For current information about the Healthy People initiative, visit the main Web site at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople This Web site contains the historical record of the Healthy People 2000 objectives. The new Healthy People 2010 objectives were released on January 25, 2000. Information on this site may be outdated, and no new information will be added.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 Fact Sheet

What is Healthy People?

Healthy People is the prevention agenda for the Nation. It is a statement of national opportunities—a tool that identifies the most significant preventable threats to health and focuses public and private sector efforts to address those threats. Healthy People offers a simple but powerful idea: provide the information and knowledge about how to improve health 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 that can be used by many different people, states and communities, businesses, professional organizations, groups whose concern is a particular threat to health, or a particular population group. Healthy People is based on scientific knowledge and is used for decision making and for action.

The first set of national health targets was published in 1979 in Healthy People: The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. This set of five challenging goals, to reduce mortality among four age groups—infants, children, adolescents and young adults, and adults—and increase independence among older adults, was supported by objectives with 1990 targets that drove action.

Healthy People 2000, was released in 1990. It is a comprehensive agenda organized into 22 priority areas, with 319 supporting objectives. Three overarching goals are to increase years of healthy life, reduce disparities in health among different population groups, and achieve access to preventive health services.

Use of the Year 2000 Objectives

Healthy People is a strategic management tool—for the Federal Government, States, communities, and many private sector partners. To date, 47 States, the District of Columbia, and Guam have developed their own Healthy People plans. Most states have emulated national objectives, but virtually all have tailored them to their specific needs. A 1993 National Association of County and City Health Officials survey showed that 70 percent of local health departments use Healthy People 2000 objectives. Within the Federal Government, Healthy People provides a framework for measuring performance in the Government Performance and Results Act. Success is measured by positive changes in health status or reductions in risk factors, as well as improved provision of services. Progress reviews are conducted periodically on each of the 22 priority areas and on population groups, including women, adolescents, people with disabilities, and racial/ethnic groups. Healthy People objectives have been specified by Congress as the metric for measuring the progress of the Indian Health Service, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. Ongoing involvement is ensured through the Healthy People Consortium—an alliance of 350 national membership organizations and 300 state health, mental health, substance abuse, and environmental agencies.

In the most recent Healthy People 2000 Review (1998-99) the sixth in a series of profiles tracking the year 2000 objectives, some 15 percent of the objectives have reached or surpassed the year 2000 targets. These include child and adolescent death rates. Death rates for children 1-14 years have declined by 26 percent from the 1987 baseline to surpass the year 2000 target of 28 deaths per 100,000 population. Preliminary 1997 data indicate a death rate of 25 per 100,000 population for this age group. Progress toward the targets has been made for another 44 percent of the objectives (e.g., prenatal care, child immunizations, and mammography screening). Some 18 percent of the objectives show movement away from the targets (e.g., overweight and diabetes prevalence). Data for 6 percent of the objectives show mixed results and 2 percent show no change from the baseline. Thirty-five objectives (11 percent) have baseline data but have no additional data with which to evaluate progress. Two new baselines were obtained this year on health promotions programs for older adults and counties with health promotion programs for racial and ethnic groups. Baselines have yet to be attained for 9 objectives (3 percent).

Healthy People 2000 Goals

1. Increase the years of healthy life for Americans,
2. Reduce health disparities among Americans, and
3. Achieve access to preventive services for all Americans.

Priority Areas of Healthy People 2000

1. Physical Activity and Fitness
2. Nutrition
3. Tobacco
4. Substance Abuse: Alcohol and Other Drugs
5. Family Planning
6. Mental Health and Mental Disorders
7. Violent and Abusive Behavior
8. Educational and Community-Based Programs
9. Unintentional Injuries
10. Occupational Safety and Health
11. Environmental Health
12. Food and Drug Safety
13. Oral Health
14. Maternal and Infant Health
15. Heart Disease and Stroke
16. Cancer
17. Diabetes and Chronic Disabling Conditions
18. HIV Infection
19. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
20. Immunization and Infectious Diseases
21. Clinical Preventive Services
22. Surveillance and Data Systems

For Further Information

Visit the Healthy People 2000 Web site at http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000. Every product since the Healthy People 2000 Midcourse Review and 1995 Revisions is available on the Web site. These resources include Progress Review Reports, listings of the Consortium members, Consortium Exchange, the quarterly newsletter and much more. Because all of these materials are in the public domain please adopt them to your own use. Or you may contact the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Room 738G, Hubert Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, (202) 205-8583 or 1 (800) 367-4725.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 main page | Healthy People 2000 Midcourse Review and 1995 Revisions | NHIC | ODPHP

Updated November 30, 2000