We have established eight (8) strategic outcome goals for accomplishing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mission to protect and improve the health and well-being of the American public.  These goals and accompanying objectives provide the focus for HHS investments of effort and resources over the next five years.  The following summary highlights the key priorities of the Secretary, among the broad range of programs and activities that HHS carries out, that are found in the Plan:

Goal 1 is to “reduce the major threats to the health and well-being of Americans.”  To achieve our goal, we will focus on the behavioral and environmental threats that have a significant effect on health.  Strategic objectives will especially focus on:

• promoting healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet to reduce obesity and the incidence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes; 
• increasing abstinence education for young Americans aimed at reducing unsafe sexual behaviors and preventing unintended pregnancies; and
• expanding and improving communities’ substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.

Goal 2 is to “enhance the ability of the Nation’s health care system to effectively respond to bioterrorism and other public health challenges.”  To achieve this goal, the strategic objectives under this goal will focus our efforts on:

• upgrading the capacity of the health care system to prepare for and respond to public health threats, especially bioterrorism; and
• taking steps to improve the safety of food, drugs, biological products, and medical devices.

Goal 3 is to “increase the percentage of the Nation’s children and adults who have access to health care services, and expand consumer choices.”  To achieve our goal, we plan to undertake a multi-faceted approach that includes the following strategic objectives:

• creating new, affordable health insurance options;
• strengthening and improving Medicare;
• strengthening and expanding the health care safety net, especially in underserved rural and urban areas and for low income persons; and
• expanding the availability of health services.

Goal 4 is to “enhance the capacity and productivity of the Nation’s health science research enterprise.”  Strategic objectives to achieve this goal will concentrate on:

• making investments that advance the understanding of basic biomedical and behavioral science and how to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease and disability; and
• implementing policies to accelerate the development of new drugs, medical technology, and biologic therapies.

Goal 5 is to “improve the quality of health care services.”  For this goal, we will especially focus on strategic objectives that:

• support the development of evidence-based practices to reduce medical errors and improve patient care; and
• promote the development and use of an electronic health information infrastructure.

Goal 6 is to “improve the economic and social well-being of individuals, families, and communities, especially those most in need.”  The objectives in Goal 6 will concentrate on:

• engaging all families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in work; 
• reducing barriers to independent living for persons with disabilities; and
• expanding community and faith-based partnerships to find more creative and effective ways of delivering human services.

Goal 7 is to “improve the stability and healthy development of our Nation’s children and youth.”  In achieving this goal, strategic objectives will focus on:

• promoting family formation and healthy marriages; and
• strengthening the learning readiness of preschool children.

Goal 8 is to “achieve excellence in management practices.”  To help us achieve the above seven program objectives, we will institute a multi-pronged approach to improve management practices and achieve excellence by focusing on the key areas in the President’s Management Agenda.  For example, management reforms will center on strategic objectives to:

• create a unified “One HHS;”
• improve workforce planning and financial management;
• enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of competitive sourcing; and
• enhance information technology governance processes to promote the use of electronic commerce and ensure data privacy and information security controls.

Strategic indicators for measuring achievement of the objectives are provided in Appendix A.  Descriptions of how the goals and objectives inter-relate, as well as how we coordinate with external entities, what external factors may affect our ability to accomplish the goals and objectives, what program evaluations are planned to measure effectiveness of strategies, management tools and resources required to carry out the objectives, and how resources relate to the eight One HHS outcome goals are provided in other appendices.

[ Table of Contents | Next ]