Increasing public health funding is a necessary first step to improving key determinants of health such as reducing high unemployment rates, addressing high health care and transportation costs, increasing limited public resources, and improve opportunities to pursue educational goals. Accessible and transparent public health funding will facilitate the adoption and timely implementation of community health programs and services.
Goal 1: Increase the Nevada public health system's readiness and ability to respond to the health needs of the community
Objective 1.1: By December 2024, increase the community's understanding and awareness about the importance of public health funding.
Action Step: Conduct surveys and town hall meetings to understand community knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions about public health funding.
Action Step: Present results and action plan to community organizations
Action Step: Identify top priorities for public health spending within and across communities.
Action Step: Partner with state senators/assembly-people that want to increase the per capita funding and support via legislation.
Action Step: Provide support and partner with the Governor's Office/Nevada Public Health Association (NPHA)/National Association of Counties (NACO)/community partners hat advocate for funding.
Objective 1.2: By December 2025, Advocate for the government (federal, state, local) to increase the total amount of per capita funding dedicated to the public health system.
Action Step: Identify potential community partners
Action Step: Identify potential bill sponsors
Action Step: Identify Federal Legislator to partner with for funding.
Action Step: Draft bill language
Action Step: Develop and implement advocacy plan and Track Bill
Background and Context
Adequate and readily available public health funding is necessary for supporting activities of public health systems through prevention, preparedness, and surveillance programs. An underfunded and ill-prepared public health system exacerbated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.1 Clark County covers 7% of the Nevada’s land area but houses 72% of the state’s population.2 In order to prepare for future public health threats, Southern Nevada must be positioned for timely and effective response to public health threats.
Presently, Nevada is ranked last for public health funding in the nation, tied with Wisconsin, at $72 per person. For reference, the top funded state, Alaska, allocates $449 per person and the national average is $116.3 Increasing public health funding for residents of Southern Nevada will require community awareness and engagement as well as political action to secure increased funding.