Educational and community-based programs continue to play an integral role in the success of Healthy People objectives. The programs also contribute to the improvement of health outcomes in the United States. Developed to reach people outside traditional health care settings, these programs are fundamental to health promotion and quality of life. The programs emphasize education, policy, and environmental strategies in schools, worksites, health care sites, and the community, and they provide guidance for intervention development and implementation.¹

Healthy People 2010's two overarching goals to increase quality and years of healthy life and eliminate health disparities are supported and advanced by the objectives for educational and community-based programs. Knowledge is important in making healthy behavioral and lifestyle decisions, and the mission of these programs is to foster and develop this knowledge. By being local and community-based, these programs reduce disparities by increasing the proportion of the population that has access to health information and disease prevention programs.

At the time of this midcourse review, the most successful location for progress in education and community health programs was within the school setting. High school completion by persons aged 18 to 24 years and the school nurse-to-student ratio for middle/junior and senior high schools progressed toward the 2010 targets. School health education for middle/junior and senior high schools demonstrated a mixed picture, depending on the subject.