Public Health Fiscal Austerity #2: Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Austerity (On Demand-No CE)
Self-paced
Full course description
PLEASE NOTE: No CE or certificate are available in this course.
This recorded webinar was developed and hosted by the Center for Public Health Systems at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The Center is hosting a public webinar series to discuss practical strategies for protecting communities when budgets tighten.
This second recorded webinar in the series discusses the legal and ethical considerations for fiscal austerity, including review of legal mandates for minimum service provision, liability issues in service withdrawal, and ethical frameworks for prioritizing populations or programs during cuts.
This training was originally held on March 10, 2026. To view more information about the upcoming live webinars in this series, visit the 2026 Public Health Fiscal Austerity Webinar Series.
Note on Accessibility: This training includes closed captions, a written transcript, and a copy of the slides.
Audience
Public health professionals in all settings, including state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments
Learning Objectives
- Describe the concept of a “minimum package of public health services” and key frameworks for public health services
- Explain considerations and important criteria that administrators should consider when addressing budget cuts
- Explain the rationale for why some actions to cut or defund public health services may be immoral or unethical
Instructors
Darlene Huang Briggs, JD, MPH, Deputy Director of Special Projects, Network for Public Health Law
Herminia Palacio, MD, MPH, President, NexusBridge Strategies
Debra DeBruin, PhD, Director, Center for Bioethics, University of Minnesota
Moderated by:
Jason Orr, PhD, MPH, Researcher, Center for Public Health Systems, University of Minnesota
Sponsors
This training was a collaboration of the Region V Public Health Training Center and the Center for Public Health Systems at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
The Region V Public Health Training Center is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31684 Public Health Training Centers ($940,000). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Region V PHTC, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Technical Information
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Contact us at rvphtc@umich.edu with questions.