eInsights - January 2011

U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services Launches Healthy People 2020

In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched Healthy People 2020. Over 300 public health and medical professionals, as well as students, were in attendance at the event hosted by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. Some 10,000 additional viewers registered online to participate in the launch from across the country. The launch featured speakers and panelists who discussed how Healthy People 2020 was developed as well as suggestions and strategies for implementing it. A major focus at the launch was on the use of technology and social media to implement and measure state and local agency success in achieving Healthy People 2020 objectives.

Health agencies nationwide use the objectives in Healthy People2020 to justify their work to funders, develop relevant programs, and measure organizational success. It provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. For the past 30 years, Healthy People has established benchmarks and monitored progress to: encourage collaborations and partnerships; guide public and individual decision making; and measure the impact of prevention activities. Organized by section, Healthy People 2020 contains hundreds of objectives, all seeking to reduce the burden of illness and prevent death through individual, community-based, or institutional actions. The objectives cover major health issues including chronic and infectious diseases, cancer, reproductive health, environmental health, injury and violence prevention, maternal health, racial and ethnic health inequities and, health and disability.

The Healthy People 2020 section on health and disability aims to improve quality of life and access to care. It is categorized into four areas: Systems and Policies, Barriers to Health Care, Environment, and Activities and Participation. Objectives contained in the Systems and Policies category include: increasing the number of state health departments that have at least one health promotion program aimed at improving the health and well-being of people with disabilities. The Barriers to Health Care section covers issues on access to appropriate and timely care such as: increasing the proportion of youth with special health care needs prepared to transition from pediatric to adult health care. Other areas of the Disabilities section includes objectives on increased accessible housing facilities and reduced barriers to participation in home, employment, school and community activities.

Areas in Healthy People 2020 that address neural tube defects have been expanded from those in Healthy People 2010 to include objectives on folic acid intake, red blood cell folate concentration levels, and a reduction in the number of infants born with anencephaly. A complete list of neural tube related objectives are listed here:

According to HHS’s DATA2010, persons with disabilities are less likely to receive preventive health screenings and more likely to be overweight and have high blood pressure. These trends make a strong case for increased preventive services, care, and support to persons living with disabilities. As outlined in our own mission, the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) is engaged in efforts to prevent neural tube defects as well as to support the lives of those living with Spina Bifida so the importance of Healthy People 2020 cannot be minimized.