The mission of the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy (LHC) is to connect and support those seeking to improve health outcomes through policy. A key aim in achieving pursuing our mission is to empower students to affect policy change. We support students’ growth in…
Policy Watch: Alabama legislature authorizes enhanced lead regulations
Policy Watch: Alabama legislature authorizes enhanced lead regulations by Anantha Korrapati Background Lead is a natural chemical commonly used in various products such as household paint (before 1978), gasoline (before 1995), and plumbing pipes and fixtures. However, it is a potent neurotoxin that harms people, especially children,…
Policy Watch: Alabama Becomes First State to Enact Elder Abuse Registry
Background Elder abuse is a prevalent issue in the United States and comes in various forms, such as physical harm, neglect or desertion, financial exploitation, and emotional abuse through verbal and non-verbal acts. According to the Alabama Department of Human Resources’ Adult Protective Services, over…
Policy Review: Birmingham Bus Rapid Transit System
Anushree Gade | LHC Intern Introduction Public transit has emerged as a vital public service. Metropolitan cities across the world feature a multitude of rapid transit systems (subways, trams, buses, etc.). Such systems are also present in several cities across the…
Policy Watch: Alabama Establishes Grant Program for Public Schools to Provide Feminine Hygeine Products to Students
Kimberly Randall | Lister Hill Center Staff Background The purchase of menstruation products has historically caused financial hardship to a large percentage of the population, particularly individuals and families below the poverty line. In Alabama, feminine hygiene products are not eligible to be covered under…
Policy Works: State Department Announces Non-Binary Option on U.S. Passport
by Kimberly Randall | Lister Hill Center for Health Policy Photo Courtesy of Getty Images Background: Since their inception, United States government documents have only allowed two options for gender selection: male or female. The modern understanding of gender identity has shifted to view gender…
Policy Watch: The Establishment of the Alabama Voluntary Firearm Do-Not-Sell Database
by Kimberly Tsoukalas | Lister Hill Center Program Coordinator Background Currently, in the state of Alabama, the ability to buy a firearm is available to most adults over the age of 18, with certain weapons restricted to citizens over the age of 21. Individuals who…
Policy Watch: Alabama Lawmakers Propose Mandated Mental Health Professionals in K-12 Schools
By Kimberly Tsoukalas | Lister Hill Center Program Coordinator Background In 2009, the Institute of Medicine compiled a report that recommended local and state governments develop a system to increase access to resources for students for the prevention and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral…
Policy Review: Climate Change Initiatives in the Deep South
by Anushree Gade | LHC Intern BACKGROUND Last year in late October and early November, we saw many news articles pertaining to the Glasgow Climate Change Conference. Counties across the world are collaborating with one another to address the international crisis of Climate Change. At…
Policy Review: Alabama’s Push Toward Electric Vehicles
March 1, 2022, | Anushree Gade, LHC Intern As a state, Alabama has been making a more pronounced effort to adopt sustainability initiatives. This may result from people becoming more knowledgeable about climate change and how sustainability directly plays into it. Electric vehicles have been…
A Conversation with Dr. Eri Saikawa
The Lister Hill Center for Health Policy recently hosted Dr. Eri Saikawa for a seminar on climate-smart agriculture and the impact of urban gardening on public health. Dr. Saikawa’s research includes evaluating the impact of fertilizer on air quality and how heavy metal toxicity in…
Policy Watch: The Impact of Eliminating Grocery Sales Tax
February 14, 2021 | Kimberly Randall, LHC Program Coordinator Photo Courtesy of Getty Images Background For almost two decades, Alabama policymakers have debated whether or not to remove the sales tax on groceries. Currently, sales tax on groceries accounts for nearly $500 million in state…
Policy Watch: Top Public Health Issues in the 2022 Alabama Legislative Session
February 7, 2022, by Kimberly Tsoukalas | LHC Program Coordinator Photo Courtesy of Getty Images Legislatures have spoken about various agendas, and points of interest as the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate reconvene for the official 2022 session. The Alabama House Republican Caucus has…
The Widespread Impact of Eco-Anxiety
By Anushree Gade | Lister Hill Center Intern Climate change has been gathering large amounts of attention in recent years. Since the late twentieth century, temperatures have been rising, and 2020 was the second warmest year in recorded history. Greenhouse gas emissions have tremendously contributed to…
Policy Works: US Launches At-Home Covid Testing Initiative
By Kimberly Tsoukalas, Lister Hill Center Program Coordinator Photo Courtesy of Getty Images Health policy can take many forms and impacts multiple parts of the public health sector. From housing reform to addressing nutrition in impoverished communities to climate change, legislation can have widespread impacts…