Secretary’s Council Reviews Plans
for Healthy People 2010
The Secretary’s Council on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Objectives for 2010 held its second meeting on April 30, 1998, in
Washington, DC. Established by charter on September 5, 1996, the Council
advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services on Healthy People
2010, the Nation’s prevention agenda—goals and objectives for health
improvement in the first decade of the 21st century.
Vice Chair David Satcher, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon
General, presided at the meeting, and Secretary Donna Shalala, the
Chair, also participated.
The Council reviewed progress in Healthy People 2010 development
since its inaugural meeting in April 1997 and addressed a number of
issues in the Healthy People 2010 draft document, which will be
presented for public comment this fall. For example, in considering the
overarching goal to eliminate health disparities, the members affirmed
that one target should be set for all population groups.
During a 3-month period in the fall of 1997, over 700 comments from
the public were received on the Department’s proposed framework for
the 2010 objectives. The Council considered options for the proposed
framework and a table of contents for organizing the chapters. A revised
diagram emerged from the meeting that incorporated the two overarching
goals—increase years of quality and healthy life and eliminate health
disparities—and three sections—promote healthy behaviors, promote
healthy communities, and prevent and reduce diseases and disorders.
Heads of the Department’s lead agencies presented proposed
objectives for the Council’s consideration. These presentations and
the ensuing discussions among the Council members occupied the major
portion of the day’s proceedings.
The Council also heard presentations from invited guests on enhancing
the use of Healthy People 2010 as a communication tool. A representative
of the National Academy of Sciences discussed the development of leading
health indicators, i.e., the set of selected objectives to be chosen for
their potential to attract maximum attention and involvement of
community leaders and opinion-makers. The Chair of the newly established
Healthy People Business Advisory
Council discussed plans to increase the business community’s
involvement in developing and implementing national health promotion and
disease prevention policies. The president of the Institute for
Alternative Futures presented possible scenarios that may threaten or
bolster the likelihood of achieving the 2010 goals.
The Council’s recommendations will be used in the Healthy People
2010 draft document that will be released in the fall of 1998 for public
comment. Guided by public input, the heads of the Department’s
operating divisions will develop a final set of objectives for the
Secretary’s Council to review at its next meeting in April 1999.
Guidance and updates on all aspects of the 2010 process can be accessed
on the Internet at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/.
A transcript of the April 30 meeting is posted on this Internet site.
The Secretary’s Council on Health
Promotion and Disease Prevention
Objectives for 2010
Participants at the
April 30, 1998, Meeting
Donna E. Shalala, Secretary
David Satcher, Assistant Secretary for Health
and Surgeon General
Former Assistant Secretaries for Health
Edward N. Brandt
Merlin K. DuVal
Julius B. Richmond
Robert E. Windom
HHS Operating Division Heads
James Harrell (Representing Olivia Golden)
Administration on Children and Families
Jeanette C. Takamura
Administration on Aging
Claude Earl Fox
Health Resources and Services Administration
Kermit Smith (Representing Michael Trujillo)
Indian Health Service
William Harlan (Representing Harold Varmus)
National Institutes of Health
Paul Schwab (Representing Nelba Chavez)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration
Michael A. Friedman (Acting)
Food and Drug Administration
Claire Broome (Acting)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
John Eisenberg
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
Barbara Cooper
(Representing Nancy-Ann Min DeParle)
Health Care Financing Administration
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