Information Center Bulletin
Volume 1, No. 2 Winter 1997-98

HHS Requests Suggestions to Develop

Objectives for "Healthy People 2010"

Each of us has the opportunity to help frame the objectives for "Healthy People 2010," the nation's blueprint to improve the health of the American people. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invites your suggestions on how to achieve the initiative's goals. HHS seeks clear objectives that will increase, not only our life expectancy, but also the quality of those additional years, and help eliminate the disparities that exist in our health status.

The theme for "Healthy People 2010" is "Healthy People in Healthy Communities." This statement reflects the understanding that good health begins at home with what we do-individually, in families, and in communities-to promote mental and physical health.

The 2010 objectives should be useful to national, state, and local agencies as well as to the private sector and general public. To be used in the "Healthy People 2010" framework, the objectives must have certain attributes:

• The result to be achieved should be important and understandable to a broad audience and relate to the "Healthy People 2010" goals and focus areas;
• Objectives should be prevention oriented and should address health improvements that can be achieved through population-based and health-service interventions;
• Objectives should drive action and suggest a set of interim steps that will achieve the proposed targets within the specified timeframe;
• Objectives should be useful and relevant. States, localities, and the private sector should be able to use them to target efforts in schools, communities, work sites, health practices, and other settings;
• Objectives should be measurable and include a range of measures-health outcomes, behavioral and health service interventions, and community capacity-directed toward improving health outcomes and quality of life. They should count assets and achievements and look to the positive;
• Continuity and comparability are important. Whenever possible, objectives should build upon "Healthy People 2000" and those goals and performance measures already adopted; and
• Sound scientific evidence must support the objectives.

Submit your suggestions and comments to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Attention: Healthy People 2010 Objectives, 738-G Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201. Comments may also be submitted through the Internet at web.health.gov/healthypeople.

For more information, check the "Healthy People" World Wide Web site at odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000

Information Center Bulletin
Volume 1, No. 2