Social and Community Context Healthy People in Action

As the days shorten, cooler weather takes hold, and the urge to retreat indoors to the comfort of home grows, it is the perfect time to remind ourselves of the importance of social connection for older adults, renew support for more engagement in our communities, and make healthy aging a reality for all who live there.

This blog post is part of a series highlighting the work of Healthy People State and Territorial Coordinators (Coordinators). Coordinators make Healthy People happen every day across the United States. ODPHP works with Coordinators to identify areas of alignment with their work and Healthy People 2030 goals and objectives. Colorado has positioned itself to holistically address social determinants of health (SDOH) with a focus on the needs of local communities.

To make real strides in mitigating the negative effects of the national epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, we must deeply examine the special needs and challenges of groups with higher risk, like rural residents or survivors of domestic violence.

ICYMI: The recording of the Healthy People 2030 webinar Planning for Individual and Community Health is now available. During this one-hour event, ODPHP presented on the webinar’s four featured objectives related to public health infrastructure and planning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics also shared the latest data for each objective, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials discussed addressing public health infrastructure at the state and local levels.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is pleased to announce its next Healthy People 2030 webinar: Planning for Individual and Community Health. This webinar will take place on Tuesday, March 19 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET. During this event, ODPHP will present on the webinar’s four featured objectives related to public health infrastructure and planning. The webinar will also feature a presentation by the Centers for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics to share the latest data on the four featured objectives and a presentation by Healthy People 2030 Champion, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, on their efforts to address public health infrastructure at the state and local level. Continuing Education Credits* (CEs) are available.

ICYMI, you can still view the recording of December's Healthy People Webinar, Substance Misuse Prevention Strategies to Improve Public Health: A Focus on State Practice. During this one-hour event, ODPHP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics presented on the webinar’s three featured objectives related to substance misuse. Additionally, New York State Department of Health discussed their efforts to address substance misuse through their state health improvement plan.

Last month I was honored to deliver the keynote address to the American Public Health Association 2023 Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, Georgia. I spoke about an important initiative that we are continuing to develop and the need to take the social determinants of health “to the next level.” To reach the broadest possible audience, I am sharing my remarks from that meeting.

Space is still available for the next Healthy People 2030 webinar: Substance Misuse Prevention Strategies to Improve Public Health: A Focus on State Practices. This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 6 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET. To register, please visit the Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series Registration page. Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is pleased to announce its next Healthy People 2030 webinar: Substance Misuse Prevention Strategies to Improve Public Health: A Focus on State Practices. This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 6 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET. To register, please visit the Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series Registration page. Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available.