Progress Toward Healthy People 2010 Targets

The following discussion highlights objectives that met or exceeded their 2010 targets; moved toward the targets, demonstrated no change, or moved away from the targets; and those that lacked data to assess progress. Progress is illustrated in the Progress Quotient bar chart (see Figure 7-1), which displays the percent of targeted change achieved for objectives and subobjectives with sufficient data to assess progress.

A review of progress toward meeting targets for Educational and Community-Based Programs provides a limited picture. Four objectives and their subobjectives had data available for review (7-1, 7-2a through j, 7-4, and 7-6).

Two subobjectives for schools with a nurse-to-student ratio of at least 1 to 750 (7-4) met their targets: middle/junior and senior high schools (7-4a) and middle and junior high schools (7-4c).

Progress was made for six objectives and subobjectives: high school completion (7-1); school health education for unintentional injury (7-2b), violence (7-2c), suicide (7-2d), tobacco use and addiction (7-2e); and the proportion of senior high schools with a nurse-to-student ratio of at least 1 to 750 (7-4b).

School health education for unhealthy dietary patterns (7-2h) and environmental health (7-2j) demonstrated no change since the beginning of the decade.

Five objectives and subobjectives moved away from their targets: school health education for all priority areas (7-2a), alcohol and other drug use (7-2f), unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection (7-2g), and inadequate physical activity (7-2i), as well as participation in employer-sponsored health promotion programs (7-6). Data to assess trends for the remaining five objectives were unavailable.

Objectives that met or exceeded their targets. The proportion of all middle/junior and senior high schools with a nurse-to-student ratio of at least 1 to 750 (7-4a) increased from 28 percent to 53 percent, achieving 114 percent of the targeted change. The proportion of middle and junior high schools with a nurse-to-student ratio of 1 to 750 (7-4c) also surpassed its target, increasing from 32 percent to 57 percent, achieving 139 percent of the targeted change. These increases are attributable in part to HHS's work through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with organizations such as the American Nurses Foundation² and the National Association of School Nurses,³ as well as the inclusion of health services as a component of CDC's Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP).⁴

Objectives that moved toward their targets. High school completion for persons aged 18 to 24 years (7-1) increased from 85 percent in 1998 to 87 percent in 2001, achieving 40 percent of the targeted change and moving toward the target of 90 percent. School health education for violence prevention (7-2c) achieved 68 percent of the targeted change. School health prevention education for unintentional injury (7-2b), suicide (7-2d), and tobacco use and addiction (7-2e) also made progress. These increases may be attributable in part to the CSHP model, which includes health education as a key component. Another contributor is the increased availability of curriculum materials and resources to address these topics. For example, in 2004 the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) developed the "Take a Stand. Lend a Hand. Stop Bullying Now!" campaign.⁵ Resources for young persons, parents, educators, and other adults interested in bullying prevention are available at the HRSA website.⁶ The proportion of senior high schools with a nurse-to-student ratio of at least 1 to 750 (7-4b) increased from 26 percent to 44 percent, achieving 75 percent of its targeted change.

Objectives that demonstrated no change. Two measurable subobjectives for which data were reported showed no movement toward or away from their targets: school health education for unhealthy dietary patterns (7-2h) and for environmental health (7-2j).

While CSHP aims to make progress on school health education objectives, it is supported in only 23 States. To assist schools in the implementation of quality school health programs, HHS through CDC recently developed tools such as the Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT).⁷ Tools like PECAT provide curricular guidance to local school districts to improve the quality of components in a coordinated school health program. The guidance provided by these tools allows districts to meet local needs and interests and increase the likelihood of improving students' knowledge, skills, and health behaviors.

Objectives that moved away from their targets. One objective and four subobjectives moved away from their targets. School health education declined in all priority areas (7-2a), as well as in specific health topics, including alcohol and other drug use (7-2f), unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and STD infection (7-2g), and inadequate physical activity (7-2i). Participation in employer-sponsored health promotion programs (7-6) also decreased.

Objectives that could not be assessed. Progress toward the targets could not be assessed for health-risk behavior information for college and university students (7-3), school nurse-to-student ratio in elementary schools (7-4d), worksite health programs (7-5a through f), community health promotion programs (7-10), culturally appropriate and linguistically competent community health programs (7-11 c, g, h, i, m, n, o, q through v, y, z, and aa), and older adult participation in community health promotion activities (7-12).

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