In the changing public health law and policy landscape, practitioners should feel empowered to create changes in current practices. Many policies put in place in recent years have been questioned and disregarded, leading to public distrust in health officials and a sense of defeat among public health practitioners. How can we empower each other to change this perspective and provide an environment where practitioners can freely pursue their work? We must continue the conversation regarding the importance of law and policy in public health and ways to support one another in our ongoing efforts.   

The theme of the 2024 Public Health Law Practitioners Convening, “Empowering Public Health through Law and Policy” will provide an opportunity for public health attorneys, policy professionals, leaders, public health practitioners, and students to join forces to regain a sense of self and safety and gain insights, strategies, tactics, and tools to utilize in their own jurisdiction. Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive approach to public health, providing you with the legal and policy tools necessary to foster the wellbeing of your community.   

The Public Health Law Practitioners Convening will feature experts from the public health law and policy field to address the importance of law in public health, supporting the use of Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach in communities, how to effectively communicate laws and policies, and how to improve health equity. We hope that this conference will provide an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, generate a sense of optimism, and stress the importance of equity in public health law and policy.