Public Health Fiscal Austerity #7: Communicating Austerity: Messaging Fiscal Realities to Policymakers and the Public (On Demand-No CE)

PLEASE NOTE: No CE or certificate are available in this free course.

This recorded webinar examines best practices for communications and messaging that prioritize transparency, public engagement, and advocacy during budget crises. This seventh webinar is part of a year-long series convened by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Center for Public Health Systems to discuss practical strategies for protecting communities when budgets tighten.

This training was originally held on July 30, 2026. 

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

• Differentiate between traditional "boom and bust" funding cycles and contemporary structural instability or "dismantling" within governmental public health systems
• Construct evidence-based, transparent communication strategies that connect public health services to concrete community impacts for staff, media, and policymakers
• Distinguish clearly between education, advocacy, and lobbying to confidently engage with elected officials within legal and professional guidelines

Instructors

• Adriane Casalotti, MPH, MSW, Chief of Government and Public Affairs National Association of County and City Health Officials
• Chrissie Juliano, MPP, Executive Director, Big Cities Health Coalition
• Dara Lieberman, MPP, Director of Government Relations, Trust for America's Health
• Moderator: Jonathon P. Leider, PhD, Center Director, 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.