The Evolution of the Healthy People Initiative: A Look Through the Decades

Abstract

Each decade, the US Department of Health and Human Services launches a new iteration of the Healthy People initiative. Healthy People strives to create a healthier nation and tracks data-driven outcomes to monitor progress toward achieving the initiative's goals throughout the decade. Although the initiative's mission, vision, and goals have evolved over time, since the initiative's inception in 1979, Healthy People remains dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health and improving the nation's health and well-being. In 2020, the US Department of Health and Human Services released the fifth iteration of the initiative, Healthy People 2030. This decade-long initiative provides a focused set of science-based, national objectives with targets to achieve by the year 2030. Healthy People 2030 is available online and offers users access to updated information and tools and resources for implementation. This article discusses the evolution of Healthy People across the decades, highlights Healthy People 2030 and its tools, and illustrates how stakeholders can use Healthy People to achieve their missions and improve the health and well-being of the nation.

Utilizing Healthy People 2030 to Engage Leadership, Key Constituents, and the Public Across Multiple Sectors: Opportunities for Local Health Departments and Community Partners

“…Healthy People has evolved from 2 goals, focused on decreasing infant mortality and increasing independence among older adults, to 5 goals in Healthy People 2030, focused more intentionally on health equity, SDOH, health literacy, and a new concept of well-being 3. This change signifies Healthy People's increased focus on upstream factors and aligns with its evolution to address emerging public health challenges and reflect new public health trends and priorities 4…”

“…3 This change signifies Healthy People's increased focus on upstream factors and aligns with its evolution to address emerging public health challenges and reflect new public health trends and priorities. 4 Healthy People 2030 defines health equity as "the attainment of the highest level of health for all people." 5 Health disparity is defined as "a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental advantage."…”

“…As mentioned earlier, Healthy People 2030 provides 4 practical ways that communities, states, and organizations can establish their own priorities using its framework. 4 Viewers can also learn more about each domain of SDOH, understand how Healthy People 2030 addresses SDOH, and research articles and other efforts relating to their topics of interest. 6 Organizations committed to working toward Healthy People's overarching goals and objectives can apply to become Healthy People 2030 Champions, as recognized by HHS/ODPHP.…”

Healthy People 2030 Leading Health Indicators and Overall Health and Well-being Measures: Opportunities to Assess and Improve the Health and Well-being of the Nation

“…Research objectives focus on the need to advance research and to develop evidence-based interventions in an area of public health importance. Developmental and research objectives may eventually become core objectives if they meet rigorous selection criteria and data requirements 2…”

“…Developmental and research objectives may eventually become core objectives if they meet rigorous selection criteria and data requirements. 2 The LHIs and OHMs are sets of measures designed to enable the overall assessment of progress toward the Healthy People 2030 vision and to focus action on achieving the Healthy People objectives. These measures also serve as an entry point into Healthy People 2030 for public health professionals who seek to address high-priority public health issues.…”