CDC YOUth Advisory Council
Health Careers High School
Our Mission
The CDC Youth Advisory Club at Health Career High School aims to collaborate as a team to enhance our community by advocating for and educating others on science-based social issues. Through partnerships within the club, we aim to make a positive impact on global public health.
Why Now?
The shifting political landscape poses significant challenges to human health and well-being. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to unite and advocate for what truly matters. If you’re passionate about making a difference through pertinent writing and advocacy measures, join the Health Career High School Youth Advisory Council Club. Together, we’ll write effectively, ethically, and persuasively whilst also fostering creativity, collaboration, and fun.
Our Goals
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Our Goals *
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Our club provides evidence-based information about abortion access, reproductive rights, and how policies affect public health. We cover topics like the safety and medical process of abortion, state-level restrictions, health disparities in reproductive care, and the connection between bodily autonomy and well-being. By offering fact-checked resources and highlighting the lived realities of impacted communities, we aim to educate peers on how abortion restrictions threaten public health especially for youth, BIPOC, low-income individuals, and those in rural areas.
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We curate resources that explore the intersection of LGBTQIA+ rights and public health. Our materials include overviews on gender-affirming care, mental health challenges in LGBTQIA+ youth, discrimination in healthcare systems, and current legislation affecting queer communities. Through personal stories, data from trusted health organizations, and policy analysis, we aim to foster understanding and advocate for inclusive healthcare that respects and supports all identities. Equity in healthcare starts with access, safety, and dignity for everyone regardless of gender or sexuality.
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Our vaccination content tackles both the science and the social side of immunization. We share reliable information about how vaccines work, common vaccine schedules (e.g., HPV, flu, COVID-19), and the dangers of medical misinformation. We also explore why vaccine hesitancy exists and how it affects community immunity and vulnerable populations. Using CDC-backed data and engaging infographics, we aim to combat misinformation and encourage informed, science-based decisions among our peers.
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We provide digestible resources explaining what USAID does, why U.S. foreign aid matters, and how budget cuts affect healthcare systems worldwide. Our content highlights how USAID supports maternal health, HIV treatment, malaria prevention, emergency responses, and vaccine access in low- and middle-income countries. We break down funding bills, explore the global ripple effects of U.S. policy decisions, and show why youth voices are essential in supporting global solidarity and sustainable development.
Our Advocacy
Dear Ariana:
Thank you for reaching out to me regarding issues related to Medicaid. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important matter.
The Medicaid program is jointly funded by the federal government and states, providing healthcare and long-term care services to those who are low-income. The federal government pays states a specified percentage of program expenditures, called the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). In 2023, the federal government's spending on Medicaid grew 7.9% to $871.7 billion, or 18%, of the total national health expenditure. Medicaid provides health care services for the most vulnerable populations in Texas, including disabled individuals, children, pregnant women, and elderly Texans. Congress has an obligation to make sure these programs remain in place for those the program is intended to serve. Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide medical coverage for more than four million low-income Texans, including half of all children in the state. In Texas, all CHIP services and most Medicaid services are delivered through managed care health plans under contract with the state. In this system, members pick a health plan and receive services through that health plan's network of providers. Many health plans offer Medicaid members extra services not available through traditional Medicaid.
Additionally, Medicaid offers long-term care to eligible beneficiaries. These services can include both institutional care, such as nursing homes, as well as home and community based services. States are required to provide institutional services, but home and community based services are optional. Texas does offer home and community based services through its Medicaid program. Home and community based services provide care in either a home or a group home setting to eligible individuals to support their daily living and living independently in the community.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127) established a temporary continuous enrollment provision to prevent Medicaid coverage loss during the pandemic. As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103), this requirement ended on March 31, 2023.
To ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of these services, we must address significant challenges related to program integrity and fiscal responsibility within Medicaid. States that fail to conduct adequate eligibility verification or that allow ineligible individuals, such as illegal immigrants, to receive benefits, divert precious federal resources from the truly vulnerable Americans these programs were designed to serve. For example, an audit by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found that Medicaid capitation payments were made on behalf of 208,254 people simultaneously enrolled in more than one state Medicaid programs in August 2019 and 327,497 in August 2020. These payments cost the Medicaid program approximately $72.9 million in 2019 and $117.1 million in 2020. By strengthening oversight mechanisms, requiring rigorous eligibility reviews, and eliminating waste and fraud, we can generate significant cost savings that can be reinvested in essential services, such as mental health care. Additionally, implementing reasonable work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents would help ensure that Medicaid resources are directed toward those who cannot work due to disability, age, or caregiving responsibilities.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Medicaid issues, I will support efforts to preserve the benefits of these programs in a fiscally responsible way, without placing additional burdens on future generations. I am honored to represent Texas in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
Take Action
Unfortunately, the House of Representatives passed a reconciliation bill on May 22 that could lead to millions of Americans losing health coverage and nutrition benefits while also rolling back important environmental protections. With the bill now waiting for Senate consideration, take the time to tell your Senators to oppose this legislation, which would only undermine public health.
From APHA:
As we all try to make sense of the actions of President Trump to cut staffing at HHS and adjust what had been longstanding health practices, APHA is fighting back.
We're gathering and sharing information through Public Health Newswire.
We are making the voice of public heath heard in the media.
We've announced the For Our Health initiative with leading experts and former high-ranking officials to provide a unified voice defending evidence-based health initiatives and safeguarding critical public health protections.
We are actively fighting through the courts to protect public health.
Join our advocacy efforts and urge your members of Congress to oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to cut our nation’s public health workforce.
Also, if you are currently seeking a new job in public health, we have a variety of resources to serve you, including:
Search 33,000+ jobs at Public Health CareerMart
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As a member, we know you care about public health. Consider sharing this with some of your contacts who might find it helpful or be interested in learning more about public health or making a donation to support public health.
This week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to consider legislation that could lead to millions of Americans losing health coverage and nutrition benefits while also rolling back important environmental protections. Take the time to tell your representatives to oppose this legislation, which would only undermine public health.