Our country is experiencing a maternal mental health crisis. Mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting 1 in 5 mothers every year.May is Maternal Mental Health Month, an important time to think about the millions of women experiencing postpartum depression or PPD.These feelings are more intense …

Women In Government PodcastState as a Model Employer to Engage a More Diverse and Representative WorkforceAccording to the most recent U.S. Census data, there are more than 42-million Americans with disabilities. Across all age groups, these folks are more likely to be unemployed. That’s why state leaders, government agencies, and task forces are u…

Women In Government PodcastMental Health MattersWe’ve learned a lot over the past few years, especially about our nation’s resiliency and ability to come together in times of crisis. However, we continue to uncover the hard truths about some people who regularly suffer and live with disadvantages based on their overall health and well-being. One ar…

Women In Government PodcastThe Cost of Osteoporotic FracturesLow bone mass and the deterioration of bone tissue are two ways to describe Osteoporosis. More the 53 million people either have this bone disease or are at high risk of bone fractures due to low bone mass. How does this affect us on the state-level, and what does this mean for our countr…

Women In Government PodcastDisparities in Cancer OutcomesCancer is comprised of more than 100-diseases affecting all population groups in the United States. However, due to social, environmental, and economic disadvantages, a few groups bear a disproportionate burden of cancer. Hispanic/Latino and Black women have higher rates of cervical cancer. A…

Women In Government PodcastType 2 Inflammation: Health Disparities & Impact on Minority PopulationsPeople living with type 2 inflammatory diseases often feel limited by unpredictable symptoms and isolated in their experiences. For example, the condition can contribute to the debilitating itch of atopic dermatitis or (AD), and sometimes life-threate…

Women In Government PodcastNew Normal, Same CancerCOVID-19 has also brought with it a challenge to those facing a cancer diagnosis. Within less than 2 months following the start of the pandemic, average weekly new cancer cases dropped by about 46% across six major types of cancers, including breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, gastric and esophag…

Women In Government PodcastAlzheimer’s Disease: The Importance of Early Detection & DiagnosisQuality care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias starts with an early, documented and disclosed diagnosis. However, less than 50% of people with dementia are diagnosed and of those who are—less than 50% are told. According to the World H…

Women In Government PodcastLessons Learned: Caring for Employees, Patients and the Community During COVID-19To say that the COVID-19 pandemic made us readjust to a “new normal” is an understatement. Over the past several months, we’ve grown accustomed to social distancing, wearing masks everywhere we go, working from home and attending multiple vir…

Women In Government PodcastThe Co-Pandemic: Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Access in the Age of COVID-19The COVID-19 pandemic is making an existing mental health crisis worse. Experts are warning mental health issues and substance use disorders will be exacerbated for people who already have these conditions, and may lead to new mental hea…

Women In Government PodcastPandemic Preparedness for Public Health LabsCOVID-19 has been a game changer for the healthcare industry. The pandemic has engulfed our work streams and has both highlighted our collective successes, and elevated our inefficiencies. On this episode of the Women In Government Podcast, our panel discusses how critical it is…

Women In Government PodcastVaccine Development for COVID-19The past eight months have transformed our daily lives. We’ve seen masks, social distancing, and washing our hands for 20 seconds or more become part of regular routines—all while we wait for a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19.As we head into the cooler months and the infection rates incre…

Women In Government PodcastSocial JusticeOur country has been at unrest for quite some time now, but it seems like everything came to a head the moment an African American man took his last breath while in police custody. George Floyd’s untimely death in Minneapolis, Minnesota sparked outrage all around the U.S. resulting in protests and cries for …

Women In Government PodcastBIOEquality Agenda“All men are created equal.” Five simple words that when put together lay the foundation of what our Founding Fathers had in mind for this great land that we live in.To make that dream a reality for all people, especially underrepresented populations, like women, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ+ …

Women In Government PodcastBridging the Education DivideCOVID-19 has not only turned our healthcare, community, and business landscape upside down, it has also impacted our education system.Approximately 50 million students will attend school from home for at least part of the 2020/21 school year due to the pandemic. This dynamic shift in the metho…

Women In Government PodcastBiosimilars & Cost SavingsScience is forever evolving, particularly when it comes to cutting-edge medicines aimed at improving the quality of life for millions of people. It has been a decade since one innovation entered the picture which has helped save lives while being an affordable option for those living with cancer,…

Women In Government PodcastSafe Drug DisposalAny medicine can cause harm if not taken properly or by the wrong person. No one wants to hear about their grandmother taking expired medicine that no longer treats her illness, or worse someone having to visit the ER. Especially when this could have been prevented. According to the 2018 National Survey …

Women In Government PodcastIt Takes 2: Type 2 InflammationPeople of all ages, genders, and backgrounds are connected by similar challenges because of one lesser known chronic condition known as Type 2 Inflammation. Recent scientific developments have shown that this overactive immune system response, underlies different atopic, allergic and inflamm…

Women In Government PodcastMalnutrition in Vulnerable PopulationsSo many aspects of our daily lives have changed since COVID-19 entered the picture. As we continue readjusting to the “new normal,” some familiar concerns have remained and come with a set of severe consequences. Food insecurity has plagued different American populations for decades, …

Women In Government PodcastIncreasing Access & Opportunity: 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities ActThis July 26th marks the 30th anniversary of a landmark decision that changed the lives of people living with disabilities. Back in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act or (ADA) was passed and signed into law. It effectively prohibited di…

Women In Government PodcastYou're Never Too Old: The Importance of Adult VaccinationVaccines are not just for children. Adults can be protected from 14 deadly diseases - including Hepatitis A and B, Measles, and the Flu. According to the CDC, over 20 years, vaccines will prevent more than 700,000 deaths and 21 million hospitalizations. On this epis…

Women In Government PodcastBone BasicsAbout 54 million Americans have osteoporosis, and many don’t even know they’re at risk of developing weak bones. One in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone because of the disease, leaving many with permanent pain and a stooped or hunched posture. There’s a bone health crisis a…

Women In Government PodcastDon't Hesitate, VaccinateThere are many reasons why people choose to vaccinate their families against preventable diseases. Vaccination promotes good public health and helps avoid a major disease outbreak. That’s something we saw this year, with several measles outbreaks in large communities across the country.Measles may…

Women In Government PodcastState Opioid Taxes: Economic & Health Policy ImplicationsThere's a nationwide public health emergency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds more than 130 Americans die everyday from an opioid overdose. Increasingly, people are using illegal heroin and synthetic drugs, while the improper use of prescript…

Women In Government PodcastUnseen But Heard: State Solutions for Non-Visible Disabilities in the WorkplaceDid you know only four out of ten working-age adults with disabilities have a job? Less than three years ago, the employment percentage was more than double for those without disabilities, with more than 75% of people in the workforce. This gap…

Women In Government PodcastAre You Ready for This Year's Flu Season?Each year, three to five million cases of severe flu are reported worldwide. Depending on the virus, influenza associated deaths can range from 290,000 to over 650,000 people. Last year, the number of those infected with the flu in the United States skyrocketed to levels we haven’t…

Women In Government PodcastEPISODE 3: Employer Perspectives for Improving Employment Outcomes for People with DisabilitiesIn 2016 less than 40% of Americans between the ages of 18-64 with disabilities had a job. The employment percentage was more than double for those without disabilities. This employment gap highlights the work that needs to be do…

Women In Government PodcastEPISODE 3: Employer Perspectives for Improving Employment Outcomes for People with DisabilitiesIn 2016 less than 40% of Americans between the ages of 18-64 with disabilities had a job. The employment percentage was more than double for those without disabilities. This employment gap highlights the work that needs to be do…

10 million Americans have osteoporosis and many more may be at risk of developing the bone disease. Learn the risk factors and what you can do to help improve your bone health. Barbara Hannah Grufferman, a nationally recognized expert on healthy and positive aging shares her tips to achieving a healthy and happy life. This May, she has teamed up wi…

Women In Government PodcastCareer Planning and Credentialing for People with DisabilitiesModerator:Maryland State Delegate Sheree Sample-HughesFeatured Guests:Oregon State Senator Sara GelserDr. Joe Ashley, Assistant Commissioner for Grants and Special Programs, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and Director for Virginia’s R…

Women In Government PodcastEmployability of People with DisabilitiesModerator:Maryland Delegate Sheree Sample-HughesFeatured Guests:Tennessee State Senator Becky MasseyKyle Ingram, Disabilities Employment Policy Specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)Bobby Silverstein J.D., Principal, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC an…