HM 62 — "PUBLIC HEALTH DAY"

HOUSE MEMORIAL 62 56TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEWMEXICO - FIRST SESSION 2023 INTRODUCED BY Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson and Anthony Allison 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY 21, 2023 "PUBLIC HEALTH DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

145 WHEREAS, public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play;

and e t 17 WHEREAS, public health organizations shepherded New w l n d 18 Mexicans through the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, = = 19 a l including vaccine promotion and delivery that resulted in over i a e r 20 seventy-five percent of New Mexicans being vaccinated against a t m m 21 the coronavirus disease 2019;

and d r e 22 WHEREAS, place-based public and community health c e s k 23 organizations play a critical role in identifying the needs and e a n b 24 priorities of the communities most impacted by dire health u [ inequities;

and .225123.1 WHEREAS, place-based public and community health organizations create, promote and carry out programs and strategies that connect New Mexicans to essential resources and are the backbone of New Mexico's public health infrastructure;

and WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association is the state affiliate of the American public health association and HM 62 Page 1 has built the capacity of New Mexico's public health workers and advanced health equity in New Mexico for one hundred five years;

and WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association is forging strong partnerships with community organizations to center public health workforce development in partnerships and paradigms that acknowledge and educate on the harmful legacies e t 17 of settler colonialism, genocide and racism and the communities w l n d 18 most impacted by health inequities;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association and the i a e r 20 New Mexico alliance of health councils have a close ongoing a t m m 21 partnership;

and d r e 22 WHEREAS, New Mexico's community health councils were c e s k 23 established under the auspices of the 1991 County Maternal and e a n b 24 Child Health Plan Act;

and u [ WHEREAS, the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act was .225123.1 - 2 - amended in 2007 to include community health councils located in tribal communities;

and WHEREAS, for thirty-one years, New Mexico's county and tribal health councils have served the state with dedication HM 62 Page 2 and distinction to improve the health of all New Mexicans;

and e t 17 WHEREAS, community health councils have worked with w l n d 18 communities to attract federal, state and private funding to = = 19 a l communities to support health programs and services;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, community health councils continue to provide a t m m 21 accurate, up-to-date information on local health needs to state d r e 22 agencies and nonprofit service providers;

and c e s k 23 WHEREAS, community health councils have provided planning e a n b 24 and coordination of local health services that result in u [ reducing duplication and filling gaps in services;

and .225123.1 - 3 - WHEREAS, the New Mexico alliance of health councils has provided critical coordination, capacity building and advocacy on behalf of tribal and county health councils;

and WHEREAS, the work and role of the New Mexico alliance of health councils have allowed tribal and county health councils to carry out high-quality assessments, programs and HM 62 Page 3 services;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico's public health organizations, including the New Mexico public health association and the New Mexico alliance of health councils and its constituent county and tribal health councils, along with critical community-based organizations, be recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments and their combined one e t 17 hundred thirty-six years of service in improving community w l n d 18 well-being and advancing health equity among the people of New = = 19 a l Mexico;

and i a e r 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be a t m m 21 transmitted to the governor and the secretary of health for d r e 22 appropriate distribution.

cHM e62 sPage k 23 - 4 -25 e a n b 24 u [ .225123.1