Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Kentucky faces many public health challenges, including high rates of cancer, respiratory diseases, and metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Many cases of such diseases are linked to health behaviors that are highly prevalent in Kentucky, such as cigarette smoking and a high-fat diet. Many other cases, however, are primarily or secondarily associated with environmental health hazards, whether related to industry, transportation, climate, communicable diseases, or even natural geologic processes. Furthermore, many environmental health hazards, such as poor air quality associated with vehicle exhaust, are ubiquitous features of everyday life for many Kentuckians. Kentucky has made significant strides in establishing a comprehensive system to track environmental health hazards and associated health outcomes through previous Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (EPHTN) funding. Thanks to those resources and mentorship from other states, it has established relationships with data stewards to secure data use agreements, developed procedures for processing data, launched an online portal for sharing data, and engaged with academic partners and other stakeholders to enhance the utility of environmental public health data in the state. Still, despite these accomplishments, the well-being of Kentuckians demands further action to reduce the impact of environmental health hazards. Strengthening and modernizing its EPHTN program will enable Kentucky to better inform policymakers and the general public, guide public health interventions, and facilitate applied and academic research. To strengthen and modernize its EPHTN program, Kentucky will build its EPHTN program capacity by updating and improving the current system’s data management and visualization processes, by expanding the number and types of contributing data sources, and by substantially enhancing links to communities and academic partners. Kentucky’s EPHTN program will also explore emerging environmental threats related to extreme weather and its associated health effects. Lastly, Kentucky will continue to maintain and improve its online portal to communicate environmental public health risks with policymakers and the general public, and to share environmental public health data with academic and scientific researchers.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).