141st APHA Annual Meeting

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286522
2020 healthy pets healthy families: Engaging the community in one health

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 5:10 PM - 5:30 PM

Karen Ehnert, DVM, MPVM, DACVPM , Veterinary Public Health and Rabies Control;, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Robert Kim-Farley, MD, MPH , Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Emily Beeler, DVM, MPH , Veterinary Public Health and Rabies Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Alexandra Swanson, DVM , Veterinary Public Health & Rabies Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Tamerin Scott, DVM, MPH , Veterinary Public Health & Rabies Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Healthy pets can lead to healthier families. This is the philosophy of the 2020 Healthy Pets, Healthy Families Initiative (2020HPHF), created in 2010 by the Los Angeles County (LAC) Department of Public Health (DPH) Veterinary Public Health Program (VPH) as an innovative approach to improving human and animal health locally. 2020HPHF is the first local program to apply the national Healthy People 2020 framework to the One Health concept, focusing on the connection between human health, animal health and the ecosystem.

First, VPH reviewed existing animal disease surveillance data and developed several new surveys to assess local pet health. VPH then created a local One Health collaborative, the 2020HPHF Coalition, bringing together a variety of local animal and human health professionals and organizations to participate in the initiative and build partnerships. In 2012, the group met quarterly to collectively identify and prioritize key animal health issues, as well as set local animal health goals for the year 2020. We have selected seven focus areas, where we believe we may have the greatest impact on local health: zoonotic diseases, dog bites, obesity, second-hand smoke, disaster preparedness, vaccine preventable diseass and spay/neuter.

2020HPHF serves to promote the health of the broader LAC population, both human and animal. The coaliton has been a venue for increased communication, collaboration and stimulating action. Over the next decade, the coalition will be developing interventions targeted to improve animal and human health, gathering data to monitor impact and identifying best practices.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Describe how the Healthy People 2020 framework may be used by a One Health collaborative to define goals and track progress. List at least five areas where improving pet health may improve human health. Identify roles for public health, health educators, veterinarians, physicians, animal control and activists in a local One Health coalition. Identify how local animal health data may be used to support local One Health initiatives. List the goals of the 2020 Healthy Pets Healthy Families initiative. Identify how you can create a similar program in your area.

Keywords: One Health, Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked in public health for 22 years, in epidemiology, communicable disease control and veterinary public health. I have worked in the Los Angeles County Veterinary Public Health Program for 12 years and am the current Acting Director. Because of my interest in One Health and my belief that human health may be improved through pet health, I have directed the development and implementation of the Healthy Pets Healthy Families initiative and coalition.
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: 4429.0: One Health - State and Local