Issue At A Glance

IHPL periodically develops briefs on current issues with a special focus on oral health, hunger, and mental/behavioral health. We hope that our “Issue At A Glance” will inform our readers and spark a dialogue among stakeholders to better promote health and prevent disease. To access previous issues, please visit our archive.

Issue Briefs

January 2025. Healthcare Coverage for Immigrants in the U.S.

This brief provides an overview of the history and trends in policies affecting healthcare coverage for immigrants in the United States.

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December 2024. Home and Community-Based Services for People with Disabilities

This brief provides an introduction to home and community-based services (HCBS) that provide support for disabled people to live in their communities.

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November 2024. Voting and Health

This brief provides an overview of how voting can impact various aspects of health, including the social determinants of health as well as individual and population health.

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October 2024. Social Media and Youth Mental Health

This brief provides an overview of the Surgeon General’s advisory on social media and youth mental health, the Kids Online Safety Act, and the impacts of social media on youth mental health.

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September 2024. Firearm Violence

This brief provides an overview of the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on firearm violence, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and the impact of firearms on community and individual health.

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August 2024. Vaccines

In honor of the National Immunization Awareness Month, this brief provides an overview of vaccine hesitancy, the Vaccines National Strategic Plan 2021-2025, and various vaccine safety monitoring systems in the US.

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July 2024. Plastics and Microplastics

In honor of the Plastic Free July, this brief provides an overview of various sources of microplastics in the environment, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, and the negative health effects of plastics and microplastics.

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June 2024. Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

This brief provides an overview of the Executive Order on artificial intelligence, the use of ChatGPT in healthcare, and the broader applications of AI in medicine and healthcare.

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May 2024. Women’s Mental Health

In honor of the Mental Health Awareness Month and the National Women’s Health Week in May, this issue brief provides an overview of the gender gap in mental health, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, and the various factors impacting women’s mental health.

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April 2024. Disparities in Minority Health

In honor of National Minority Health Month, this issue brief explores the disparities in minority health along with a number of national efforts to address these disparities.

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March 2024. Mental Health and the Aging Population

This brief explores the effect of aging on mental health, the UN Decade of Healthy Aging, and mental health resources for the aging population.

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February 2024. Disparities in Oral Healthcare

This issue brief explores the disparities in oral healthcare in the United States along with some national policy efforts to mitigate these disparities.

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January 2024. Incarceration and Healthcare

This brief explores the limited access to healthcare that incarcerated individuals have and the impacts of incarceration on physical, mental, and reproductive health.

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December 2023. Indoor Air Pollution from Gas Appliances

This brief explores the scientific findings on indoor natural gas pollution, potential health effects, and policy efforts to address this concern.

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November 2023. Improving Bicycle Infrastructure for Injury Prevention

This brief explores how road design and policy can improve safety for people on bicycles.

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October 2023. Racial Disparities in Kidney Transplants

This brief highlights the persistent racial disparities in kidney transplants and explores existing policies and potential recommendations to address these inequities.

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September 2023. Suicide Prevention and Awareness

With September being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, this brief explores the impact of social media on youth mental health, federal efforts to prevent suicide, and methods to help those at risk.

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August 2023. Lung Cancer and Tobacco Use

August 1 being World Lung Cancer Day, this brief explores the direct and indirect effects of tobacco use on lung cancer and highlights key tobacco control policies and programs.

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July 2023. Recent Rise in Overdose Deaths among Adolescents

Drug overdose is a rapidly growing cause of death among U.S. adolescents. This brief discusses key contributing factors and policies being enacted to address adolescent mental health and overdose risk.

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June 2023. Refugee and Migrant Health

In honor of the World Refugee Day on June 20, this brief explores the variety of different physical and mental health needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.

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May 2023. Healthcare Workforce Shortage

Given the national crisis of healthcare workforce shortage, this brief explores the factors contributing to this critical issue.

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April 2023. Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

As April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, this brief explores the issue of child abuse and neglect and what can be done to prevent it.

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March 2023. Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs in the United States

Since nutrition is a critical aspect of heath and wellness, this brief provides an overview of the federal nutrition assistance programs administered by the Food and Nutrition Service.

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February 2023. Warehouses and Air Quality in the Inland Empire

This issue brief discusses the impact warehouses have on air quality in the Inland Empire and highlights policy efforts to address this concern.

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January 2023. Telehealth During and Beyond COVID-19

This brief provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of telehealth and policy efforts to retain telehealth beyond the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

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