Nah, We Don't Need That...

There are some things that just don't make sense to me, and probably never will. Why cars don't stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, exactly how airplanes fly and anything involving outer space to name a few. Top on that list, for the moment, is why representatives at the Wisconsin State Department of Public Health will not support state organizations in applying for federal public health funding.

Yes, yes. I've moved into a state filled with its own set of quirky political challenges, hypocritical elected officials and angry, angry constituents. Before moving to Wisconsin, I watched the energetic protests at the state capitol, heard the debated over the new state budget, and all the hints of strange and embarrassing semi-scandal. I knew we would be in for some fireworks, but from a distance, it's always hard to tell.

As your eyes glaze over with all this talk of politics, here's the link to food. This week, both the Wisconsin State Journal and the Journal Sentinel ran stories highlighting the failure of State Department of Health to support around 28 million dollars of funding over five years for Wisconsin public health campaigns.  Both the Milwaukee Health Department and University Health Services at UW-Madison applied for federal grants, authorized under Obama's federal health care reform, to support smoking cessation, nutrition and physical activity programs across the state. Each grant application, due July 15, requires a letter of support from the state public health office. In this case, the state declined to provide that support, reportedly stating "Why are we asking for taxpayers' money for stuff that we are already doing?" 

Maybe, the state would support these funds as a supplement to the comparatively low level of existing public health funding in Wisconsin. Or, possibly, the state's relatively high rates of smoking and obesity would be good enough incentive to encourage the Department of Health to hop on board with these grant proposals. A modicum of foresight might even recognize these funds as a potential long-term cost cutting proposal to mitigate the very expensive long term health care costs associated with smoking and obesity related health problems. But no, instead it seems as if politics has gotten in the way again, and this time public health suffers.

Ok, but what about the food?

It's in the programs. Public health funds targeting childhood obesity usually support campaigns for improved nutrition and physical activity. Sure, these are terms that are easy to gloss over, but in reality they mean two things. The first is innovative initiatives that encourage youth to eat and move in new ways. Farm to school efforts, fresh fruit and vegetable promotions, recess before lunch, bike paths and active after school programs (not to mention evaluations that prove their efficacy) are the integral on-the-ground efforts that must be funded. The second is jobs. These grant funds are moving through local community organizations, universities and departments of health; and administered by program coordinators, health educators and public health professionals of all stripes. These funds support these organizations, currently underfunded and overworked, to build capacity by maintaining and adding jobs. It seems a shame to let the potential for 28 million dollars in public health prevention funds to slip through the state's hands.