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Healthy People Consortium
Fact Sheet
What is the Healthy People Consortium?
The Healthy People Consortium is an
alliance of organizations committed to making Americans healthier by
supporting the goals of Healthy People, the nation’s health agenda.
The membership consists of State and territorial public health,
mental health, substance abuse, and environmental agencies, and
national membership organizations representing professional,
advocacy, and business sectors.
Background
The Consortium was convened in 1988 when, at the
request of the Public Health Service, the Institute of Medicine of
the National Academy of Sciences invited national membership
organizations representing professional, advocacy, and corporate
sectors, as well as State and territorial public health agencies, to
join the Healthy People 2000 Consortium. The members assisted in
developing the Healthy People 2000 objectives and have played an
important role in implementing, monitoring, and reporting on the
Nation’s successes and challenges in health.
The Consortium has grown in size as well as influence
over the last decade. The number of national membership organizations
has more than doubled since 1988. In 1995, State mental health,
substance abuse, and environmental agencies joined the effort. This
broadening membership has enriched the expertise and experience of
the Consortium. In 2000, as a response to requests for more timely
updates from Healthy People 2010, the Office of Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion established a news and announcement listserv.
The Role of the Consortium
The role of the Consortium has broadened since its
inception. Many members have developed health promotion and disease
prevention programs using Healthy People objectives. Some organizations
have adopted Healthy People objectives as part of their missions. Many of
these organizations assisted in the Healthy People 2010 development.
Organizations provided public comment in 1997 on the framework and goals
of Healthy People 2010 and then again in 1998 on the specific objectives
for 2010.
Healthy People is being used by the States and
territories. As of fall 1999, 47 States, the District of Columbia, and
Guam have published their own Healthy People 2000 plans. The first State
to release its 2010 plan was Iowa with Healthy Iowans 2010 by the
Iowa Department of Public Health. As of summer 2001, 15 States have
released Healthy People 2010 State plans.
During this decade, it is envisioned that membership will
expand beyond the traditional public health community and health
associations to include a range of business, labor, and other
organizations which will take the message of Healthy People into every
community and workplace. Consortium members receive updates on the
implementation of Healthy People 2010 goals via the Healthy People
listserv. Annually the Healthy People Consortium meets and information is
shared, opportunities for collaboration are created, and commitments are
renewed.
How Can Organizations and Their Members
Contribute to Healthy People?
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Integrate Healthy People Objectives into Current Programs, Special Events, Publications, and Meetings
The framework for the initiative is in the public domain and can be used by any
organization to measure health improvements. Integrating Healthy People objectives
into programs, special events, publications, and meetings will enable organizations
to guide health improvements and monitor their results.
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Incorporate Healthy People into Healthy Community Initiatives
Use Healthy People as a framework to promote healthy cities and communities.
Businesses can use the framework to guide worksite and health promotion
activities as well as for community-wide initiatives. Schools and
colleges can undertake activities to further the health of children,
adolescents and young adults. By selecting among the national objectives,
any individual or organization can build an agenda for community health
improvement suited to local needs.
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Utilize Healthy People in Planning
National membership organizations, as well as State and territorial agencies,
can and have used Healthy People objectives to set their own benchmarks for
systems and operational planning. Healthy People measures can also be used
for evaluating programs and setting a research agenda.
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Use Healthy People Objectives in Performance Measurement Activities
Healthy People objectives are linked to numerous performance measurement
efforts. For example, the National Committee on Quality Assurance incorporated
many Healthy People objectives into its Health Plan Employer Data and Information
Set (HEDIS) 3.0, a set of standardized measures for health care purchasers and
consumers to use in assessing performance of managed care organizations in the
areas of immunizations, mammography screening, and other clinical preventive
services.
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Join the Consortium
The only criterion for membership is that the group be a national
membership organization. As an enrollment benefit, you will
automatically be added to the Healthy People listserv. To receive an
application to join the Consortium, e-mail hp2010@osophs.dhhs.gov
If you have questions, please contact:
Miryam Granthon
Healthy People Consortium Coordinator
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Hubert H. Humphrey Building,
Room 738G
200 Independence Avenue, SW.
Washington, DC 20201
(202) 690-6245
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