faster response to the pandemic and to be prepar...
Tobacco & Environmental Health
Environmental health professionals conduct a variety of activities to control tobacco exposure:Investigate - Complaints and sample environments that may have unhealthy levels.Enforce - Many municipalities across the county prohibit smoking in pu...
Triatomine Bugs Surveillance Method
Surveillance techniques in the United States involve identifying immature stages of Triatomine bugs as well as screening the national blood supply for parasitic infection.Cases of Chagas disease are not currently required by federal law to be re...
U.S. House of Representatives Adopt Budgets for FY 2021
Date posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2020Blog poster: Doug Farquhar, JDThe U.S. Congress House Appropriations Committee dictates much of federal spending. The 12 House Appropriations Subcommittees finalized their FY 2021 spending bills for the full Ap...
UNCOVER EH
The work of environmental public health professionals is critical to protect public health and the environment, yet these efforts often go unnoticed until problems occur (e.g., foodborne outbreaks, vector borne diseases, contaminated water supp...
UNCOVER EH Resources
Reports, Interpretations, & Opinions Each of the articles below represents perspectives from experts on the challenges, needs, and next steps to ensure a strong environmental public health workforce. ...