2008 Public Health Action Plan Update: Celebrating Our First Five Years

Action Plan Return to Action Plan Main Page  Sections Overview Milestones/Landmark Events Key Messages Action Plan: Celebrating 5 Years Reflections from the Chair of the Forum Commentary from AHA Commentary from ASTHO Commentary from NACDD and CHC Reducing Heart Disease and Stroke in the U.S. Burden and Disparities Today Making Connections Mission Statements/Strategies Review of  Components and Recommendations Action Framework Implementation Group's Priorities for 2008/2009 Appendix A Appendix B

Commentary From the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

Paul Jarris, MD, MBA
Executive Director

As a lead partner in implementing A Public Health Action Plan to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke (Action Plan), the Association of State and Territorial Heath Officials (ASTHO) is pleased to join with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in releasing the update to this important document.

Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States and continue to pose formidable challenges for the public health community. Challenges such as these cannot be met alone. Only through collaborations with elected officials, employers, health care leaders, and others can we reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke.

The work of state health agencies is essential to preventing and controlling chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease), to promoting healthy behaviors, and to providing choices to help people avoid or control these diseases. State health agencies also work to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for Americans with chronic conditions. To accomplish these goals, ASTHO works with the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, the Tobacco Control Network, the Directors of Health Promotion and Education, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, and the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors to reduce tobacco use, prevent obesity, improve the built environment, and reform state health systems.

Through ASTHO staff participation on the Action Priorities Implementation Group of the National Forum, ASTHO helps the National Forum to build relationships with policy makers across the country. This year, the Action Priorities Implementation Group reviewed current and pending U.S. policies and legislation related to heart disease and stroke prevention. The group identified five priority areas in which new policies could have an effect

1. risk factors,
2. chain of survival,
3. quality of care,
4. disparities as defined in Healthy People 2010, and
5. support for heart disease and stroke prevention programs in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The Action Priorities Implementation Group plans to correspond, on behalf of the National Forum, with governors and their health policy advisors, state legislators, and ASTHO members to encourage allocation of resources for cardiovascular disease prevention and health promotion.

We believe it is essential that ASTHO continues its strong relationship with the National Forum. Through the National Forum, ASTHO joins other public health organizations and partners in highlighting the need for comprehensive heart disease and stroke prevention. The National Forum allows key players and the public health community to come together in a way that will have a positive effect on federal, state, and local policies. ASTHO will continue to support the activities of the National Forum and is proud to promote Update to A Public Health Action Plan to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke as an important resource for those interested in reducing heart disease and stroke in their states.

The American Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and its members, the chief health officials of state and territorial public health agencies, are committed to establishing and sustaining collaborations that will prevent heart disease and stroke. Preventing these conditions is of critical importance, a high priority issue for state health agencies and essential to creating a healthier America.

– David Sundwall, ASTHO President and Director of the Utah Department of Health.

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Page last reviewed: August 18, 2008
Page last modified: August 18, 2008
Content source: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion