The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) hosted their 24th Annual Advocacy Summit from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24 held in Washington, DC. SOPHE members and public health advocacy professionals and students engage in discussion addressing the nation’s current health problems while sharing innovative ways of handling those problems mentioned. “Youth Health Equity: Forging the Path for an Inclusive Future” was the theme of this year’s conference. A total of 200 students and professors had the opportunity to attend the conference along with two members of LHU’s Public Health Majors club, Jessica McCarthy, and Meghan Molloy.
For the first two days of the event, Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, public health educators conducted presentations about future legislation acts that would promote equity for the youth of the nation. A total of three acts were discussed, two of the acts were the Anti-Racism in Public Health and Equality act. Also, there was discussion about the need of advancing sex education in high school and college.
In one of the sessions, students attending the conference were asked about what public health issues were important to them, giving them a voice in discussion. One of the main issues mentioned by students was the rising number of people vaping, said Jessica McCarthy.
On Oct. 24, McCarthy and Molloy visited Capital Hill and spoke with legislators. They were able to speak to PA Senator Robert Casey’s aides along with Congressman Fred Keller’s aides about current public health concerns like furthering LGBTQ+ rights.
McCarthy and Molloy mentioned there will be future events hosted by Public Health Majors club with the purpose of educating students on sexual education. People attending these events will learn about communicating consent with sexual partners, forms of birth control and ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Another event inspired by the SOPHE’s conference pertaining to mental health of students, was to provide resources on safe social spaces with the apps TalkLife, Wisdo, and Amino. These free online sources can be used for students who prefer not to experience in person counseling.
Every year SOPHE hosts an annual conference in Washington, DC, allowing health educators, public health advocates, professors, and students to engage in discussion on ways to enhance community health through effective public health education practice. Attendees expand their previous knowledge through networking with others in the health education field and new social media services to combat pressing health problems of the nation. Anyone interested in learning more about SOPHE’s 24th Annual Advocacy Summit, contact Jessica McCarthy at jlm8394@lockhaven.edu, or Meghan Molloy at mam7423@lockhaven.edu.
