228177 How Public Participation has Shaped Healthy People 2020

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM

Carter Blakey , Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
Debra Nichols, MD, MPH , US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Rockville, MD
Emmeline Ochiai, MPH , Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
Karen Harris, MPH , Public Health Research Department, NORC at the University of Chicago, Bethesda, MD
Jennifer Benz, PhD , Public Health Research Department, NORC at the University of Chicago, Marblehead, MA
Caitlin Oppenheimer, MPH , Public Health Research Department, NORC at the University of Chicago, Bethesda, MD
     
Background: HHS is developing a comprehensive framework and set of national public health objectives for the next decade—HP2020 (HP2020). The process has engaged and incorporated the feedback of thousands of stakeholders throughout the US. This study describes the processes used to collect stakeholder input, analyzes the range of input received, and examines how stakeholder involvement influenced the trajectory of the initiative's development. Methods: Primary analyses of 8,000 comments received by HHS via an online system and “town hall” meetings including basic tabulation and thematic content review. Data from expert interviews, HP user surveys, and content from official HHS reports complement the analyses. Results: The process for developing an approach and draft set of health objectives for 2020 included multiple opportunities for stakeholder input, ranging from a highly structured Federal Advisory Committee to a loosely structured online comment system. The process yielded input from interest organizations, experts, citizens, and federal, state and local government agencies and associations. The content of stakeholder input varied from well-supported, actionable recommendations to anecdotes and personal preferences. Input also included several perspectives, often contradictory, on fundamental issues regarding the form, content, and implementation of the initiative. Conclusions: The process of soliciting stakeholder input successfully engaged an array of current and potential users. Yet, the sheer breadth of this participation presented challenges. For example, calls for innovation and streamlining the initiative contrasted with pleas to retain and expand the current version. It is hoped that HP2020 will provide flexibility to enable stakeholders to tailor the initiative.

Learning Areas:
Program planning
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify processes that were used to collect stakeholder input that guided federal level decision-making about Healthy People 2020. 2. Discuss the challenges of responding to stakeholder input at the federal level and how the designers of Healthy People 2020 have sought to address these challenges.

Keywords: Health Objectives, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: The authors of this study provide research support to the Federal Advisory Committee and Federal Interagency Workgroup tasked with developing the framework and objectives for Healthy People 2020, including leading the collection and reporting of public comment data.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4118.0: Diverse uses of the Healthy People initiate: From federal program planning to community evaluation