Through 10-year national objectives, the HHS Healthy People initiative helps individuals, organizations, and communities committed to improving health and well-being address public health priorities.
Across the United States, individuals, organizations, and communities use Healthy People objectives to set their own priorities. Healthy People helps them identify areas and populations with the greatest need — and focus their resources and efforts accordingly.
In addition to measurable objectives, Healthy People provides:
- Data that illustrate national progress toward achieving objectives
- Evidence-based resources to help with program and policy development
- Tools to inspire action, encourage collaboration, and empower individuals, organizations, and communities to use the initiative
Healthy People Through the Years
At the start of every decade, we launch a new iteration of Healthy People that builds on knowledge gained in previous decades.
Since we launched the first set of Healthy People national objectives in 1980, we’ve learned a lot about what it takes to improve health and well-being nationwide. For example, over the decades we’ve increased our focus on social determinants of health and added objectives related to health literacy.
Learn more about the history of the Healthy People initiative.
