On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, PAARI held the inaugural meeting of its newly formed Public Health Council. David Rosenbloom, a PAARI Board Member, chairs the council. He recently retired from Boston University’s School of Public Health, where he focused on U.S. and international health policy, particularly around substance use disorders.
PAARI’s Public Health Council is a cohort of public health and related professionals that supports PAARI’s leadership and staff in developing evidence-based strategies for their daily operations. The council’s mission is to strengthen collaboration between public safety partners and the public health community, with the goal of preventing overdose deaths and promoting access to evidence-based treatment and recovery services.
The inaugural meeting began with the 11 council members introducing themselves and sharing their reasons for joining. For a full list of members and their bios, visit PAARI’s website HERE.
Following introductions, Brittney Garrett from PAARI gave an overview of PAARI’s history and its various deflection programs. David Rosenbloom then facilitated a discussion centered on two key questions:
- How can we foster collaboration between public health and public safety agencies in overdose prevention and post-overdose support?
- How can the members of the Public Health Council help advocate for public understanding and policy changes that will support PAARI’s mission?
Several members stressed the importance of relationship-building as a foundation for collaboration, with an emphasis on creating safe spaces for open, honest dialogue between public health and public safety professionals.
The next council meeting is scheduled for December, with quarterly meetings to follow.
