ASTHO at 75: Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future

Fraser, Michael R.; Hardy, George

The development of the State Health Leadership Initiative (SHLI), funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, further catalyzed ASTHO's growth and its abilities to communicate with and convene S/THOs. The SHLI provided the opportunity for the ASTHO Executive Director to visit new S/THOs, supported S/THO leadership development through an executive leadership institute at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, to offer experienced S/THO mentorships to new S/THOs, and to convene annually in an S/THO-only strategic session. Now in its 18th year, the SHLI has expanded to include both executive leadership development and multisector leadership training to develop S/THOs' abilities to create a "culture of health" within their jurisdictions. Similar workforce development investments have allowed ASTHO to convene executive leaders in state and territorial health agencies, including senior deputies, legislative liaisons, and program leads in the areas of public health preparedness, environmental health, informatics, human resources, finance, and several others.