Described as "a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and disease prevention agenda," Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health "is designed to serve as a roadmap for improving the health of all people in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century." Below is the complete text of the introduction. Available via the Internet: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/document/.
INTRODUCTION
Healthy People 2010 presents a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and disease prevention agenda. It is designed to serve as a roadmap for improving the health of all people in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century.
Like the preceding Healthy People 2000 initiative—which was driven by an ambitious, yet achievable, 10-year strategy for improving the nation's health by the end of the 20th century—Healthy People 2010 is committed to a single, overarching purpose: promoting health and preventing illness, disability, and premature death.
THE HISTORY BEHIND THE HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 INITIATIVE
Healthy People 2010 builds on initiatives pursued over the past two decades. In 1979, Healthy People: The Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention provided national goals for reducing premature deaths and preserving independence for older adults. In 1980, another report, Promoting Health/Preventing Disease: Objectives for the Nation, set forth 226 targeted health objectives for the Nation to achieve over the next 10 years.
Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, released in 1990, identified health improvement goals and objectives to be reached by the year 2000. The Healthy People 2010 initiative continues in this tradition as an instrument to improve health for the first decade of the 21st century.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Healthy People 2010 represents the ideas and expertise of a diverse range of individuals and organizations concerned about the nation's health. The Healthy People Consortium—an alliance of more than 350 national organizations and 250 State public health, mental health, substance abuse, and environmental agencies—conducted three national meetings on the development of Healthy People 2010. In addition, many individuals and organizations gave testimony about health priorities at five Healthy People 2010 regional meetings held in late 1998.
On two occasions—in 1997 and in 1998—the American public was given the opportunity to share its thoughts and ideas. More than 11,000 comments on draft materials were received by mail or via the Internet from individuals in every State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. All the comments
The final Healthy People 2010 objectives were developed by teams of experts from a variety of Federal agencies under the direction of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General David Satcher, and former Assistant Secretaries for Health. The process was coordinated by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
THE GOALS OF HEALTHY PEOPLE
Healthy People 2010 is designed to achieve two overarching goals:
- Increase quality and years of healthy life.
- Eliminate health disparities.
These two goals are supported by specific objectives in 28 focus areas. Each objective was developed with a target to be achieved by the year 2010.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
Over the years, it has become clear that individual health is closely linked to community health—the health of the community and environment in which individuals live, work, and play. Likewise, community health is profoundly affected by the collective beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of everyone who lives in the community.
Indeed, the underlying premise of Healthy People 2010 is that the health of the individual is almost inseparable from the health of the larger community and that the health of every community in every State and territory determines the overall health status of the Nation. That is why the vision for Healthy People 2010 is "Healthy People in Healthy Communities."
HOW HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 WILL IMPROVE THE NATION'S HEALTH
One of the most compelling and encouraging lessons learned from the Healthy People 2000 initiative is that we, as a nation, can make dramatic progress in improving the nation's health in a relatively short period of time. For example, during the past decade, we achieved significant reductions in infant mortality. Childhood vaccinations are at the highest levels ever recorded in the United States. Fewer teenagers are becoming parents. Overall, alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use is leveling off. Death rates for coronary heart disease and stroke have declined. Significant advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and in reducing unintentional injuries.
But we still have a long way to go. Diabetes and other chronic conditions continue to present a serious obstacle to public health. Violence and abusive behavior continue to ravage homes and communities across the country.
Healthy People 2010 will be the guiding instrument for addressing these and emerging health issues, reversing unfavorable trends, and expanding past achievements in health.
THE KEY ROLE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Community partnerships, particularly when they reach out to nontraditional partners, can be among the most effective tools for improving health in communities.
For the past two decades, Healthy People has been used as a strategic management tool for the federal government, states, communities, and many other public- and private-sector partners. Virtually all states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have developed their own Healthy People plans modeled after the national plan. Most states have tailored the national objectives to their specific needs.
Businesses; local governments; and civic, professional, and religious organizations also have been inspired by Healthy People to print immunization reminders, set up hotlines, change cafeteria menus, begin community recycling, establish worksite fitness programs, assess school health education curriculums, sponsor health fairs, and engage in myriad other activities.
EVERYONE CAN HELP ACHIEVE THE HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 OBJECTIVES
Addressing the challenge of health improvement is a shared responsibility that requires the active participation and leadership of the federal government, states, local governments, policymakers, health care providers, professionals, business executives, educators, community leaders, and the American public itself. Although administrative responsibility for the Healthy People 2010 initiative rests in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, representatives of all these diverse groups shared their experience, expertise, and ideas in developing the Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives.
Healthy People 2010, however, is just the beginning. The biggest challenges still stand before us, and we all have a role in building a healthier nation.
Regardless of your age, gender, education level, income, race, ethnicity, cultural customs, language, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, geographic location, or occupation, Healthy People 2010 is designed to be a valuable resource in determining how you can participate most effectively in improving the nation's health. Perhaps you will recognize the need to be a more active participant in decisions affecting your own health or the health of your children or loved ones. Perhaps you will assume a leadership role in promoting healthier behaviors in your neighborhood or community. Or
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (November 2000). Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health, 2nd edition. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
