SOPHE priorities for 2017

• Advocate for prevention and public health provisions in congressional legislation and appropriation

• Seek opportunities for third-party reimbursement for professionally trained health educators

• Promote the health education profession as a critical component to addressing the health crisis in our society

• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) implementation

• Disseminate information on the value of health education as a well-rounded education subject to schools, school districts, and other education stakeholders

• Tobacco prevention and control

• Support additional regulation of e-cigarettes

• Support local and national legislation to raise the tobacco purchase age to at least 21

• Seek continued reimbursement for tobacco cessation counseling in Medicaid and as a private insurance benefit

• Health equity policies, programs or practices that address health, social, economic, environmental and other factors that improve health across all populations

• Promotion of policies that increase health literacy