The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3185.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 3

Abstract #48257

Measuring trends in youth well-being: Philadelphia's report card

George W. Dowdall, PhD, Department of Sociology, St. Joseph's University, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131, 610-660-1674, gdowdall@sju.edu and Marsha Zibalese-Crawford, PhD, School of Social Administration, Temple University, 1501 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122.

“Philadelphia Safe and Sound” (PSS) is the City of Philadelphia’s initiative for children. Funded initially by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PSS has as its primary goal the improvement of the health and well-being of the city’s children. To both focus policy attention on children and to create a benchmark for assessing change, PSS has taken on the development of a Report Card for Children, published each year since 2000. The Report Card reflects best research practices, including those used to develop national health goals and objectives (e. g. Healthy People 2000 and 2010). Indicators are chosen by a panel of regional policy analysts, researchers, and community activists and citizens. The Philadelphia Report Card on Youth compares trends over time in Philadelphia and success in moving toward the attainment of regional and national health objectives. “Healthy behaviors” (such as avoiding substance abuse) and “safe and supportive communities” (including decreasing violence) are among most important issues in the Report Card, and have received grades of “challenging” and “problematic” because of lack of progress in these areas. Major initiatives either influenced or brought into being as part of the Report Card are beginning to have an impact on the health and well-being of Philadelphia’s children and youth.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Community-Based Public Health

Related Web page: www.philasafesound.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Philadelphia Safe and Sound
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Consultant

Adolescent Health Issues

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA