Implementing Health Equity 2020 Through Healthy People 2020 at the Front-Line

Healthy People 2020 is unique in that it is a “national” initiative, not a federal one. Although developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HP2020 incorporated the input of thousands of stakeholders nationwide, and comes to life at the state, regional, and local levels where it is implemented. The Chair of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 led the first fully-public advisory committee to engage in the development of HP2020. As Los Angeles Public Health Director, he has been implementing Healthy People at the front-line, working with local, regional and state decision-makers to improve the health of the entire population, with a particular emphasis on health equity: working with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to ensure that tobacco settlement dollars are used to address health issues; obtaining Board of Supervisors support to establish a Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention; and reporting on key health indicators to inform elected officials, policy-influencers, and other stakeholders, about health trends and adopting evidence-based policies and programs to address preventable burdens. Reports such as, "Health Indicators for Women in Los Angeles County: Highlighting Disparities by Ethnicity and Poverty Level" educate and frame health equity challenges in the County. Dr. Fielding will share advice on effective strategies for working with decision-makers to ensure that achieving health equity is a budget priority.