NEHA NEWS
disasters that were developed by state, local, tribal, and territo- rial health departments; academic institutions; nongovernmen- tal organizations; and governmental agencies. We highlight a few must-read resources, including: » Federal Emergency Management Agency Hurricane Pandemic Plan » Natural Hazards Center: Lessons on Concurrent Disasters » Dual Disaster Handbook—Flooding • Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources: This collection of resources is for environmental health profes- sionals to use to prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover from natural and human-made emergencies and disasters. The reposi- tory includes resources to facilitate knowledge sharing across jurisdictions that were developed by state, local, tribal, and ter- ritorial health departments; academic institutions; nongovern- mental organizations; and governmental agencies. We highlight a few must-read resources, including: » Wells—What to Do After a Flood » Disaster Guide for Retail Food Facilities » Wildfire Response Guide Explore all these resources at www.neha.org/preparedness. Membership Hits Record Number We are delighted to announce that we surpassed 7,000 active mem- bers in September—the largest membership in our history! The more members we have, the louder our voice. Let’s keep it going and spread the word about the value of membership. Membership provides environmental health professionals with connection, education, and advancement in their careers. Our nationally recognized credentials, extensive learning opportuni- ties, and community of dedicated leaders position our members for greater professional success. We believe that the success of our members elevates the entire environmental health profession. We oer several membership options: • Professional: Individuals active in the field of environmental health employed in government, uniformed services, academic, or industry sectors. • Emerging Professional: Students or individuals within the first 5 years of their environmental health career, or individuals who are active-duty military. • Retired Professional: Individuals retired from the field of envi- ronmental health. • International: Environmental health professionals who reside outside of the U.S. • Life: Life membership with no renewals and a one-time fee. You can benefit from membership at any stage of your career— from student to retiree. You can also take advantage of these valu- able benefits: • Community: We oer an online platform called Community that allows our members to gather insight, ask questions, and build connections. Our Annual Educational Conference &
Exhibition provides high-quality environmental health training, education, networking, and advancement. You can also learn and network through the webinars and training we oer. • Credibility: Our credentials demonstrate a level of expertise and competence, based on education and experience, that is nationally recognized. Members receive discounts on exams and renewal fees. Members can download a customized cer- tificate signifying a commitment to their career. Professional members have the opportunity to vote in our elections and hold leadership positions such as members of our board, technical advisors, and committee members. We also oer an online Job Board where members can post job announcements at no cost or at a reduced cost for organizations that employ our professional members. • Learning: Our Journal of Environmental Health provides inno- vative and practical ideas to carry into the field and oce. Our bimonthly newsletter highlights the most recent and relevant environmental health news and is delivered to members by e-mail 20 times a year. Members can also maintain and track their con- tinuing education contact hours for free via our E-Learning. • Influence: Our Government Aairs program is the liaison between environmental health professionals and government ocials to gather and present the data needed to inform poli- cymakers on the importance of a well-supported and well- funded workforce. We collaborate with members to raise the voice of the environmental health profession through policy and position statements. Members can also contribute their time and expertise to help develop resources on the topics that matter most to our members. We also oer a discount to professional members when they place advertisements on our platforms. Learn more about the benefits of membership with us at www.neha.org/membership. New Blogs From Government Aairs One of the ways we keep you updated on our government aairs activities is through the blogs written by Government Aairs Director Doug Farquhar. As of press time, two new blogs were posted in October. The first blog provides an update on 2023 state legislation regarding food safety. We provide a table of food safety topics and the number of bills introduced to state legislations in 2023. Retail food, food freedom, and food safety had the highest number of bills introduced. Overall, a total of 233 bills related to food safety legislation were introduced during the 2023 legislative sessions, with 63 bills enacted, adopted, or passed by state legislation that were sent to state governors for signing. The second blog explores the story we have to tell related to how the work we do saves lives. From food safety and water safety to disease prevention, our profession has tackled seemingly impos- sible challenges to ensure the health and safety of our communi-
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November 2023 • Journal of Environmental Health
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