CHAPTER 13

LECTURE EXTENSION

Healthy People 2010

Healthy People 2010 is the prevention agenda for the nation. It is a statement of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health and to establish national goals to reduce these threats. Healthy People 2010 offers a simple but powerful idea: provide the objectives in a format that enables diverse groups to combine their efforts and work as a team. It is a road map to better health for all and can be used by many different people, states, communities, professional organizations, and groups to improve health. Healthy People 2010 builds on initiatives pursued over the past two decades. The 1979 Surgeon General's Report, Healthy People, and Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives both established national health objectives and served as the basis for the development of state and community plans. Like its predecessors, Healthy People 2010 was developed through a broad consultation process, built on the best scientific information and designed to measure programs over time.

Twenty-eight focus areas of Healthy People 2010 have been developed by leading federal agencies with the most relevant scientific expertise. The development process was informed by the Healthy People Consortium-an alliance of more than 350 national membership organizations and 250 state health, mental health, substance abuse, and environmental agencies. Additionally, through a series of regional and national meetings and an interactive website, more than 11,000 public comments on the draft objectives were received. Public comments are posted at www.health.gov/hpcomments for people to use in their own health improvement efforts. The Secretary's Council on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2010 also provided leadership and advice in the development of national health objectives.

Two broad goals of Healthy People 2010 are (1) to increase quality and years of healthy life and (2) to eliminate health disparities. The 28 focus areas are as follows:

  • Access to Quality Health Services
  • Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and Chronic Back Conditions
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Disability and Secondary Conditions
  • Educational and Community-Based Programs
  • Environmental Health
  • Family Planning
  • Food Safety
  • Health Communication
  • Heart Disease and Stroke
  • HIV
  • Immunization and Infectious Diseases
  • Injury and Violence Prevention
  • Maternal, Infant, and Child Health
  • Medical Product Safety
  • Mental Health and Mental Disorders
  • Nutrition and Overweight
  • Occupational Safety and Health
  • Oral Health
  • Physical Activity and Fitness
  • Public Health Infrastructure
  • Respiratory Diseases
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Substance Abuse
  • Tobacco Use
  • Vision and Hearing

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2000). Healthy people 2010: Understanding and improving health. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Finding Out about Vocational Guidance Resources on Your Campus

Invite a representative from the Office of Career Planning and Placement (or someone associated with a similar office) to be a guest speaker for the class. Ask the speaker to discuss campus resources available to guide students in their vocational choices. Also suggest that the speaker discuss theories of vocational testing and development. Descriptions of specific tests and samples of test items (without violating test security) should be of interest to the students.

Each student should prepare, in advance, two or three questions to ask of the guest speaker. For example: Which vocational tests are available? Why are these tests important? How accurate are these tests? What services are available for assisting students in finding appropriate job placements? What is the time table and what are the procedures for utilizing these guidance services?